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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 |
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 as 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 as 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
March 25, 1993.
Elected speaker,
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
January 6, 1992. |
DFL |
Dempsey, Terry |
IR |
| 1989 |
Long, Dee; elected
majority leader by DFL caucus. |
DFL |
Schreiber, William R (H.?) |
IR |
| 1989 |
Wynia, Ann; resigned
September 1, 1989, to become
commissioner of human services.
|
DFL |
Schreiber, William R (H.?) |
IR |
| 1987 |
Vanasek, Robert E.; elected speaker
June 6 1987, effective July 1, 1987.
Wynia, Ann; elected
majority leader by DFL caucus. |
DFL |
Schreiber, William R (H.?) |
IR |
| 1985 |
Levi, Connie |
IR |
Norton, Fred |
DFL |
| 1983 |
Eken, Willis R.;
resigned August 1984, no majority leader elected
to replace him. Harry Sieben, speaker,
appointed himself majority leader. |
DFL |
Jennings, David M. |
R |
| 1981 |
Eken, Willis R. |
DFL |
Sherwood, Glen;resigned Feb. 1982
to run for governor
Jennings, David M.; R
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.
(Martin Olav) |
L |
| 1969 |
Dirlam, Aubrey W. |
C |
Sabo, Martin O.
(Martin Olav) |
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 Roy Dunn?
(lists disagree) |
|
|
|
| 1936E |
Dunn, Roy E. |
C |
|
|
| 1935E |
Dunn, Roy E. |
C |
|
|
| 1935 |
Dunn, Roy E. |
C |
|
|
| 1933 |
McDonough, John J.; or Roy Dunn?
(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.
(George Allison) |
|
|
|
| 1909 |
Rines, Henry |
|
|
|
| 1907 |
Rockne, Anton J.
(Anton Julius) |
|
|
|
| 1905 |
Rockne, Anton J.
(Anton Julius) |
|
|
|
| 1903 |
Wilson, George W. |
|
|
|
| 1901 |
Dunn, Winslow W. R |
|
|
|