Minnesota Legislature

Legislators Past & Present Home

Name Search:

Urdahl, Dean

Sessions Served

Other Information

House 2003-2012 (District 18B); House 2013-2022 (District 18A); House 2023-2024 (District 16A)

Party when first elected: Republican

Counties Served: Chippewa, Kandiyohi, McLeod, Meeker, Renville, Wright

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Date of Birth: 8/18/1949

Birth Place: , Minnesota

Birth County:

Birth Country: United States

Date of Death:

Gender: Male

Religion: Lutheran

Reported Minority: None Reported

Other Names:

City of Residence (when first elected): Grove City

Occupation (when first elected): American History Teacher and Coach, New London-Spicer Middle School, 1971-2006

EDUCATION

Litchfield High School; Secondary;
St. Cloud State University; B.S.; Social Studies

OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

State Board/Commission/Council: Minnesota State Board of Nursing; [Dates Unknown] [Appointed]

State Board/Commission/Council: Minnesota Commission on Public Service Reform; [Dates Unknown] [Appointed]

State Board/Commission/Council: Minnesota Education in Agriculture Leadership Council; [Dates Unknown] [Appointed]

U.S. Legislative Staff/Council/Commission: United States House of Representatives (Campaign Staff for United States Representative John Zwach); 1970 to 1970

U.S. Executive Branch: Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission (Minnesota Representative); 07/30/2008 to 2??? [Appointed]

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

Spouse: Karen
Children: Three children: (sons)
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

GENERAL NOTES

"He cited infrastructure bills providing record investments in infrastructure projects for Greater Minnesota and his central role in restoring the state Capitol as highlights of his career." (West Central Tribune, March 17, 2024)

He ran unsuccessfully as the Independent Republican party endorsed candidate for the Minnesota House of Representatives in the 1992 and 1994 elections.

He ran unsuccessfully for the Republican party endorsement for the Minnesota House of Representatives in the 1996 primary election.

He announced he would not seek reelection in 2024.

He was of Norwegian ancestry.

His family helped settle Litchfield Township, Minnesota in 1856.

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

Click to view

Total Days Served: 8036

SESSIONS SERVED

93rd Legislative Session (2023-2024)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/3/2023

Body: House

District: 16A

Elected: 11/8/2022

Residence: Grove City

Term of Office: 1/2/2023 to 1/5/2025
Oath Date: 1/3/2023

Counties Represented: Chippewa, Kandiyohi, Meeker, Renville

Occupation: Author, retired educator

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Capital Investment Minutes
Education Policy Minutes

Click to view

92nd Legislative Session (2021-2022)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/5/2021

Body: House

District: 18A

Elected: 11/3/2020

Residence: Grove City

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

Counties Represented: McLeod, Meeker, Wright

Occupation: Author, retired educator

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

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

Committees:

Capital Investment Minutes
Education Policy Minutes
Legacy Finance Minutes

Click to view

91st Legislative Session (2019-2020)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/8/2019

Body: House

District: 18A

Elected: 11/6/2018

Residence: Grove City

Term of Office: 1/7/2019 to 1/3/2021
Oath Date: 1/8/2019

Counties Represented: McLeod, Meeker, Wright

Occupation: Author, retired educator

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Special Session Bills Authored: 2020 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author 2020 1st Sp.S. - Author

Committees:

Education Policy Minutes
Ways & Means: Capital Investment Division Minutes
Ways & Means: Legacy Finance Division Minutes

Click to view

90th Legislative Session (2017-2018)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/3/2017

Body: House

District: 18A

Elected: 11/8/2016

Residence: Grove City

Term of Office: 1/2/2017 to 1/6/2019
Oath Date: 1/3/2017

Counties Represented: McLeod, Meeker, Wright

Occupation: Author, Retired Educator

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

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

Committees:

Agriculture Finance Minutes
Capital Investment (Chair) Minutes
Education Innovation Policy Minutes
Legacy Funding Finance Minutes
Ways & Means Minutes

Click to view

89th Legislative Session (2015-2016)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/6/2015

Body: House

District: 18A

Elected: 11/4/2014

Residence: Grove City

Term of Office: 1/5/2015 to 1/1/2017
Oath Date: 1/6/2015

Counties Represented: McLeod, Meeker, Wright

Occupation: Author, Retired Educator

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

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

Committees:

Capital Investment Minutes
Education Innovation Policy Minutes
Legacy Funding Finance (Chair) Minutes
Ways and Means Minutes

Click to view

88th Legislative Session (2013-2014)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/8/2013

Body: House

District: 18A

Elected: 11/6/2012

Residence: Grove City

Term of Office: 1/7/2013 to 1/4/2015
Oath Date: 1/8/2013

Counties Represented: McLeod, Meeker, Wright

Occupation: Author/Retired Educator

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Capital Investment Minutes
Education Policy Minutes
Elections Minutes
Legacy Minutes

Click to view

87th Legislative Session (2011-2012)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/4/2011

Body: House

District: 18B

Elected: 11/2/2010

Residence: Grove City

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

Counties Represented: Meeker, Wright

Occupation: Retired Educator

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

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

Committees:

Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Policy and Finance: Legacy Funding Division (Chair) Minutes
Government Operations and Elections Minutes
State Government Finance Minutes

Click to view

86th Legislative Session (2009-2010)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/6/2009

Body: House

District: 18B

Elected: 11/4/2008

Residence: Grove City

Term of Office: 1/5/2009 to 1/2/2011
Oath Date: 1/6/2009

Counties Represented: Meeker, Wright

Occupation: Retired Teacher/Author

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Agriculture, Rural Economies and Veterans Affairs Minutes
Finance: Capital Investment Finance Division Minutes
Finance: Cultural and Outdoor Resources Finance Division Minutes
Finance: Transportation Finance and Policy Division: Transportation and Transit Policy and Oversight Division Minutes

Click to view

85th Legislative Session (2007-2008)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/3/2007

Body: House

District: 18B

Elected: 11/7/2006

Residence: Grove City

Term of Office: 1/1/2007 to 1/4/2009
Oath Date: 1/3/2007

Counties Represented: Meeker, Wright

Occupation: Former Teacher, New London-Spicer Middle School/Author

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Agriculture, Rural Economies and Veterans Affairs Minutes
E-12 Education Minutes
Finance: Capital Investment Finance Division Minutes
Finance: Minnesota Heritage Finance Division Minutes

Click to view

84th Legislative Session (2005-2006)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/4/2005

Body: House

District: 18B

Elected: 11/2/2004

Residence: Grove City

Term of Office: 1/3/2005 to 12/31/2006
Oath Date: 1/4/2005

Counties Represented: Meeker, Wright

Occupation: American History Teacher and Coach, New London-Spicer Middle School

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

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

Committees:

Agriculture and Rural Development Minutes
Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources Finance Minutes
Higher Education Finance Minutes

Click to view

83rd Legislative Session (2003-2004)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/7/2003

Body: House

District: 18B

Elected: 11/5/2002

Residence: Grove City

Term of Office: 1/6/2003 to 1/2/2005
Oath Date: 1/7/2003

Counties Represented: Meeker, Wright

Occupation: American History Teacher and Coach, New London-Spicer Middle School, 1971-2006

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

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

Committees:

Agriculture and Rural Development Finance Minutes
Agriculture Policy Minutes
Capital Investment Minutes
Education Policy Minutes

Click to view

OTHER INFORMATION

Articles & Books About

Kibiger, Michelle. "Persistence Pays Off: After Three Failed Tries at Winning a Seat in the House of Representatives, Urdahl Fulfills Another of..." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, March 28, 2003, p. 23.

Session Interviews

House Interview 2016 (Video)

Articles & Books By

Urdahl, Dean. Retribution, a Novel. North Star Press of St. Cloud, 2009.
Urdahl, Dean. Uprising. North Star Press of St. Cloud, 2007.
Urdahl, Dean. Lives Lived Large: Minnesotans Who Made Their Mark. North Star Press of St. Cloud, 2001.
Urdahl, Dean. Touching Bases with Our Memories: The Players Who Made the Minnesota Twins, 1961 to 2001. North Star Press of St. Cloud, 2001

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.

District News Files

2003 (18B)

2004 (18B)

2005 (18B)

2006 (18B)

2007 (18B)

2008 (18B)

2009 (18B)

These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.

Photographs

After gaveling in the floor session April 29, Rep. Dean Urdahl waves to colleagues while being recognized for serving more than two decades in the House. It is tradition that retiring members take a turn convening the body near the end of session. 4/29/2024. Photo credit: Andrew VonBank, House Public Information Services.

Rep. Dean Urdahl exits the House Chamber during a May 9 floor session. 5/9/2024. Photo credit: Michele Jokinen, House Public Information Services.

Rep. Dean Urdahl speaks with Rep. Peggy Bennett during an April 30 floor session. 4/30/2024. Photo credit: Michele Jokinen, House Public Information Services.

Legislators Past & Present Home

Name Search:

Minnesota Legislative Reference Library, 321 State Capitol, Saint Paul, MN 55155