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Majority and Minority Leaders of the Minnesota Senate, 1933-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 |
Leadership was not straightforward in 2025. Due to a vacant seat at the convening of the Senate on January 14, 2025, the Senate was tied 33-33. A power sharing agreement provided for Senate co-leadership:
Murphy, Erin P. (DFL) – Senate DFL Leader from January 14, 2025 - February 3, 2025
Johnson, Mark T. (R) – Senate GOP Leader from January 14, 2025 - February 3, 2025
The DFL became the majority when a DFL member was sworn in on February 3, 2025.
Murphy, Erin P. (DFL) Majority Leader (February 3, 2025 -)
|
|
Johnson, Mark T. from February 3, 2025 - |
R |
| 2024 |
Murphy, Erin
She was elected Majority Leader by the DFL caucus on February 6, 2024 due to the resignation of Senator Kari Dziedzic from her leadership position. |
DFL |
Johnson, Mark |
R |
| 2023 |
Dziedzic, Kari |
DFL |
Johnson, Mark |
R |
| 2022 |
Miller, Jeremy
He was elected Majority Leader by the Republican caucus on September 8, 2021. |
R |
López Franzen, Melisa
She was elected Minority Leader by the DFL caucus on September 13, 2021. |
DFL |
| 2021 |
Johnson, Mark
He was appointed interim Majority Leader in September 2021. |
R |
Kent, Susan
She resigned as Minority Leader on September 13, 2021. |
DFL |
| 2021 |
Gazelka, Paul
He announced on September 1, 2021 that he will resign as Majority Leader in September. |
R |
Kent, Susan
She resigned as Minority Leader on September 13, 2021. |
DFL |
| 2020 |
Gazelka, Paul |
R |
Kent, Susan
She was elected Minority Leader by the DFL caucus on February 1, 2020. On February 11, 2020, the Senate passed Senate Resolution No. 122 naming a Majority Leader and a Minority Leader. |
DFL |
| 2019 |
Gazelka, Paul |
R |
Bakk, Thomas M. |
DFL |
| 2017 |
Gazelka, Paul |
R |
Bakk, Thomas M. |
DFL |
| 2015 |
Bakk, Thomas M. |
DFL |
Hann, David W. |
R |
| 2013 |
Bakk, Thomas M. |
DFL |
Hann, David W. |
R |
| 2012 |
Senjem, David H.
He was elected Majority Leader by the Republican caucus on December 27, 2011. On January 24, 2012, the Senate passed Senate Resolution No. 92 naming a Majority Leader and a Minority Leader. |
R |
Bakk, Thomas M. |
DFL |
| 2011 |
Koch, Amy T.
Announced on December 15, 2011 that she was stepping down as Majority Leader. |
R |
Bakk, Thomas M. |
DFL |
| 2009 |
Pogemiller, Lawrence J. |
DFL |
Senjem, David H. |
R |
| 2007 |
Pogemiller, Lawrence J. |
DFL |
Senjem, David H. |
R |
| 2005 |
Johnson, Dean1 |
DFL |
Day, Dick |
R |
| 2004 |
Johnson, Dean1 [mid-biennium change] |
DFL |
Day, Dick |
R |
| 2003 |
Hottinger, John |
DFL |
Day, Dick |
R |
| 2001 |
Moe, Roger D. |
DFL |
Day, Dick |
R |
| 1999 |
Moe, Roger D. |
DFL |
Day, Dick |
R |
| 1997 |
Moe, Roger D. |
DFL |
Day, Dick
Elected by caucus on July 9, 1997.
Johnson, Dean1 |
R
R |
| 1995 |
Moe, Roger D. |
DFL |
Johnson, Dean1 |
IR |
| 1993 |
Moe, Roger D. |
DFL |
Johnson, Dean1 |
IR |
| 1991 |
Moe, Roger D. |
DFL |
Benson, Duane D. |
IR |
| 1989 |
Moe, Roger D. |
DFL |
Benson, Duane D. |
IR |
| 1987 |
Moe, Roger D. |
DFL |
Benson, Duane D. |
IR |
| 1985 |
Moe, Roger D. |
DFL |
Taylor, Glen
Ulland, James E.
Resigned from the Legislature to become senior vice president for First Bank Systems. |
IR
IR |
| 1983 |
Moe, Roger D. |
DFL |
Ulland, James E. |
IR |
| 1981 |
Moe, Roger D. |
DFL |
Ashbach, Robert O. |
IR |
| 1979 |
Coleman, Nicholas D. |
DFL |
Ashbach, Robert O. |
IR |
| 1977 |
Coleman, Nicholas D. |
DFL |
Ashbach, Robert O. |
IR |
| 1975 |
Coleman, Nicholas D. |
DFL |
Ashbach, Robert O. |
R |
| 1973 |
Coleman, Nicholas D. |
DFL |
Krieger, Harold G. |
R |
| 1971 |
Holmquist, Stanley W. |
C |
Coleman, Nicholas D. |
L |
| 1969 |
Holmquist, Stanley W. |
C |
Grittner, Karl F. (Karl Frederick) |
L |
| 1967 |
Holmquist, Stanley W. |
C |
Grittner, Karl F. (Karl Frederick) |
L |
| 1965 |
Zwach, John M. |
C |
Thuet, Paul A. |
L |
| 1963 |
Zwach, John M. |
C |
Thuet, Paul A. |
L |
| 1961 |
Zwach, John M. |
C |
Schultz, Harold W. |
L |
| 1959 |
Zwach, John M. |
C |
Schultz, Harold W. |
L |
| 1957 |
Miller, Archie H. |
|
Schultz, Harold W. |
L |
| 1955 |
Miller, Archie H. |
C |
Schultz, Harold W. |
L |
| 1953 |
Miller, Archie H. |
C |
Novak, B. G. (Bolesaw G., "Bill") |
L |
| 1951 |
Miller, Archie H. |
C |
Novak, B. G. (Bolesaw G., "Bill") |
L |
| 1949 |
Miller, Archie H.
Orr, Charles N. (Charles Noah)
Died in a car accident. |
C
C |
|
|
| 1947 |
Orr, Charles N. (Charles Noah) |
C |
|
|
| 1945 |
Orr, Charles N. (Charles Noah) |
C |
|
|
| 1943 |
Orr, Charles N. (Charles Noah) |
C |
|
|
| 1941 |
Orr, Charles N. (Charles Noah) |
C |
|
|
| 1939 |
Orr, Charles N. (Charles Noah) |
C |
|
|
| 1937 |
Orr, Charles N. (Charles Noah) |
C |
|
|
| 1935 |
Orr, Charles N. (Charles Noah) |
C |
|
|
| 1933 |
Orr, Charles N. (Charles Noah) |
C |
|
|
1Dean Johnson changed political parties and has been both Majority Leader and Minority Leader as a member of different parties.