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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

The Speaker of the House - usually a member of whichever party holds the majority of seats in the House - presides over House floor sessions, managing the business before the House and maintaining order, and serves as the primary leader of their political party in the House. Typically, the Majority Leader is a member of the same political party as the Speaker, helps the Speaker manage the business of the day, and serves as a second-in-command to the Speaker for their political party in the House. The Minority Leader serves as the primary leader for their political party in the House. The position of Majority or Minority Leader, elected at the beginning of the odd year session by each respective caucus, is usually held for the full biennium. Changes made during the biennium are noted.

This page was compiled by the Minnesota Legislative Reference Library from information in Minnesota legislative manuals, Journals of the House, and 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.

YEAR MAJORITY LEADER MAJORITY LEADER PARTY MINORITY LEADER MINORITY LEADER PARTY
2025-2026

Niska, Harry (R) - Majority Leader from January 14, 2025 to March 17, 2025. Republican Floor Leader beginning March 17, 2025.

Hortman, Melissa (DFL) - Speaker Emerita and DFL Caucus Leader from January 14, 2025 to June 14 2025.

Stephenson, Zack (DFL) – DFL Caucus Leader beginning September 8, 2025.

Long, Jamie (DFL) - DFL Floor Leader.

Leadership was not straightforward in 2025.  The election resulted in a tied House but District 40B was declared vacant at the convening of the House of Representatives on January 14, 2025, giving the Republicans a majority. The House became tied again when a DFL member was sworn in on March 17, 2025. A leadership agreement determined leadership roles. Per the leadership agreement, the DFL Caucus Leader assumed some responsibilities that are typically roles of the Speaker of the House.

 See note under Majority Leader heading.
2023-2024 Long, Jamie Democratic-Farmer-Labor Demuth, Lisa Republican
2021-2022 Winkler, Ryan Democratic-Farmer-Labor Daudt, Kurt Republican
2019-2020 Winkler, Ryan Democratic-Farmer-Labor Daudt, Kurt Republican
2017-2018 Peppin, Joyce Republican Hortman, Melissa Democratic-Farmer-Labor
2015-2016 Peppin, Joyce Republican Thissen, Paul Democratic-Farmer-Labor
2013-2014 Murphy, Erin Democratic-Farmer-Labor Daudt, Kurt Republican
2011-2012 Dean, Matt Republican Thissen, Paul Democratic-Farmer-Labor
2009-2010 Sertich, Anthony "Tony" Democratic-Farmer-Labor Zellers, Kurt
Elected House minority leader on June 23, 2009.
Seifert, Marty resigned on June 24, 2009 to prepare campaign for governor.		 Republican
2007-2006 Sertich, Anthony "Tony" Democratic-Farmer-Labor Seifert, Marty Republican
2006 Paulsen, Erik Republican Kelliher, Margaret Anderson
Elected minority leader on June 20, 2006.
Entenza, Matt resigned to focus on state attorney general campaign.		 Democratic-Farmer-Labor
2005-2006 Paulsen, Erik Republican Entenza, Matt Democratic-Farmer-Labor
2003-2004 Paulsen, Erik Republican Entenza, Matt Democratic-Farmer-Labor
2001-2002 Pawlenty, Tim Republican Pugh, Tom Democratic-Farmer-Labor
1999-2000 Pawlenty, Tim Republican Pugh, Tom Democratic-Farmer-Labor
1997-1998 Winter, Ted Democratic-Farmer-Labor Sviggum, Steve Independent Republican
1995-1996 Carruthers, Phil Democratic-Farmer-Labor Sviggum, Steve Independent Republican
1994 Carruthers, Phil Democratic-Farmer-Labor Sviggum, Steve Independent Republican
1993 Anderson, Irvin N.
Elected majority leader on March 25, 1993. Elected speaker on September 1993 by DFL caucus.		 Democratic-Farmer-Labor Sviggum, Steve Independent Republican
1993 Welle, Allan;
resigned as majority leader, March 1993.		 Democratic-Farmer-Labor Sviggum, Steve Independent Republican
1992 Welle, Allan Democratic-Farmer-Labor Dempsey, Terry Independent Republican
1991 Long, Dee
Elected speaker on January 6, 1992.		 Democratic-Farmer-Labor Dempsey, Terry Independent Republican
1989-1990 Long, Dee
Elected majority leader by DFL caucus.		 Democratic-Farmer-Labor Schreiber, William H. Independent Republican
1989 Wynia, Ann
Resigned on September 1, 1989 to become commissioner of human services.		 Democratic-Farmer-Labor Schreiber, William H. Independent Republican
1987-1988 Vanasek, Robert E.
Elected speaker on June 6 1987, effective July 1, 1987.
Wynia, Ann elected majority leader by DFL caucus.		 Democratic-Farmer-Labor Schreiber, William H. Independent Republican
1985-1986 Levi, Connie Independent Republican Norton, Fred Democratic-Farmer-Labor
1983-1984 Eken, Willis R.
Resigned August 1984, no majority leader elected to replace him. Sieben, Harry, speaker, appointed himself majority leader.		 Democratic-Farmer-Labor Jennings, David M. Republican
1981-1982 Eken, Willis R. Democratic-Farmer-Labor Sherwood, Glen
Resigned February 1982 to run for governor. Jennings, David M. elected minority leader by IR caucus, 1982.		 Republican
1980 Anderson, Irvin N. Democratic-Farmer-Labor Searle, Rodney N. Republican
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.
1977-1978 Anderson, Irvin N. Democratic-Farmer-Labor Savelkoul, Henry J. Republican
1975-1976 Anderson, Irvin N. Democratic-Farmer-Labor Savelkoul, Henry J. Republican
1973-1974 Anderson, Irvin N. Democratic-Farmer-Labor Dirlam, Aubrey W. Republican
1971 Lindstrom, Ernest A. Republican Sabo, Martin O. Liberal
1969 Dirlam, Aubrey W. Conservative Sabo, Martin O. Liberal
1967E Dirlam, Aubrey W. Conservative
1967 Dirlam, Aubrey W. Conservative Cina, Fred A. Liberal
1966E Dirlam, Aubrey W. Conservative
1965 Dirlam, Aubrey W. Conservative Cina, Fred A. Liberal
1963 Dirlam, Aubrey W. Conservative Cina, Fred A. Liberal
1961E Cina, Fred A. Liberal
1961 Cina, Fred A Liberal Duxbury, Lloyd L. Conservative
1959E Cina, Fred A. Liberal
1959 Cina, Fred A. Liberal Duxbury, Lloyd L. Conservative
1958E Cina, Fred A. Liberal
1957E Cina, Fred A. Liberal
1957 Cina, Fred A. Liberal Dirlam, Aubrey W. Conservative
1955E Cina, Fred A. Liberal
1955 Cina, Fred A. Liberal Hartle, John A. Conservative
1953 Dunn, Roy E. Conservative Cina, Fred A. Liberal
1951 Dunn, Roy E. Conservative Cina, Fred A. Liberal
1949 Dunn, Roy E. Conservative Chilgren, Edwin J. Liberal
1947 Dunn, Roy E. Conservative Prifrel, Joseph L Liberal
1945 Dunn, Roy E. Conservative Halsted, Charles L. Liberal
1944E Dunn, Roy E. Conservative
1943 Dunn, Roy E. Conservative
1941 Dunn, Roy E. Conservative
1939 Dunn, Roy E. Conservative
1937E Eastvold, Carl J.
1937 Eastvold, Carl J. or Dunn, Roy E.?
(lists disagree)
1936E Dunn, Roy E. Conservative
1935E Dunn, Roy E. Conservative
1935 Dunn, Roy E. Conservative
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