The Minnesota House of Representatives is the

lower chamber A lower house is the lower chamber of a bicameral legislature, where the other chamber is the upper house. Although styled as "below" the upper house, in many legislatures worldwide, the lower house has come to wield more power or otherwise exe ...

of the

U.S. state In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory where it shares its so ...

Minnesota Minnesota ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Upper Midwestern region of the United States. It is bordered by the Canadian provinces of Manitoba and Ontario to the north and east and by the U.S. states of Wisconsin to the east, Iowa to the so ...

legislature A legislature (, ) is a deliberative assembly with the legal authority to make laws for a political entity such as a country, nation or city on behalf of the people therein. They are often contrasted with the executive and judicial power ...

. It operates in conjunction with the

Minnesota Senate The Minnesota Senate is the upper house of the Minnesota Legislature, Legislature of the U.S. state of Minnesota. At 67 members, half as many as the Minnesota House of Representatives, it is the largest upper house of any State legislature (Unite ...

, the state's upper chamber, to write and pass legislation, which is then subject to approval by the

governor of Minnesota The governor of Minnesota is the head of government of the U.S. state of Minnesota, leading the state's executive branch. Forty people have been governor of Minnesota, though historically there were also three governors of Minnesota Territory ...

. Established in 1858, the Minnesota House of Representatives has 134 members elected from

single-member districts A single-member district or constituency is an electoral district represented by a single officeholder. It contrasts with a multi-member district, which is represented by multiple officeholders. In some countries, such as Australia and India ...

across the state. Representatives serve two-year terms without

term limits A term limit is a legal restriction on the number of Term of office, terms a Incumbent, person may serve in a particular elected office. When term limits are found in Presidential system, presidential and Semi-presidential republic, semi-president ...

, with all seats up for election every two years. The House is led by the Speaker, who is elected by members of the House, while political party leadership is governed by the Majority and Minority Leaders. The Minnesota House of Representatives meets in the north wing of the

State Capitol A capitol, or seat of government, is the building or complex of buildings from which a government such as that of a U.S. state, the District of Columbia, or the organized territories of the United States, exercises its authority. Although m ...

Saint Paul Paul, also named Saul of Tarsus, commonly known as Paul the Apostle and Saint Paul, was a Christian apostle ( AD) who spread the teachings of Jesus in the first-century world. For his contributions towards the New Testament, he is generally ...

. Member and staff offices, as well as most committee hearings, are in the nearby State Office Building.

History

The Minnesota House of Representatives was officially established on May 11, 1858, when Minnesota was admitted as the 32nd state in the Union. It replaced the

Minnesota Territorial Legislature The Minnesota Territorial Legislature was a bicameral legislative body created by the United States Congress in 1849 as the legislative branch of the government of the Territory of Minnesota. The upper chamber, the Council, and the lower cham ...

. It was formed alongside the

to create the

Minnesota State Legislature The Minnesota Legislature is the bicameral legislature of the U.S. state of Minnesota consisting of two houses: the Senate and the House of Representatives. Senators are elected from 67 single-member districts. In order to account for decenni ...

, the bicameral legislative body of the state. In 1913, Minnesota legislators began to be elected on nonpartisan ballots. While campaigning and caucusing, legislators identified themselves as "Liberals" or "Conservatives." In 1973, a law change brought party designations back, beginning with the

1974 Minnesota House of Representatives election The 1974 Minnesota House of Representatives election was held in the U.S. state of Minnesota on November 5, 1974, to elect members to the House of Representatives of the 69th Minnesota Legislature. A primary election was held on September 10, 19 ...

. After the Nineteenth Amendment was ratified in 1920, women were eligible for election to the legislature. In 1922,

Mabeth Hurd Paige Mabeth Hurd Paige (November 22, 1869 – August 19, 1961) was a Minnesota politician, a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives from 1923 to 1945. Biography Mabeth Hurd was born in Newburyport, Massachusetts, in 1869, and educated ...

Hannah Kempfer Hannah Jensen Kempfer (December 22, 1880 – September 27, 1943) was a Norwegian-American schoolteacher, farmer, and politician. She was a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives from 1923 to 1930 and from 1933 to 1942, representing Dis ...

Sue Metzger Dickey Hough Sue Metzger Dickey Hough (November 22, 1883 – December 28, 1980), also known as Sue Metzger Dickey and Sue Metzger Hough, was an American lawyer, businesswoman, and politician. A native of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, she became one of t ...

, and

Myrtle Cain Myrtle Agnes Cain (April 11, 1894 – February 6, 1980) was an American politician and labor activist. She served as president of the Women's Trade Union of Minneapolis and was a member of the Minnesota Farmer Labor Party. In 1923 and 1924, ...

were elected to the House of Representatives. As of 2023, a record-high 54 women serve in the House.

Elections

Each Senate district is divided in half and given the suffix ''A'' or ''B'' (for example, House district 32B is in Senate district 32). Members are elected to two-year terms. Districts are redrawn after the decennial

United States Census The United States census (plural censuses or census) is a census that is legally mandated by the Constitution of the United States. It takes place every ten years. The first census after the American Revolution was taken in 1790 United States ce ...

in time for the primary and general elections in years ending in 2. The most recent election was on November 5, 2024.

Composition

:''

94th Minnesota Legislature The Ninety-fourth Minnesota Legislature is the current meeting of the legislative branch of the state of Minnesota, composed of the Minnesota Senate and the Minnesota House of Representatives. It convened in Saint Paul on January 14, 2025, fol ...

(2025–2027)''

Members, 2025–2027

The 94th Minnesota Legislature began on January 14, 2025. For each major party, 67 representatives were elected, the second ever tie in the Minnesota House. After the election of Curtis Johnson (District 40B) was nullified in court, the session began with 67 Republican members, while the 66 elected DFL members sat out in an effort to deny quorum. On March 11, 2025,

David Gottfried David Gottfried is an American real estate developer, author, and green building activist. As the founder of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and the World Green Building Council, he is known as the father of the green building movement. ...

(DFL) was elected to the seat, restoring the 67-67 tie. After Gottfried was seated,

Melissa Hortman Melissa Anne Hortman (née Haluptzok; May27, 1970June14, 2025) was an American politician and lawyer who served as the 61st Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives from 2019 to 2025. A member of the Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party ...

was granted the title "DFL Leader" instead of "Minority Leader", and the two parties entered into a power-sharing agreement.

Historical composition

Past notable members

U.S. senators from Minnesota

* Wendell R. Anderson, U.S. senator from Minnesota (1976–1978); 33rd governor of Minnesota (1971–1976) *

Cushman Kellogg Davis Cushman Kellogg Davis (June 16, 1838November 27, 1900) was an American United States Republican Party, Republican politician who served as the List of Governors of Minnesota, seventh Governor of Minnesota and as a United States Senate, U.S. Senat ...

, U.S. senator from Minnesota (1887–1900); 7th governor of Minnesota (1874–1876) *

Alonzo J. Edgerton Alonzo Jay Edgerton (June 7, 1827 – August 9, 1896) was a United States senator from Minnesota and a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of South Dakota. Education and career Born June 7, 1827, in ...

, U.S. senator from Minnesota (1881–1881) *

Magnus Johnson Magnus Johnson (September 19, 1871September 13, 1936) was an American politician. He served in the United States Senate and United States House of Representatives from Minnesota as a member of the Minnesota Farmer–Labor Party, Farmer–Labor P ...

, U.S. senator from Minnesota (1923–1925); U.S. representative from Minnesota's general ticket Seat Five district (1933–1935) *

Ernest Lundeen Ernest Lundeen (August 4, 1878August 31, 1940) was an American lawyer and politician who represented Minnesota in the United States House of Representatives from 1917 to 1919 and 1933 to 1937, and in the United States Senate from 1937 until his ...

, U.S. senator from Minnesota (1937–1940); U.S. representative from Minnesota's 3rd district (1917–1919); U.S. representative from Minnesota's general ticket Seat Eight district (1933–1935); U.S. representative from Minnesota's 3rd district (1935–1937) *

Dwight M. Sabin Dwight May Sabin (April 25, 1843December 22, 1902) was an American politician who served as U.S. Senator from Minnesota and in the Minnesota Legislature. He is known for the business ventures of Seymour, Sabin & Co. and the Northwestern Car Compa ...

, U.S. senator from Minnesota (1883–1889); Chair of the Republican National Committee (1883–1884) * William D. Washburn, U.S. senator from Minnesota (1889–1895); U.S. representative from Minnesota's 3rd district (1879–1883) and 4th district (1883–1885)

Governors of Minnesota

* Wendell R. Anderson, U.S. senator from Minnesota (1976–1978); 33rd governor of Minnesota (1971–1976) *

Joseph A. A. Burnquist Joseph Alfred Arner Burnquist (July 21, 1879 – January 12, 1961) was an American attorney and Republican Party (United States), Republican politician in Minnesota. He served in the Minnesota State Legislature from 1909 to 1911, was elected t ...

, 19th governor of Minnesota (1915–1921); 20th lieutenant governor of Minnesota (1913–1915); 21st attorney general of Minnesota (1939–1955) *

Arne Carlson Arne Helge Carlson (born September 24, 1934) is an American politician who served from 1991 to 1999 as the 37th governor of Minnesota. Carlson is considered a liberal Republican. Before his governorship, he served as the Minnesota State Audito ...

, 37th governor of Minnesota (1991–1999); 14th auditor of Minnesota (1979–1991) *

, U.S. senator from Minnesota (1887–1900); 7th governor of Minnesota (1874–1876) *

William Rush Merriam William Rush Merriam (July 26, 1849February 18, 1931) was an American politician and banker. A Republican Party (United States), Republican, he served as the eleventh Governor of Minnesota from 1889 to 1893. Life and career Merriam was born i ...

, 11th governor of Minnesota (1889–1893) * Stephen Miller, 4th governor of Minnesota (1864–1866) *

Tim Pawlenty Timothy James Pawlenty ( ; born November 27, 1960) is an American attorney, businessman, and politician who served from 2003 to 2011 as the 39th governor of Minnesota. A member of the Republican Party, Pawlenty served in the Minnesota House ...

, 39th governor of Minnesota (2003–2011) *

Hjalmar Petersen Hjalmar Petersen (January 2, 1890March 29, 1968) was an American journalist and politician who served as the List of Governors of Minnesota, 23rd Governor of Minnesota from 1936 to 1937, succeeding the late Floyd Olson. Background Hjalmar Peter ...

, 23rd governor of Minnesota (1936–1937); 28th lieutenant governor of Minnesota * Samuel Rinnah Van Sant, 15th governor of Minnesota (1901–1905)

Lieutenant governors of Minnesota

* Henry M. Arens, 26th lieutenant governor of Minnesota (1931–1933); U.S. representative from Minnesota's General Ticket Seat One district (1933–1935) *

Thomas H. Armstrong Thomas Henry Armstrong (February 6, 1829 – December 29, 1891) was a Minnesota banker, lawyer, legislator, and the fifth Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota. He became Lieutenant Governor under Governor William Rainey Marshall from January 8 ...

, 5th lieutenant governor of Minnesota (1866–1870) * Alphonso Barto; 7th lieutenant governor of Minnesota (1874–1876) * Frank A. Day, 13th lieutenant governor of Minnesota (1895–1897) *

Ignatius L. Donnelly Ignatius Loyola Donnelly (November 3, 1831 – January 1, 1901) was an American Congressman, populist writer, and pseudoscientist. He is known primarily now for his fringe theories concerning Atlantis, Catastrophism (especially the idea of ...

, 2nd lieutenant governor of Minnesota (1860–1863); U.S. representative from Minnesota's 2nd district (1863–1869) *

Peggy Flanagan Peggy Flanagan (; born September 22, 1979) is an American politician and Native American activist serving as the 50th lieutenant governor of Minnesota since 2019. A member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL), Flanagan ser ...

, 50th lieutenant governor of Minnesota (2019–present) * John L. Gibbs, 14th lieutenant governor of Minnesota (1897–1899) * Charles A. Gilman, 9th lieutenant governor of Minnesota (1880–1887) * Samuel Y. Gordon, 19th lieutenant governor of Minnesota (1911–1913) * Carol Molnau, 46th lieutenant governor of Minnesota (2003–2011) * William I. Nolan, 26th lieutenant governor of Minnesota (1925–1929); U.S. representative from Minnesota's 5th district (1929–1933) * Charles D. Sherwood, 4th lieutenant governor of Minnesota (1864–1866) *

Konrad K. Solberg Konrad Knute Solberg (June 25, 1874 – January 28, 1954) was an American farmer and legislator who served as the 27th Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota from 1933 to 1935. Background Solberg was born in Rushford, Minnesota. He was the son of K ...

, 27th lieutenant governor of Minnesota (1933–1935) * James Wakefield, 9th lieutenant governor of Minnesota (1876–1880); U.S. representative from Minnesota's 2nd district (1883–1887) * William H. Yale, 6th lieutenant governor of Minnesota (1870–1874)

Attorneys general of Minnesota

, 19th governor of Minnesota (1915–1921); 20th lieutenant governor of Minnesota (1913–1915); 21st attorney general of Minnesota (1939–1955) * Gordon E. Cole, 2nd attorney general of Minnesota (1860–1866) * William J. Colvill, 3rd attorney general of Minnesota (1866–1888); Union colonel during the U.S. Civil War (1861–1863) * Francis R. E. Cornell, 4th attorney general of Minnesota (1868–1874) * Wallace B. Douglas, 10th attorney general of Minnesota (1899–1904) *

Keith Ellison Keith Maurice Ellison (born August 4, 1963) is an American politician and lawyer serving since 2019 as the 30th attorney general of Minnesota. A member of the Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL), Ellison was the U.S. representative for fr ...

, 30th attorney general of Minnesota (2019–present); U.S. representative from Minnesota's 5th district (2007–2019); deputy chair of the Democratic National Committee (2017–2018) * Douglas M. Head, 25th attorney general of Minnesota (1967–1971) *

Albert F. Pratt Albert Fuller Pratt (January 2, 1872 – January 28, 1928) was a Minnesota lawyer and politician. Pratt was born on a farm in 1872 in Anoka County, Minnesota, where he was raised. He graduated from the University of Minnesota Law School in 18 ...

, 16th attorney general of Minnesota (1927–1928) * George P. Wilson, 5th attorney general of Minnesota (1874–1880) * Edward T. Young 12th attorney general of Minnesota (1905–1909)

Treasurers of Minnesota

* Joseph Bobleter, 8th treasurer of Minnesota (1887–1895) * Carl A. Halverson, 18th treasurer of Minnesota (1937–1939) * August T. Koerner, 9th treasurer of Minnesota (1895–1901) * Emil D. Munch, 3rd treasurer of Minnesota (1868–1872) *

William Pfaender William Pfaender Sr. (born Jakob Wilhelm Pfänder, July 6, 1826 – August 11, 1905) was a German-American politician and businessman. Biography Born in Heilbronn, Kingdom of Württemberg, Pfaender emigrated to the United States in 1848 an ...

, 6th treasurer of Minnesota (1876–1880) * Henry Rines 15th treasurer of Minnesota (1917–1925) * Edward W. Stark, 16th treasurer of Minnesota (1925–1927)

U.S. representatives from Minnesota

* Henry M. Arens, 26th lieutenant governor of Minnesota (1931–1933); U.S. representative from Minnesota's General Ticket Seat One district (1933–1935) *

, 2nd lieutenant governor of Minnesota (1860–1863); U.S. representative from Minnesota's 2nd district (1863–1869) *

, 30th attorney general of Minnesota (2019–present); U.S. representative from Minnesota's 5th district (2007–2019); deputy chair of the Democratic National Committee (2017–2018) *

Tom Emmer Thomas Earl Emmer Jr. (born March 3, 1961) is an American attorney, lobbyist, and politician who has served as majority whip in the United States House of Representatives since 2023. A member of the Republican Party, he has represented since 2 ...

, U.S. House of Representatives majority whip (2023–present); chair of the National Republican Congressional Committee (2019–2023); U.S. representative from Minnesota's 6th district (2015–present) *

Arlen Erdahl Arlen Ingolf Erdahl (February 27, 1931 – September 21, 2023) was an American commercial farmer and politician. He served as a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives from 1963 to 1970, Minnesota Secretary of State from 1971–1975 a ...

, 18th secretary of state of Minnesota (1971–1975); U.S. representative from Minnesota's 1st district (1979–1983) *

Brad Finstad Bradley Howard Finstad (born May 30, 1976) is an American politician, farmer, and agricultural consultant serving as the U.S. representative for since 2022. Finstad represents a large section of southern Minnesota situated along the border with ...

, U.S. representative from Minnesota's 1st district (2022–present) *

Gil Gutknecht Gilbert William Gutknecht Jr. (, born March 20, 1951) is an American former politician. Gutknecht was a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives first elected in 1994 to represent Minnesota's 1st congressional district. ...

, U.S. representative from Minnesota's 1st district (1995–2007) *

, U.S. senator from Minnesota (1923–1925); U.S. representative from Minnesota's general ticket Seat Five district (1933–1935) *

Betty McCollum Betty Louise McCollum ( ; born July 12, 1954) is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative for , serving since 2001. She is a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL). McCollum's district centers on St. Paul, Minnesot ...

, U.S. representative from Minnesota's 4th district (2001–present) *

Rick Nolan Richard Michael Nolan (December 17, 1943 – October 18, 2024) was an American politician and businessman who served as the U.S. representative from Minnesota's 8th congressional district from 2013 to 2019. He previously served as the U.S. rep ...

, U.S. representative from Minnesota's 8th district (2013–2019); 6th district (1975–1981) * William I. Nolan, 26th lieutenant governor of Minnesota (1925–1929); U.S. representative from Minnesota's 5th district (1929–1933) *

Ilhan Omar Ilhan Abdullahi Omar (born October 4, 1982) is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative for since 2019. She is a member of the Democratic Party. Before her election to Congress, Omar served in the Minnesota House of Represen ...

, U.S. representative from Minnesota's 5th district (2019–present) *

Erik Paulsen Erik Philip Paulsen (born May 14, 1965) is an American businessman and politician who represented in the United States House of Representatives from 2009 to 2019. A member of the Republican Party, he served in the Minnesota House of Representat ...

, U.S. representative from Minnesota's 3rd district (2009–2019) * James Wakefield, 9th lieutenant governor of Minnesota (1876–1880); U.S. representative from Minnesota's 2nd district (1883–1887) * William D. Washburn, U.S. senator from Minnesota (1889–1895); U.S. representative from Minnesota's 3rd district (1879–1883) and 4th district (1883–1885) * Thomas Wilson, U.S. representative from Minnesota's 1st district (1887–1889); Chief justice of the supreme court of Minnesota (1865–1869); associate justice of the supreme court of Minnesota (1864–1865)

Others

* Francis Baasen, 1st secretary of state of Minnesota (1858–1860) * Robert C. Dunn, 6th auditor of Minnesota (1895–1903) *

Joan Growe Joan Ruth Anderson Growe (born September 28, 1935) is an American politician who served as Secretary of State of Minnesota from 1975 to 1999. Known for her work to encourage voter participation, her 24-year tenure was the second longest of any se ...

, 19th secretary of state of Minnesota (1975–1999) * Samuel G. Iverson, 7th auditor of Minnesota (1903–1915) *

Mary Kiffmeyer Mary Kiffmeyer (born December 29, 1946) is an American politician. She served as Minnesota Secretary of State from 1999 to 2007 and went on to serve in the Minnesota legislature. A member of the Republican Party of Minnesota, she previously repre ...

, 20th secretary of state of Minnesota (1999–2007) *

William O'Brien William O'Brien (2 October 1852 – 25 February 1928) was an Irish nationalist, journalist, agrarian agitator, social revolutionary, politician, party leader, newspaper publisher, author and Member of Parliament (MP) in the House of Commons of ...

, 11th auditor of Minnesota (1969–1971) *

Rebecca Otto Rebecca Otto (born July 9, 1963) is an American politician who served as State Auditor of Minnesota from 2007 to 2019. Affiliated with the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL), she served in the Minnesota House of Representatives from 20 ...

, 18th auditor of Minnesota (2007–2019) *

Steve Simon Steve Simon (born December 12, 1969) is an American politician from the state of Minnesota serving as the 22nd Minnesota Secretary of State. A member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL), he previously represented District 46B ...

, 22nd secretary of state of Minnesota (2015–present)

Notes

References

External links

* {{Coord, 44, 57, 20, N, 93, 6, 8, W, region:US-MN_type:landmark, display=title

House A house is a single-unit residential building. It may range in complexity from a rudimentary hut to a complex structure of wood, masonry, concrete or other material, outfitted with plumbing, electrical, and heating, ventilation, and air c ...

State lower houses in the United States