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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

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 is one of the founding members of the United Black Legislative Caucus.

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.

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Total Days Served: 6024

SESSIONS SERVED

94th Legislative Session (2025-2026) (second half of Senate term)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/14/2025

Body: Senate

District: 59

Elected: 11/8/2022

Residence: Minneapolis

Term of Office: 1/2/2023 to 1/3/2027
Oath Date: 1/2/2023

Counties Represented: Hennepin

Occupation: Attorney

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Special Session Bills Authored: 2025 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author 2025 1st Sp.S. - Author

Committees:

Finance
Jobs and Economic Development (Chair) [He was chair beginning 2/3/2025. He wa co-chair from 1/14/2025 to 2/3/2025.]
Rules and Administration
Rules and Administration: Subcommittee on Committees
Rules and Administration: Subcommittee on Ethical Conduct (Chair) [He was a member until April 7, 2025.]

Leadership Position: Co-Presiding Officer - He was Co-Presiding Officer until February 3, 2025.

Leadership Position: President of the Senate - He was President of the Senate starting February 3, 2025.

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93rd Legislative Session (2023-2024)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/3/2023

Body: Senate

District: 59

Elected: 11/8/2022

Residence: Minneapolis

Term of Office: 1/2/2023 to 1/3/2027
Oath Date: 1/3/2023

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

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92nd Legislative Session (2021-2022)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/5/2021

Body: Senate

District: 59

Elected: 11/3/2020

Residence: Minneapolis

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

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

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

Session Details Convened Date: 1/8/2019

Body: Senate

District: 59

Elected: 11/8/2016

Residence: Minneapolis

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

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

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90th Legislative Session (2017-2018)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/3/2017

Body: Senate

District: 59

Elected: 11/8/2016

Residence: Minneapolis

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

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

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

Session Details Convened Date: 1/6/2015

Body: Senate

District: 59

Elected: 11/6/2012

Residence: Minneapolis

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

Counties Represented: Hennepin

Occupation: Attorney

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Capital Investment
Commerce
Finance
Finance: Judiciary Budget Division
Finance: Subcommittee on Equity
Finance: Subdivision on Justice Program (Chair)
Finance: Transportation and Public Safety Budget Division
Judiciary
Transportation and Public Safety

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88th Legislative Session (2013-2014)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/8/2013

Body: Senate

District: 59

Elected: 11/6/2012

Residence: Minneapolis

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

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

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87th Legislative Session (2011-2012)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/4/2011

Body: House

District: 58B

Elected: 11/2/2010

Residence: Minneapolis

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

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:

Judiciary Policy and Finance Minutes
Transportation Policy and Finance Minutes
Ways and Means Minutes

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86th Legislative Session (2009-2010)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/6/2009

Body: House

District: 58B

Elected: 11/4/2008

Residence: Minneapolis

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

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

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OTHER INFORMATION

Articles & Books About

Session Interviews

House Interview 2010 (Video)
House Interview 2009 (Video)

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

2009 (58B)

These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.

Photographs

Bobby Joe Champion is sworn in by Supreme Court Associate Justice Natalie E. Hudson becoming the first Black President of the Senate in the Senate's 164-year history at the time. Boby Joe Champion is a Democrat from Minneapolis. 1/3/2023. Photo credit: A.J. Olmscheid, Senate Media Services.

Jim Abeler and Bobby Joe Champion review materials prior to the start of session. Jim Abeler is a Republican from Anoka and Bobby Joe Champion is a Democrat from Minneapolis. 4/25/2022. Photo credit: A.J. Olmscheid, Senate Media Services.

Dan Hall and Bobby Joe Champion discuss legislation during a floor session in the Senate Chamber. Dan Hall is a Republican from Burnsville and Bobby Joe Champion is a Democrat from Minneapolis. 3/1/2018. Photo credit: David Oakes, Senate Media Services.

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