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    Champion, Bobby Joe

    Official Senate Web Page Sessions Served    Other Information

    House 2009-2012 (District 58B); Senate 2013-2022 (District 59); Senate 2023-Present (District 59)

    Party when first elected:  Democratic-Farmer-Labor

    Counties Served:  Hennepin

    BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

    Date of Birth: 12/17/1963
    Birth Place: Minneapolis, Minnesota
    Birth County: Hennepin
    Birth Country: United States
    Date of Death:
    Gender: Male
    Religion:
    Reported Minority: Black
    Other Names:
    City of Residence (when first elected): Minneapolis
    Occupation (when first elected): Attorney

    EDUCATION

    Minneapolis North High School; Secondary; Graduate
    Macalester College, St. Paul, Minnesota; B.A.; Political Science
    William Mitchell College of Law; J.D.; 1995

    OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

    State Attorney General Staff: Minnesota Office of the Attorney General (Assistant Attorney General under Skip Humphrey and Mike Hatch); 19?? to ?

    FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

    Spouse: Angela
    Children: Three children: Bobby, Jaylen, and Myles (sons)
    Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

    GENERAL NOTES

    Special Legislative Concerns: job creation, affordable housing, civil rights, education, economic development, criminal justice reform.

    He is the first Black person to serve as Senate president and the most senior lawmaker of color when the new legislative session convened in 2023. (Sahan Journal)

    When first elected in 2008, he was one of two black members of the House (Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder, February 13, 2009).

    He announced his intention to run for the 5th Congressional District in the 2018 election on June 5, 2018, but suspended his campaign on June 11, 2018. He continued his term in the Senate.

    He was the co-founder and director of the 2003 Grammy nominated Excelsior Choir.

    Most recent term photo
    Click to view
    Total Days Served: 5384

    SESSIONS SERVED

    93rd Legislative Session (2023-2024)

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 59
    Elected: 11/8/2022
    Residence: Minneapolis
    Term of Office: 1/3/2023 to 1/6/2025
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Attorney
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Committees:
    • Finance
    • Jobs and Economic Development (Chair)
    • Rules and Administration
    • Rules and Administration: Subcommittee on Ethical Conduct (Chair)
    Leadership Position: President of the Senate
    term photo
    Click to view

    92nd Legislative Session (2021-2022)

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 59
    Elected: 11/3/2020
    Residence: Minneapolis
    Term of Office: 1/5/2021 to 1/2/2023
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Attorney
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Special Session Bills Authored:  2021 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author    2021 1st Sp.S. - Author
    Committees:
    • Capital Investment
    • Finance
    • Jobs and Economic Growth Finance and Policy
    • Rules and Administration: Subcommittee on Ethical Conduct
    term photo
    Click to view

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

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 59
    Elected: 11/8/2016
    Residence: Minneapolis
    Term of Office: 1/3/2017 to 1/4/2021
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Attorney
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Special Session Bills Authored:  2020 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author    2020 1st Sp.S. - Author
    2020 2nd Sp.S. - Chief Author    2020 2nd Sp.S. - Author
    2020 5th Sp.S. - Chief Author    2020 5th Sp.S. - Author
    Committees:
    • Capital Investment
    • Commerce and Consumer Protection Finance and Policy
    • Finance
    • Jobs and Economic Growth Finance and Policy
    • Rules and Administration: Subcommittee on Ethical Conduct
    term photo
    Click to view

    90th Legislative Session (2017-2018)

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 59
    Elected: 11/8/2016
    Residence: Minneapolis
    Term of Office: 1/3/2017 to 1/4/2021
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Attorney
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Committees:
    • Capital Investment
    • Commerce and Consumer Protection Finance and Policy
    • Finance
    • Jobs and Economic Growth Finance and Policy
    • Rules and Administration: Subcommittee on Ethical Conduct
    term photo
    Click to view

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

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 59
    Elected: 11/6/2012
    Residence: Minneapolis
    Term of Office: 1/8/2013 to 1/2/2017
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Attorney
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Committees:
    • Capital Investment
    • Commerce
    • Finance
    • Finance: Judiciary Policy and Budget Division
    • Finance: Subcommittee on Equity
    • Finance: Subdivision on Justice Program (Chair)
    • Finance: Transportation and Public Safety Policy and Budget Division
    • Judiciary
    • Transportation and Public Safety
    term photo
    Click to view

    88th Legislative Session (2013-2014)

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 59
    Elected: 11/6/2012
    Residence: Minneapolis
    Term of Office: 1/8/2013 to 1/2/2017
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Attorney
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Committees:
    • Capital Investment
    • Finance
    • Finance: State Departments and Veterans Division
    • Finance: Transportation and Public Safety Division
    • Transportation and Public Safety
    term photo
    Click to view

    87th Legislative Session (2011-2012)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 58B
    Elected: 11/2/2010
    Residence: Minneapolis
    Term of Office: 1/4/2011 to 1/7/2013
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Attorney
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Special Session Bills Authored:  2011 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author    2011 1st Sp.S. - Author
    Committees:
    term photo
    Click to view

    86th Legislative Session (2009-2010)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 58B
    Elected: 11/4/2008
    Residence: Minneapolis
    Term of Office: 1/6/2009 to 1/3/2011
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Attorney
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Committees:
    • Civil Justice Minutes
    • Finance Minutes
    • Finance: Transportation Finance and Policy Division Minutes
    • Finance: Transportation Finance and Policy Division: Transportation and Transit Policy and Oversight Division Minutes
    term photo
    Click to view

    OTHER INFORMATION

    Session Interviews
    Session Interview (Video) 2010 House Interview

    Session Interview (Video) 2009 House Interview


    Articles & Books About
    Olson, Rochelle. "Raising the Bar in Senate: A Skillful Lawyer and Musician, Bobby Joe Champion Turns Down the Volume at Capitol." Star Tribune, February 27, 2023, p. A1.

    Hegarty, Sue. "Breakfasts with Bobby to Continue." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, March 30, 2012, p. 20.

    Schutz, Lee Ann. "Facing Complex Problems. For Champion, Jobs Are the Starting Point." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, February 6, 2009, p. 16.



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

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