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    Historical Information

    Majority and Minority Leaders of the Minnesota House of Representatives, 1901-present

    Compiled by the Minnesota Legislative Reference Library

    Compiled from Minnesota legislative manuals and other sources, including previous library compilations and several histories of Minnesota. Where a name or party designation is not given in the list, it was not given authoritatively in the sources so far consulted. It may be available from other sources. While efforts have been made to verify this information in more than one source, the library cannot guarantee the accuracy of sources; errors are possible. Please report any errors to the library staff.

    Abbreviations KEY:

    A = Alliance, C = Conservative, D = Democrat, DFL = Democratic-Farmer-Labor, E = Extra Session, FL = Farmer-Labor, IR = Independent-Republican, L = Liberal, P = Populist, R = Republican, W = Whig

    The position of Majority or Minority Leader, elected at the beginning of the odd year session, is usually held for the full biennium. Changes made during the biennium are noted.

    YEAR MAJORITY LEADER MAJORITY LEADER PARTY MINORITY LEADER MINORITY LEADER PARTY
    2023 Long, Jamie DFL Demuth, Lisa R
    2021 Winkler, Ryan DFL Daudt, Kurt R
    2019 Winkler, Ryan DFL Daudt, Kurt R
    2017 Peppin, Joyce R Hortman, Melissa DFL
    2015 Peppin, Joyce R Thissen, Paul DFL
    2013 Murphy, Erin DFL Daudt, Kurt R
    2011 Dean, Matt R Thissen, Paul DFL
    2010 Sertich, Anthony "Tony" DFL Zellers, Kurt R
    2009 Sertich, Anthony "Tony" DFL Zellers, Kurt
    Elected House minority leader on June 23, 2009.
    Seifert, Marty resigned on June 24, 2009 to prepare campaign for governor.    		 R
    2007 Sertich, Anthony "Tony" DFL Seifert, Marty R
    2006 Paulsen, Erik R Kelliher, Margaret Anderson
    Elected minority leader on June 20, 2006.
    Entenza, Matt resigned to focus on state attorney general campaign.    		 DFL
    2005 Paulsen, Erik R Entenza, Matt DFL
    2003 Paulsen, Erik R Entenza, Matt DFL
    2001 Pawlenty, Tim R Pugh, Tom DFL
    1999 Pawlenty, Tim R Pugh, Tom DFL
    1997 Winter, Ted DFL Sviggum, Steve IR
    1995 Carruthers, Phil DFL Sviggum, Steve IR
    1994 Carruthers, Phil DFL Sviggum, Steve IR
    1993 Anderson, Irvin N.
    Elected majority leader on March 25, 1993. Elected speaker on September 1993 by DFL caucus.    		 DFL Sviggum, Steve IR
    1993 Welle, Allan;
    resigned as majority leader, March 1993.    		 DFL Sviggum, Steve IR
    1992 Welle, Allan DFL Dempsey, Terry IR
    1991 Long, Dee
    Elected speaker on January 6, 1992.    		 DFL Dempsey, Terry IR
    1989 Long, Dee
    Elected majority leader by DFL caucus.    		 DFL Schreiber, William H. IR
    1989 Wynia, Ann
    Resigned on September 1, 1989 to become commissioner of human services.    		 DFL Schreiber, William H. IR
    1987 Vanasek, Robert E.
    Elected speaker on June 6 1987, effective July 1, 1987.
    Wynia, Ann elected majority leader by DFL caucus.    		 DFL Schreiber, William H. IR
    1985 Levi, Connie IR Norton, Fred DFL
    1983 Eken, Willis R.
    Resigned August 1984, no majority leader elected to replace him. Sieben, Harry, speaker, appointed himself majority leader.    		 DFL Jennings, David M. R
    1981 Eken, Willis R. DFL Sherwood, Glen
    Resigned February 1982 to run for governor. Jennings, David M. elected minority leader by IR caucus, 1982.    		 R
    1980 Anderson, Irvin N. DFL Searle, Rodney N. R
    1979 Not Applicable.
    The House was evenly divided, 67-67 so the Majority and Minority designations did not exist.
    Compromise: both parties assumed designated committee assignments; Knickerbocker, Jerry (IR) and Anderson, Irvin N. (DFL) were the designated party caucus leaders.    		 Not Applicable.
    See note under Majority Leader heading.
    1977 Anderson, Irvin N. DFL Savelkoul, Henry J. R
    1975 Anderson, Irvin N. DFL Savelkoul, Henry J. R
    1973 Anderson, Irvin N. DFL Dirlam, Aubrey W. R
    1971 Lindstrom, Ernest A. R Sabo, Martin O. L
    1969 Dirlam, Aubrey W. C Sabo, Martin O. L
    1967E Dirlam, Aubrey W. C
    1967 Dirlam, Aubrey W. C Cina, Fred A. L
    1966E Dirlam, Aubrey W. C
    1965 Dirlam, Aubrey W. C Cina, Fred A. L
    1963 Dirlam, Aubrey W. C Cina, Fred A. L
    1961E Cina, Fred A. L
    1961 Cina, Fred A L Duxbury, Lloyd L. C
    1959E Cina, Fred A. L
    1959 Cina, Fred A. L Duxbury, Lloyd L. C
    1958E Cina, Fred A. L
    1957E Cina, Fred A. L
    1957 Cina, Fred A. L Dirlam, Aubrey W. C
    1955E Cina, Fred A. L
    1955 Cina, Fred A. L Hartle, John A. C
    1953 Dunn, Roy E. C Cina, Fred A. L
    1951 Dunn, Roy E. C Cina, Fred A. L
    1949 Dunn, Roy E. C Chilgren, Edwin J. L
    1947 Dunn, Roy E. C Prifrel, Joseph L L
    1945 Dunn, Roy E. C Halsted, Charles L. L
    1944E Dunn, Roy E. C
    1943 Dunn, Roy E. C
    1941 Dunn, Roy E. C
    1939 Dunn, Roy E. C
    1937E Eastvold, Carl J.
    1937 Eastvold, Carl J. or Dunn, Roy E.?
    (lists disagree)
    1936E Dunn, Roy E. C
    1935E Dunn, Roy E. C
    1935 Dunn, Roy E. C
    1933 McDonough, John J. or Dunn, Roy E.?
    (lists disagree)
    1931 Norton, Willis I.
    1929 Norton, Willis I.
    1927 Norton, Willis I.
    1925 Norton, Willis I.
    1923 Norton, Willis I.
    1921 Norton, Willis I.
    1919 Norton, Willis I.
    1917 Norton, Willis I.
    1915 Girling, Thomas H.
    1913 Nolan, William I.
    1911 MacKenzie, George A.
    1909 Rines, Henry
    1907 Rockne, Anton J.
    1905 Rockne, Anton J.
    1903 Wilson, George W.
    1901 Dunn, Winslow W.
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    Historical Information