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McDonald, Joe

Official House Web Page Sessions Served    Other Information

House 2011-2012 (District 19B); House 2013-2022 (District 29A); House 2023-Present (District 29A)

Party when first elected:  Republican

Counties Served:  Hennepin, Meeker, Wright

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Date of Birth: 7/21/1966
Birth Place: Watertown, Minnesota
Birth County: Carver
Birth Country: United States
Date of Death:
Gender: Male
Religion: Catholic
Reported Minority: None Reported
Other Names:
City of Residence (when first elected): Delano
Occupation (when first elected): Master Photographer/Owner

EDUCATION

Hennepin Technical College; A.A.; Photography
Masters Degree; Photography, 2003; Craftsman Degree, 2008

OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

School Board/Administration: Delano, Minnesota (School Board Member); 19?? to ?
Municipal Council/Aldermen: Delano, Minnesota (City Council); 2001 to 2006
Municipal Mayor: Delano, Minnesota (City Mayor); 2007 to 2010

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:
Kenneth James McDonald  - Father

GENERAL NOTES

He was of Irish ancestry.

He was raised in Watertown, Minnesota.

He was a member of St. Peter's Catholic Church, in Delano, Minnesota.

Religion provided by his 2010 campaign website.

Most recent term photo
Click to view
Total Days Served: 5501

SESSIONS SERVED

94th Legislative Session (2025-2026)

  Session Details   Convened Date: 1/14/2025
Body: House
District: 29A
Elected: 11/5/2024
Residence: Delano
Term of Office: 1/6/2025 to 1/3/2027
Oath Date: 1/14/2025
Counties Represented: Hennepin, Meeker, Wright
Occupation: Master photographer/owner
Party: Republican
Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
Committees:
  • Children and Families Finance and Policy Minutes
  • Elections Finance and Government Operations Minutes
  • Legacy Finance (Chair) Minutes [He was chair until 3/17/2025, when he became co-chair.]
term photo
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93rd Legislative Session (2023-2024)

  Session Details   Convened Date: 1/3/2023
Body: House
District: 29A
Elected: 11/8/2022
Residence: Delano
Term of Office: 1/2/2023 to 1/5/2025
Oath Date: 1/3/2023
Counties Represented: Hennepin, Meeker, Wright
Occupation: Master photographer/owner
Party: Republican
Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
Committees:
  • Higher Education Finance and Policy Minutes
  • Labor and Industry Finance and Policy Minutes
term photo
Click to view

92nd Legislative Session (2021-2022)

  Session Details   Convened Date: 1/5/2021
Body: House
District: 29A
Elected: 11/3/2020
Residence: Delano
Term of Office: 1/4/2021 to 1/1/2023
Oath Date: 1/5/2021
Counties Represented: Hennepin, Wright
Occupation: Master Photographer/Owner
Party: Republican
Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
Committees:
  • Industrial Education and Economic Development Finance and Policy Minutes
  • Labor, Industry, Veterans and Military Affairs Finance and Policy Minutes
  • Taxes Minutes
term photo
Click to view

91st Legislative Session (2019-2020)

  Session Details   Convened Date: 1/8/2019
Body: House
District: 29A
Elected: 11/6/2018
Residence: Delano
Term of Office: 1/7/2019 to 1/3/2021
Oath Date: 1/8/2019
Counties Represented: Hennepin, Wright
Occupation: Master Photographer/Owner
Party: Republican
Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
Committees:
  • Government Operations: Subcommittee on Local Government Minutes
  • Rules and Legislative Administration: Subcommittee on Legislative Process Reform Minutes
  • Taxes Minutes
  • Taxes: Property and Local Tax Division Minutes
term photo
Click to view

90th Legislative Session (2017-2018)

  Session Details   Convened Date: 1/3/2017
Body: House
District: 29A
Elected: 11/8/2016
Residence: Delano
Term of Office: 1/2/2017 to 1/6/2019
Oath Date: 1/3/2017
Counties Represented: Hennepin, Wright
Occupation: Master Photographer/Owner
Party: Republican
Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
Committees:
  • Health & Human Services Reform Minutes
  • Health & Human Services Reform: Subcommittee on Aging & Long-Term Care Minutes
  • Taxes Minutes
  • Transportation & Regional Governance Policy Minutes
term photo
Click to view

89th Legislative Session (2015-2016)

  Session Details   Convened Date: 1/6/2015
Body: House
District: 29A
Elected: 11/4/2014
Residence: Delano
Term of Office: 1/5/2015 to 1/1/2017
Oath Date: 1/6/2015
Counties Represented: Hennepin, Wright
Occupation: Master Photographer/Owner
Party: Republican
Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
Committees:
  • Health and Human Services Finance Minutes
  • Higher Education Policy & Finance Minutes
  • Taxes Minutes
  • Taxes: Property Tax & Local Government Finance Division Minutes
term photo
Click to view

88th Legislative Session (2013-2014)

  Session Details   Convened Date: 1/8/2013
Body: House
District: 29A
Elected: 11/6/2012
Residence: Delano
Term of Office: 1/7/2013 to 1/4/2015
Oath Date: 1/8/2013
Counties Represented: Hennepin, Wright
Occupation: Master Photographer/Owner
Party: Republican
Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
Committees:
term photo
Click to view

87th Legislative Session (2011-2012)

  Session Details   Convened Date: 1/4/2011
Body: House
District: 19B
Elected: 11/2/2010
Residence: Delano
Term of Office: 1/3/2011 to 1/6/2013
Oath Date: 1/4/2011
Counties Represented: Hennepin, Wright
Occupation: Master Photographer/Owner
Party: Republican
Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
Committees:
  • Health and Human Services Finance Minutes
  • Health and Human Services Reform Minutes
  • Public Safety and Crime Prevention Policy and Finance Minutes
  • Taxes: Property and Local Tax Division Minutes
term photo
Click to view

OTHER INFORMATION

Articles & Books About

Session Interviews

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.
Rep. Joe McDonald smiles at a young baby, tickling his foot as the baby smiles back. The baby is being held by Rep. Isaac Schultz, with his wife standing nearby, both smiling at their baby.
Retuning members Marion Rarick, Joe McDonald and Dawn Gillman give a thumbs up on the House Floor on the first day of the 2025 legislative session.
Rep. Joe McDonald asks a question during the April 9 meeting of the House Labor and Industry Finance and Policy Committee.

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