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Speakers of the House

Speakers of the Minnesota House of Representatives, 1849-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. Citations to "Toensing" refer to W.F. Toensing, Minnesota Congressmen, Legislators, and Other Elected State Officials: An Alphabetical Check List, 1849-1971 (Minnesota Historical Society, 1971). 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 House Speaker, elected at the beginning of the odd year session, is usually held for the full biennium. Changes made during the biennium are noted.

YEAR	SPEAKER	PARTY	DIST.	RESIDENCE
2025	Lisa Demuth (Melissa Hortman - Speaker Emerita, DFL 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.	R	13A	Cold Spring
2023	Melissa Hortman	DFL	34B	Brooklyn Park
2021	Melissa Hortman	DFL	36B	Brooklyn Park
2019	Melissa Hortman	DFL	36B	Brooklyn Park
2017	Kurt Daudt	R	31A	Crown
2015	Kurt Daudt	R	31A	Crown
2013	Paul Thissen	DFL	61B	Minneapolis
2011	Kurt Zellers	R	32B	Maple Grove
2009	Margaret Anderson Kelliher	DFL	60A	Minneapolis
2007	Margaret Anderson Kelliher	DFL	60A	Minneapolis
2005	Steve Sviggum	R	28B	Kenyon
2003	Steve Sviggum	R	28B	Kenyon
2001	Steve Sviggum	R	28B	Kenyon
1999	Steve Sviggum	R	28B	Kenyon
1997	Phil Carruthers	DFL	47B	Brooklyn Center
1995	Irvin N. "Irv" Anderson	DFL	3A	International Falls
1993	Irvin N. "Irv" Anderson; elected by DFL caucus September 1,1993.	DFL	3A	International Falls
1993	Dee Long; resigned speaker's chair August 5, 1993, effective September 15, 1993.	DFL	59A	Minneapolis
1992	Dee Long; elected speaker-designate by DFL caucus August 11, 1991; elected speaker by House, January 6, 1992.	DFL	59A	Minneapolis
1991	Robert E. Vanasek	DFL	25A	New Prague
1989	Robert E. Vanasek	DFL	25A	New Prague
1987	Robert E. Vanasek; elected speaker by DFL caucus June 2, 1987, elected Speaker of by the House on June 25, 1987 (Special Session), effective June 25, 1987 )	DFL	25A	New Prague
1987	Fred C. Norton; appointed by Gov. Perpich to Minn. Court of Appeals, May 27, 1987, effective July 1, 1987.	DFL	65A	St. Paul
1985	David M. Jennings	IR	29A	Truman
1985E	David M. Jennings	IR	29A	Truman
1983	Harry A. (Tex) Sieben, Jr.	DFL	37B	Hastings
1982E1	Harry A. (Tex) Sieben, Jr.	DFL	52B	Hastings
1982E2	Harry A. (Tex) Sieben, Jr.	DFL	52B	Hastings
1982E3	Harry A. (Tex) Sieben, Jr.	DFL	52B	Hastings
1981	Harry A. (Tex) Sieben, Jr.	DFL	52B	Hastings
1981E1	Harry A. (Tex) Sieben, Jr.	DFL	52B	Hastings
1981E2	Harry A. (Tex) Sieben, Jr.	DFL	52B	Hastings
1981E3	Harry A. (Tex) Sieben, Jr.	DFL	52B	Hastings
1980	Fred C. Norton; mid-term retirements and other changes necessitated elections resulting in 68-66 DFL majority; DFL split in two factions (23/45); a coalition of 49 IR and 26 DFL elected Norton Speaker.	DFL	65A	St. Paul
1979	Rodney N. Searle; elected as a compromise since the house was evenly divided (67/67)*.	IR	30B	Waseca
1977	Martin O. Sabo (Martin Olav)	DFL	57B	Minneapolis
1975	Martin O. Sabo (Martin Olav)	DFL	57B	Minneapolis
1973	Martin O. Sabo (Martin Olav)	DFL	57B	Minneapolis
1971	Aubrey W. Dirlam	C/R	17A	Redwood Falls
1971E	Aubrey W. Dirlam	C/R	17A	Redwood Falls
1969	Lloyd L. Duxbury	C/R	1B	Caledonia
1967	Lloyd L. Duxbury	C/R	1B	Caledonia
1967E	Lloyd L. Duxbury	C/R	1B	Caledonia
1966E	Lloyd L. Duxbury	C/R	1	Caledonia
1965	Lloyd L. Duxbury	C/R	1	Caledonia
1963	Lloyd L. Duxbury	C/R	1	Caledonia
1961	Edwin J. Chilgren	L/D	62	Littlefork
1961E	Edwin J. Chilgren; "The Liberals have controlled the House only in 1933, 1937, 1955, 1957, 1959 and 1961"--Mitau, Politics in Minnesota (1970), p. 83.	L/D	62	Littlefork
1961E2	Edwin J. Chilgren	L/D	62	Littlefork
1959	Edwin J. Chilgren	L/D	62	Littlefork
1959E	Edwin J. Chilgren	L/D	62	Littlefork
1958E	Alfred I. Johnson	L/D	25	Benson
1957	Alfred I. Johnson	L/D	25	Benson
1957E	Alfred I. Johnson	L/D	25	Benson
1955	Alfred I. Johnson	L/D	25	Benson
1955E	Alfred I. Johnson	L/D	25	Benson
1953	John A. Hartle	C/R	16	Owatonna
1951	John A. Hartle	C/R	16	Owatonna
1951E	John A. Hartle	C/R	16	Owatonna
1949	John A. Hartle	C/R	16	Owatonna
1947	Lawrence M. Hall	C/R	45	St. Cloud
1945	Lawrence M. Hall	C/R	45	St. Cloud
1944E	Lawrence M. Hall	C/R	45	St. Cloud
1943	Lawrence M. Hall	C/R	45	St. Cloud
1941	Lawrence M. Hall	C/R	45	St. Cloud
1939	Lawrence M. Hall; elected as Democrat in 1934; in 1939, caucused with Conservatives.	C/R	45	St. Cloud
1937	Harold H. Barker (Harold Henry)	L/FL	48	Elbow Lake
1937E	Harold H. Barker (Harold Henry)	L/FL	48	Elbow Lake
1936E	George W. Johnson	C/R	59	Duluth
1935	George W. Johnson	C/R	59	Duluth
1935E	George W. Johnson	C/R	59	Duluth
1933	Charles Munn; originally (date?) caucused with Conservatives, but was elected to Railroad and Warehouse Commission in 1934 as Farmer-Labor.	L/FL	36	Osseo
1933E	Charles Munn	L	36	Osseo
1931	Oscar A. Swenson	C/R	15	Nicollet
1929	John A. Johnson	C/R	1	Preston
1927	John A. Johnson	C/R	1	Preston
1925	John A. Johnson	C/R	1	Preston (erroneously given as "Princeton" in 1925 legislative manual)
1923	William I. Nolan	C/R	33	Minneapolis
1921	William I. Nolan	C/R	33	Minneapolis
1919	William I. Nolan; "Although Conservative members were in control of the Legislature-- there were 24 Representatives and 8 Senators who were elected with the endorsement of the Nonpartisan league ... 5 Senators and 11 Representatives of the 'Working People's Nonpartisan Political League."--Christianson, Minnesota history, v. 2, p. 371.	C/R	33	Minneapolis
1919E	William I. Nolan	C/R	33	Minneapolis
1917	Ralph J. Parker	C?	1	Spring Valley
1916E	H. H. Flowers	C/R	17	Cleveland
1915	H. H. Flowers	C/R	17	Cleveland
1913	Henry Rines; "'Progressives' controlled the organization of both houses"--Christianson, Minnesota history, v. 2 p. 330.		32	Mora
1912E	Howard H. Dunn	R	9	Fairmont
1911	Howard H. Dunn	R	9	Fairmont
1909	Anton J. Rockne (Anton Julius); "Governor Eberhart was a Republican and his party now again in full control of the Executive and Legislative branches of the state government."--Christian son, Minnesota history, v. 2, p. 317.	R	29	Zumbrota
1907	Lawrence H. Johnson; name given as Lawrence W. in Minnesota in three centuries, v. 4, p. 299, but as Lawrence H. on p. 298.	R	43	Minneapolis
1905	Frank Clague; "Legislature remained under Republican control" [during Gov. John A. Johnson's terms, 1905-1909]--Mitau, Politics in Minnesota, p. 9.	R	19	Lamberton
1903	Leverett W. Babcock; "[From 1860 to 1904 the] state Legislature remained under Republican control except for 1891 session"--Mitau, Politics in Minnesota, p. 6. Name given (probably erroneously) as L. V. Babcock in Minnesota in three centuries, v. 4, p. 282.	R	53	Wadena
1902E	Michael J. Dowling (Michael John)	R	22	Renville
1901	Michael J. Dowling (Michael John)	R	22	Renville
1899	Arthur N. Dare	R	45	Elk River
1897	John D. Jones; Jones' service as speaker shown as 1895 in Toensing	R	46	Long Prairie
1895	Samuel R. Van Sant (Samuel Rinnah)		15	Winona
1893	William E. Lee (William Edward)	R	46	Long Prairie
1891	Ezra T. Champlin; Democratic-Alliance coalition--Minnesota history, Sept. 1957, p. 303.	A	10	Garden City
1889	Charles H. Graves (Charles Hinman)	R	46	Duluth
1887	William R. Merriam (William Rush)	R	26	St. Paul
1885	John L. Gibbs	R	4	Geneva
1883	Loren Fletcher	R	29	Minneapolis
1881	Loren Fletcher	R	26	Minneapolis
1881E	Loren Fletcher	R	26	Minneapolis
1879	Charles A. Gilman (Charles Andrew) In Toensing, Gilman is shown as speaker in 1879 only.	R	31	St. Cloud
1878	Charles A. Gilman (Charles Andrew)	R	31	St. Cloud
1877	John L. Gibbs; John L. Gibbs' service as speaker shown as 1876 in Toensing	R	5	Geneva
1876	William R. Kinyon	R	12	Owatonna
1875	William R. Kinyon	R	12	Owatonna
1874	Albert R. Hall	R?	27	Dayton
1873	Albert R. Hall	R?	27	Dayton
1872	Albert R. Hall	R?	27	Dayton
1871	John L. Merriam	R	1	St. Paul
1870	John L. Merriam	R	1	St. Paul
1869	Chester D. Davidson	R	5	Minneapolis
1868	John Q. Farmer (John Quincy)	W;R	14	Spring Valley
1867	John Q. Farmer (John Quincy)	W;R	14	Spring Valley
1866	James B. Wakefield	R	20	Blue Earth City (Blue Earth, Winnebago per Toensing)
1865	Thomas H. Armstrong; Toensing shows Armstrong as speaker 1864-1865	R	12	High Forest
1864	Jared Benson	R	4	Anoka
1863	Charles D. Sherwood	R	14	Elkhorn
1862	Jared Benson	R	4	Anoka
1862E	Jared Benson	R	4	Anoka
1861	Jared Benson; given as a Democrat on one list.	R	4	Anoka
1859	Amos Coggswell; was in the Republican constitutional convention in 1857, but in 1867 was Democratic candidate for Minnesota secretary of state (Minnesota in three centuries, v. 3, p. 47, 56, 447-448.	R/D	15	Aurora
1858	George Bradley; 12 March 1858-12 August 1858. He appears to be the youngest Speaker at around 24 to 26 years old when elected.	R?	7	Belle Plaine
1857/1858	John S. Watrous; 2 Dec. 1857-12 March 1858	R?	26

TERRITORY

YEAR	SPEAKER	PARTY	DIST.	RESIDENCE
1857	Joseph W. Furber	W	1	Cottage Grove
1857E	Joseph W. Furber	W	1	Cottage Grove
1856	Charles Gardner; spelled Gardiner in one source		4	Westervelt (Mantorville per Toensing)
1855	James S. Norris	D	1	Cottage Grove
1854	Nathan C. D. Taylor		1	Taylors Falls
1853	David Day		5	Long Prairie
1852	John D. Ludden		1	Marine
1851	Michael E. Ames		2	Stillwater (St. Paul per Toensing; Minnesota in three centuries, p. 451, "In 1849, he came to Stillwater and four years later to St. Paul.")
1849	Joseph W. Furber	W	1	Cottage Grove

*In 1979, the parties were evenly divided. An article from the January 8, 1979 Minneapolis Tribune described how the leadership of the Minnesota House would be handled: "Under an agreement tentatively approved late Sunday, the Independent-Republicans will elect the speaker of the House from their ranks. To balance his power, the DFL will get the chairmanship - and a one-vote majority - of both the rules and tax committees; the DFL will also get the chairmanship of the appropriations committee."