Minnesota Legislature

Legislators Past & Present Home

Name Search:

Lesch, John

Sessions Served

Other Information

House 2003-2012 (District 66A); House 2013-2020 (District 66B)

Party when first elected: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Counties Served: Ramsey

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Date of Birth: 1/15/1973

Birth Place: Brooklyn Park, Minnesota

Birth County: Hennepin

Birth Country: United States

Date of Death:

Gender: Male

Religion: Catholic

Reported Minority: None Reported

Other Names:

City of Residence (when first elected): Saint Paul

Occupation (when first elected): Prosecutor, City of St. Paul

EDUCATION

Holy Name Seminary, Wisconsin; Secondary; Junior and Senior Years, Priest Studies
Osseo High School; Secondary; Freshman and Sophmore Years
St. Louis University; B.A.; Philosophy and Psychology
Hamline University School of Law; J.D.; 1998

OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

Municipal Government: St. Paul, Minnesota (Legislative Assistant to City Coucil Member Chris Coleman); 19?? to ?

State Legislative Staff: Minnesota House of Representatives (Intern for Representative Andy Dawkins); 1997 to 1998

Municipal Attorney: Saint Paul, Minnesota (City Prosecutor; 15 years); 2001 to 20??

Military: Minnesota National Guard (Infantry; 8 years); 10/12/2009 to 20??

State Board/Commission/Council: Attorney General's Advisory Task Force on Lowering Pharmaceutical Drug Prices; 2019 to ?

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

Spouse: Tina Marie (divorced around 2004); Melissa Reed (married September 2012)
Children: Three children: Alice, Eleanor, Eilah (daughters)
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

GENERAL NOTES

He ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic-Farmer-Labor party endorsement for the Minnesota Senate in the 2011 special election primary. He lost the endorsement to Mary Jo McGuire.

In 2018, he ran for attorney general, but he withdrew from the race.

In 2020, he won DFL endorsement for re-election but lost the primary.

He served as a 1st Lieutenant in the Minnesota National Guard and was called to inactive duty training at Camp Ripley in 2014 at the end of the legislative session. He was sent back to St. Paul after one day to fulfil his duties as a legislator (Star Tribune, May 24, 2014).

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

Click to view

Total Days Served: 6573

SESSIONS SERVED

91st Legislative Session (2019-2020)

Session Details

Body: House

District: 66B

Elected: 11/6/2018

Residence: Saint Paul

Term of Office: 1/8/2019 to 1/4/2021

Counties Represented: Ramsey

Occupation: Attorney

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

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 7th Sp.S. - Chief Author    2020 7th Sp.S. - Author

Committees:

Commerce Minutes
Taxes Minutes
Ways & Means: Judiciary Finance and Civil Law Division (Chair) Minutes
Ways & Means: Public Safety and Criminal Justice Reform Finance & Policy Division Minutes

Ran in next election? Yes. Defeated in primary

Click to view

90th Legislative Session (2017-2018)

Session Details

Body: House

District: 66B

Elected: 11/8/2016

Residence: Saint Paul

Term of Office: 1/3/2017 to 1/7/2019

Counties Represented: Ramsey

Occupation: Attorney

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

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

Committees:

Civil Law & Data Practices Policy Minutes
Rules & Legislative Administration Minutes
State Government Finance: Veterans Affairs Division Minutes
Taxes Minutes

Click to view

89th Legislative Session (2015-2016)

Session Details

Body: House

District: 66B

Elected: 11/4/2014

Residence: Saint Paul

Term of Office: 1/6/2015 to 1/2/2017

Counties Represented: Ramsey

Occupation: Prosecutor

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Special Session Bills Authored: 2015 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author 2015 1st Sp.S. - Author

Committees:

Civil Law & Data Practices Minutes
State Government Finance: Veterans Affairs Division Minutes
Taxes Minutes

Click to view

88th Legislative Session (2013-2014)

Session Details

Body: House

District: 66B

Elected: 11/6/2012

Residence: Saint Paul

Term of Office: 1/8/2013 to 1/5/2015

Counties Represented: Ramsey

Occupation: Prosecutor, City of St. Paul

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Civil Law (Chair) Minutes
Judiciary Finance and Policy Minutes
Public Safety Finance and Policy Minutes
Rules and Legislative Administration Minutes
Taxes Minutes

Click to view

87th Legislative Session (2011-2012)

Session Details

Body: House

District: 66A

Elected: 11/2/2010

Residence: Saint Paul

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

Counties Represented: Ramsey

Occupation: Prosecutor, City of St. Paul

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Civil Law Minutes
Civil Law: Data Practices Minutes
Judiciary Policy and Finance Minutes
Taxes Minutes

Leadership Position: Minority Whip

Click to view

86th Legislative Session (2009-2010)

Session Details

Body: House

District: 66A

Elected: 11/4/2008

Residence: Saint Paul

Term of Office: 1/6/2009 to 1/3/2011

Counties Represented: Ramsey

Occupation: Prosecutor, City of St. Paul

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Finance: Public Safety Finance Division Minutes
Public Safety Policy and Oversight Minutes
Public Safety Policy and Oversight: Crime Victims/Criminal Records Division (Chair) Minutes
Taxes Minutes

Click to view

85th Legislative Session (2007-2008)

Session Details

Body: House

District: 66A

Elected: 11/7/2006

Residence: Saint Paul

Term of Office: 1/3/2007 to 1/5/2009

Counties Represented: Ramsey

Occupation: Prosecutor, City of St. Paul

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Finance: Public Safety Finance Division Minutes
Finance: State Government Finance Division Minutes
Public Safety and Civil Justice Minutes
Public Safety and Civil Justice: Crime Victims (Chair) Minutes
Public Safety and Civil Justice: Criminal Records Relief (Chair) Minutes
Public Safety and Civil Justice: Data Practices Minutes
Taxes Minutes

Click to view

84th Legislative Session (2005-2006)

Session Details

Body: House

District: 66A

Elected: 11/2/2004

Residence: Saint Paul

Term of Office: 1/4/2005 to 1/2/2007

Counties Represented: Ramsey

Occupation: Prosecutor, City of St. Paul

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

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

Committees:

Civil Law and Elections Minutes
Regulated Industries Minutes
Regulated Industries: Gaming Division Minutes
Taxes Minutes
Taxes: Property and Local Tax Division Minutes

Click to view

83rd Legislative Session (2003-2004)

Session Details

Body: House

District: 66A

Elected: 11/5/2002

Residence: Saint Paul

Term of Office: 1/7/2003 to 1/3/2005

Counties Represented: Ramsey

Occupation: Prosecutor, City of St. Paul

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Special Session Bills Authored: 2003 1st Sp.S. - Author

Committees:

Governmental Operations and Veterans Affairs Policy Minutes
Judiciary Policy and Finance Minutes
Local Government and Metropolitan Affairs Minutes

Click to view

OTHER INFORMATION

Session Interviews
Session Interview (Video) 2020 House Interview

Session Interview (Video) 2016 House Interview

Session Interview (Video) 2008 House Interview

Session Interview (Video) 2006 House Interview

Session Interview (Video) 2005 House Interview

Session Interview (Video) 2003 House Interview

Articles & Books About
Kibiger, Michelle. "Unlikely Lawmaker: From Aspiring Priest to City Prosecutor, Lesch Hopes to Connect with Constituents as New Member of the House." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, March 7, 2003, p. 23.

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

Legislators Past & Present Home

Name Search:

Minnesota Legislative Reference Library, 645 State Office Building, Saint Paul, MN 55155