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Fischbach, Michelle L.

Sessions Served

Other Information

Senate 1996-2012 (District 14); Senate 2013-2018 (District 13)

Party when first elected: Republican

Counties Served: Benton, Morrison, Pope, Stearns

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Date of Birth: 11/3/1965

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): Paynesville

Occupation (when first elected): Business Owner

EDUCATION

Woodbury High School; Secondary;
College of St. Benedict; Attended College;
St. Cloud State University; B.A.; Political Science and Economics
William Mitchell College of Law; J.D.; 2011

OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

U.S. Legislative Staff/Council/Commission: United States Senate (Intern for United States Senator Rudy Boschwitz in Minneapolis, Minnesota Campaign Office); 19?? to 19??

U.S. Legislative Staff/Council/Commission: United States Houe of Representatives (High School Intern for United States Representative Vin Weber in Washington D.C.); 19?? to 19??

Municipal Council/Aldermen: Paynesville, Minnesota (City Council); 1995 to 02/12/1996 [Elected]

State Lieutenant Governor: Minnesota; 01/03/2018 to ?

U.S. Representative: 7th Congressional District, Minnesota; 2021 to ? [Elected]

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

Spouse: Scott
Children: Two children: Bryce and Brianna
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

GENERAL NOTES

She was the first female to serve as President of the Senate.

Religion provided by Politics in Minnesota the Directory, 2005-2006.

Lt. Governor Tina Smith resigned on January 2, 2018 effective 11:59 pm to become a United States senator, appointed by Governor Mark Dayton, upon the resignation of Senator Al Franken. As the last elected presiding officer of the Senate, Senator Fischbach ascended to the position of lieutenant governor on January 3, 2018. She resigned from the Minnesota Legislature on May 25, 2018 and took the oath of office for lieutenant governor on the same day. For more details, please see the Library's Presiding Officers of the Senate who became Lieutenant Governor page.

In 2018, she was named as running mate, for lieutenant governor, by gubernatorial candidate Tim Pawlenty. However, the team lost the primary.

In September, 2019, she announced her campaign to run for Congress in District 7.

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Total Days Served: 8139

SESSIONS SERVED

90th Legislative Session (2017-2018)

Session Details

Body: Senate

District: 13

Elected: 11/8/2016

Residence: Paynesville

Term of Office: 1/3/2017 to 5/25/2018 (unfinished term)

Counties Represented: Benton, Stearns

Occupation: None Listed

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Finance
Health and Human Services Finance and Policy
Higher Education Finance and Policy (Chair)
Rules and Administration
Rules and Administration: Subcommittee on Ethical Conduct (Chair)

Leadership Position: President of the Senate
Leadership Notes: She resigned from the Minnesota Legislature on May 25, 2018.

Reason for unfinished term: Other - See Notes

Session Notes: She ascended to the position of lieutenant governor on January 3, 2018. She resigned from the Minnesota Legislature on May 25, 2018 and took the oath of office for lieutenant governor on the same day.

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

Session Details

Body: Senate

District: 13

Elected: 11/6/2012

Residence: Paynesville

Term of Office: 1/8/2013 to 1/2/2017

Counties Represented: Benton, Stearns

Occupation: None Listed

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Commerce
Finance
Finance: Health and Human Services Budget Division
Finance: Subcommittee on Legacy
Rules and Administration
Rules and Administration: Committees Subcommittee
Rules and Administration: Ethical Conduct Subcommittee
Rules and Administration: Permanent and Joint Rules Subcommittee

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88th Legislative Session (2013-2014)

Session Details

Body: Senate

District: 13

Elected: 11/6/2012

Residence: Paynesville

Term of Office: 1/8/2013 to 1/2/2017

Counties Represented: Benton, Stearns

Occupation: None Listed

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Finance
Finance: Higher Education and Workforce Development Division
Finance: Subcommittee on Legacy
Higher Education and Workforce Development
Rules and Administration
Rules and Administration: Permanent and Joint Rules Subcommittee
Rules and Administration: Subcommittee on Ethical Conduct

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87th Legislative Session (2011-2012)

Session Details

Body: Senate

District: 14

Elected: 11/2/2010

Residence: Paynesville

Term of Office: 1/4/2011 to 1/7/2013

Counties Represented: Benton, Stearns

Occupation: None Listed

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

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

Committees:

Finance
Health and Human Services
Higher Education (Chair)
Rules and Administration
Rules and Administration: Committees
Rules and Administration: Ethical Conduct (Chair)

Leadership Position: President of the Senate
Leadership Notes: She was the first female to serve as President of the Senate.

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86th Legislative Session (2009-2010) (second half of Senate term)

Session Details

Body: Senate

District: 14

Elected: 11/7/2006

Residence: Paynesville

Term of Office: 1/3/2007 to 1/3/2011

Counties Represented: Benton, Stearns

Occupation: None Listed

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Finance
Finance: Economic Development and Housing Budget Division
Finance: Health and Human Services Budget Division
Finance: Transportation Budget and Policy Division
Health, Housing and Family Security
Health, Housing and Family Security: Joint Health, Housing and Family Security with Finance: Economic Development and Housing Budget Division: Housing (also subcommittee to Finance: Economic Development and Housing Budget Division)
Transportation
Transportation: Airways, Waterways and Railways

Leadership Position: Deputy Minority Leader

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85th Legislative Session (2007-2008)

Session Details

Body: Senate

District: 14

Elected: 11/7/2006

Residence: Paynesville

Term of Office: 1/3/2007 to 1/3/2011

Counties Represented: Benton, Stearns

Occupation: None Listed

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Finance [She was a member in 2008 only.]
Finance: Economic Development Budget Division
Finance: Health and Human Services Budget Division
Finance: Transportation Budget and Policy Division
Finance: Transportation Budget and Policy Division: Airways, Waterways and Railways
Health, Housing and Family Security
Transportation
Transportation: Airways, Waterways and Railways

Leadership Position: Assistant Minority Leader

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84th Legislative Session (2005-2006) (second half of Senate term)

Session Details

Body: Senate

District: 14

Elected: 11/5/2002

Residence: Paynesville

Term of Office: 1/7/2003 to 1/2/2007

Counties Represented: Benton, Stearns

Occupation: None Listed

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Special Session Bills Authored: 2005 1st Sp.S. - Author

Committees:

Elections
Finance
Finance: K-12 Education Budget Division
Health and Family Security
Rules and Administration: Elections
State and Local Government Operations

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83rd Legislative Session (2003-2004)

Session Details

Body: Senate

District: 14

Elected: 11/5/2002

Residence: Paynesville

Term of Office: 1/7/2003 to 1/2/2007

Counties Represented: Benton, Stearns

Occupation: None Listed

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Elections-2004
Finance
Finance: Early Childhood-Grade 12 Education Budget Division-2003/K-12 Education Budget Division-2004
Health and Family Security
Rules and Administration: Elections
State and Local Government Operations

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82nd Legislative Session (2001-2002)

Session Details

Body: Senate

District: 14

Elected: 11/7/2000

Residence: Paynesville

Term of Office: 1/3/2001 to 1/6/2003

Counties Represented: Benton, Morrison, Pope, Stearns

Occupation: Business

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Special Session Bills Authored: 2001 1st Sp.S. - Author

Committees:

Agriculture, General Legislation and Veterans Affairs
Health and Family Security
Judiciary
Judiciary: Family Law
Taxes
Taxes: Income and Sales Tax Budget Division

Leadership Position: Assistant Minority Leader

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81st Legislative Session (1999-2000) (second half of Senate term)

Session Details

Body: Senate

District: 14

Elected: 11/5/1996

Residence: Paynesville

Term of Office: 1/7/1997 to 1/2/2001

Counties Represented: Benton, Morrison, Pope, Stearns

Occupation: None Listed

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Agriculture and Rural Development
Governmental Operations and Veterans
Governmental Operations and Veterans: Veterans
Health and Family Security
Health and Family Security/Human Resources Finance: Health and Family Security Budget Division
Judiciary
Judiciary: Family Law
State Government Finance

80th Legislative Session (1997-1998)

Session Details

Body: Senate

District: 14

Elected: 11/5/1996

Residence: Paynesville

Term of Office: 1/7/1997 to 1/2/2001

Counties Represented: Benton, Morrison, Pope, Stearns

Occupation: None Listed

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Agriculture and Rural Development
Governmental Operations and Veterans
Governmental Operations and Veterans: Veterans
Health and Family Security
Health and Family Security/Human Resources Finance: Health and Family Security Budget Division
State Government Finance

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79th Legislative Session (1995-1996) (second half of Senate term)

Session Details

Body: Senate

District: 14

Elected: 2/6/1996

Residence: Paynesville

Term of Office: 2/12/1996 to 1/6/1997 (Special Election)

Counties Represented: Benton, Morrison, Pope, Stearns

Occupation: Business Owner

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Session Notes: She won the Senate special election held due to the resignation of Joe Bertram. She was sworn in on Feburary 12, 1996.

OTHER INFORMATION

District Files

District File - 2000 District 14
District File - 2002 District 14
District File - 2001 District 14
District File - 2003 District 14
District File - 2004 District 14
District File - 2005 District 14
District File - 2006 District 14
District File - 2007 District 14
District File - 2008 District 14
District File - 2009 District 14
These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.

The Minnesota Legislative Reference Library has collected newspaper articles on legislators since 1973. They are available in the Library.

Legislators Past & Present Home

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