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Benson, Michelle R.

Sessions Served

Other Information

Senate 2011-2012 (District 49); Senate 2013-2022 (District 31)

Party when first elected: Republican

Counties Served: Anoka, Isanti, Sherburne

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Date of Birth: 9/11/1968

Birth Place: ,

Birth County:

Birth Country:

Date of Death:

Gender: Female

Religion: Catholic

Reported Minority: None Reported

Other Names:

City of Residence (when first elected): Ham Lake

Occupation (when first elected): Certified Public Accountant (C.P.A.)

EDUCATION

Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunberg High School; Secondary;
St. Catherine's University, St. Paul; B.A.; Chemistry
St. Thomas University; M.B.A.;

OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

Spouse: Craig
Children: Three children: Calvin, Grant (sons) and Claire Ann (daughter, born in March 2011, while she was in office)
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

GENERAL NOTES

She was raised on a farm in Murdock, Minnesota.

She declared her candidacy for Minnesota Lieutenant Governor, with Representative Dave Thompson as her running mate, in 2013. They later withdrew.

She was a candidate to run for Governor of Minnesota in 2022, but withdrew.

She was a member of Epiphany Catholic Church. Religion provided by her 2010 campaign website.

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Total Days Served: 4382

SESSIONS SERVED

92nd Legislative Session (2021-2022)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/5/2021

Body: Senate

District: 31

Elected: 11/3/2020

Residence: Ham Lake

Term of Office: 1/4/2021 to 1/1/2023
Oath Date: 1/5/2021

Counties Represented: Anoka, Isanti, Sherburne

Occupation: None listed

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Special Session Bills Authored: 2021 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author 2021 1st Sp.S. - Author

Committees:

Finance
Health and Human Services Finance and Policy (Chair)
Human Services Reform Finance and Policy

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91st Legislative Session (2019-2020) (second half of Senate term)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/8/2019

Body: Senate

District: 31

Elected: 11/8/2016

Residence: Ham Lake

Term of Office: 1/2/2017 to 1/3/2021
Oath Date: 1/3/2017

Counties Represented: Anoka, Isanti, Sherburne

Occupation: None listed

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Special Session Bills Authored: 2019 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author    2019 1st Sp.S. - Author
2020 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author    2020 1st Sp.S. - Author
2020 2nd Sp.S. - Chief Author    2020 2nd Sp.S. - Author
2020 3rd Sp.S. - Chief Author    2020 3rd Sp.S. - Author
2020 5th Sp.S. - Chief Author    2020 5th Sp.S. - Author
2020 6th Sp.S. - Chief Author    2020 6th Sp.S. - Author
2020 7th Sp.S. - Chief Author    2020 7th Sp.S. - Author

Committees:

Finance
Health and Human Services Finance and Policy (Chair)
Human Services Reform Finance and Policy
Rules and Administration

Leadership Position: Deputy Majority Leader

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90th Legislative Session (2017-2018)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/3/2017

Body: Senate

District: 31

Elected: 11/8/2016

Residence: Ham Lake

Term of Office: 1/2/2017 to 1/3/2021
Oath Date: 1/3/2017

Counties Represented: Anoka, Isanti, Sherburne

Occupation: None Listed

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Special Session Bills Authored: 2017 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author 2017 1st Sp.S. - Author

Committees:

Finance
Health and Human Services Finance and Policy (Chair)
Human Services Reform Finance and Policy
Rules and Administration

Leadership Position: Deputy Majority Leader

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89th Legislative Session (2015-2016) (second half of Senate term)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/6/2015

Body: Senate

District: 31

Elected: 11/6/2012

Residence: Ham Lake

Term of Office: 1/7/2013 to 1/1/2017
Oath Date: 1/8/2013

Counties Represented: Anoka, Isanti, Sherburne

Occupation: None Listed

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Environment and Energy
Finance: Health and Human Services Budget Division
Health, Human Services and Housing

Leadership Position: Assistant Minority Leader

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88th Legislative Session (2013-2014)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/8/2013

Body: Senate

District: 31

Elected: 11/6/2012

Residence: Ham Lake

Term of Office: 1/7/2013 to 1/1/2017
Oath Date: 1/8/2013

Counties Represented: Anoka, Isanti, Sherburne

Occupation: Certified Public Accountant (C.P.A.)

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Special Session Bills Authored: 2013 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author 2013 1st Sp.S. - Author

Committees:

Environment and Energy
Finance: Health and Human Services Division
Health, Human Services and Housing

Leadership Position: Assistant Minority Leader - She resigned from this position in early 2014.

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87th Legislative Session (2011-2012)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/4/2011

Body: Senate

District: 49

Elected: 11/2/2010

Residence: Ham Lake

Term of Office: 1/3/2011 to 1/6/2013
Oath Date: 1/4/2011

Counties Represented: Anoka

Occupation: Certified Public Accountant (C.P.A.)

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Special Session Bills Authored: 2011 1st Sp.S. - Author

Committees:

Agriculture and Rural Economies
Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications
Health and Human Services

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OTHER INFORMATION

News Sources

The Library maintains newspaper clippings on individual legislators during their terms. Clippings are available from 1973 to the present in a variety of formats: 1973-1999, microfiche available at the Library; 2000-2009, scanned in yearly compilations and digitally available on the legislative network; 2009-present, archived in a searchable database maintained by the Library and available on the legislative network.

These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.

Photographs

Michelle Benson and Sen. Roger Chamberlain discuss legislation on the Senate Floor. Michelle Benson is a Republican from Ham Lake, and Roger Chamberlain is a Republican from Lino Lakes. 2/19/2015. Photo credit: David Oakes, Senate Media Services.

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