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Majority and Minority Leaders of the House
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 |
| 2025-2026 |
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.
Niska, Harry (R) - Majority Leader from January 14, 2025 to March 17, 2025. Republican Floor Leader starting March 17, 2025.
Long, Jamie (DFL) - DFL Floor Leader from January 14, 2025 to the present.
Hortman, Melissa (DFL) - Speaker Emerita, DFL Leader from January 14, 2025 to the present.
|
|
See note under Majority Leader heading. |
|
| 2023-2024 |
Long, Jamie |
DFL |
Demuth, Lisa |
R |
| 2021-2022 |
Winkler, Ryan |
DFL |
Daudt, Kurt |
R |
| 2019-2020 |
Winkler, Ryan |
DFL |
Daudt, Kurt |
R |
| 2017-2018 |
Peppin, Joyce |
R |
Hortman, Melissa |
DFL |
| 2015-2016 |
Peppin, Joyce |
R |
Thissen, Paul |
DFL |
| 2013-2014 |
Murphy, Erin |
DFL |
Daudt, Kurt |
R |
| 2011-2012 |
Dean, Matt |
R |
Thissen, Paul |
DFL |
| 2009-2010 |
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 |
| 2007-2006 |
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 |
| 2005-2006 |
Paulsen, Erik |
R |
Entenza, Matt |
DFL |
| 2003-2004 |
Paulsen, Erik |
R |
Entenza, Matt |
DFL |
| 2001-2002 |
Pawlenty, Tim |
R |
Pugh, Tom |
DFL |
| 1999-2000 |
Pawlenty, Tim |
R |
Pugh, Tom |
DFL |
| 1997-1998 |
Winter, Ted |
DFL |
Sviggum, Steve |
IR |
| 1995-1996 |
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 |
| 1989-1990 |
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 |
| 1987-1988 |
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 |
| 1985-1986 |
Levi, Connie |
IR |
Norton, Fred |
DFL |
| 1983-1984 |
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 |
| 1981-1982 |
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. |
|
| 1977-1978 |
Anderson, Irvin N. |
DFL |
Savelkoul, Henry J. |
R |
| 1975-1976 |
Anderson, Irvin N. |
DFL |
Savelkoul, Henry J. |
R |
| 1973-1974 |
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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