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Benson, Michelle R.

Sessions Served

Other Information

Senate 2011-2012 (District 49); Senate 2013-2022 (District 31)

Party when first elected: Republican

Counties Served: Anoka, Isanti, Sherburne

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Date of Birth: 9/11/1968

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): Ham Lake

Occupation (when first elected): Certified Public Accountant (C.P.A.)

EDUCATION

Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunberg High School; Secondary;
St. Catherine's University, St. Paul; B.A.; Chemistry
St. Thomas University; M.B.A.;

OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

Spouse: Craig
Children: Three children: Calvin, Grant (sons) and Claire Ann (daughter, born in March 2011, while she was in office)

Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

GENERAL NOTES

She was raised on a farm in Murdock, Minnesota.

She declared her candidacy for Minnesota Lieutenant Governor, with Representative Dave Thompson as her running mate, in 2013. They later withdrew.

She was a candidate to run for Governor of Minnesota in 2022, but withdrew.

She was a member of Epiphany Catholic Church. Religion provided by her 2010 campaign website.

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Total Days Served: 4382

SESSIONS SERVED

92nd Legislative Session (2021-2022)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/5/2021

Body: Senate

District: 31

Elected: 11/3/2020

Residence: Ham Lake

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

Counties Represented: Anoka, Isanti, Sherburne

Occupation: None listed

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

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

Committees:

Finance
Health and Human Services Finance and Policy (Chair)
Human Services Reform Finance and Policy

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

Session Details Convened Date: 1/8/2019

Body: Senate

District: 31

Elected: 11/8/2016

Residence: Ham Lake

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

Counties Represented: Anoka, Isanti, Sherburne

Occupation: None listed

Party: Republican

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 6th Sp.S. - Chief Author    2020 6th Sp.S. - Author
2020 7th Sp.S. - Chief Author    2020 7th Sp.S. - Author

Committees:

Finance
Health and Human Services Finance and Policy (Chair)
Human Services Reform Finance and Policy
Rules and Administration

Leadership Position: Deputy Majority Leader

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90th Legislative Session (2017-2018)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/3/2017

Body: Senate

District: 31

Elected: 11/8/2016

Residence: Ham Lake

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

Counties Represented: Anoka, Isanti, Sherburne

Occupation: None Listed

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

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

Committees:

Finance
Health and Human Services Finance and Policy (Chair)
Human Services Reform Finance and Policy
Rules and Administration

Leadership Position: Deputy Majority Leader

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

Session Details Convened Date: 1/6/2015

Body: Senate

District: 31

Elected: 11/6/2012

Residence: Ham Lake

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

Counties Represented: Anoka, Isanti, Sherburne

Occupation: None Listed

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Environment and Energy
Finance: Health and Human Services Budget Division
Health, Human Services and Housing

Leadership Position: Assistant Minority Leader

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88th Legislative Session (2013-2014)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/8/2013

Body: Senate

District: 31

Elected: 11/6/2012

Residence: Ham Lake

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

Counties Represented: Anoka, Isanti, Sherburne

Occupation: Certified Public Accountant (C.P.A.)

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Special Session Bills Authored: 2013 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author 2013 1st Sp.S. - Author

Committees:

Environment and Energy
Finance: Health and Human Services Division
Health, Human Services and Housing

Leadership Position: Assistant Minority Leader - She resigned from this position in early 2014.

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87th Legislative Session (2011-2012)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/4/2011

Body: Senate

District: 49

Elected: 11/2/2010

Residence: Ham Lake

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

Counties Represented: Anoka

Occupation: Certified Public Accountant (C.P.A.)

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

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

Committees:

Agriculture and Rural Economies
Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications
Health and Human Services

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OTHER INFORMATION

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.

These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.

Legislators Past & Present Home

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