Allen, Susan
House 2012-2012 (District 61B); House 2013-2018 (District 62B)
Party when first elected: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Counties Served:
Hennepin
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
Date of Birth:
3/27/1963
Birth Place:
Ute Reservation, Utah
Birth County:
Birth Country:
United States
Date of Death:
Gender:
Female
Religion:
Reported Minority: American Indian
Other Names:
City of Residence (when first elected):
Minneapolis
Occupation (when first elected):
Attorney
EDUCATION
Elementary School; Attended 20 Different Schools in 5 Different States by the Time She Was 14 Years Old
Augsburg College; B.A.; Economics, 1992
William Mitchell College of Law; LL.M.; Taxation, 1999
University of New Mexico, Law School; J.D.; 1995
OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE
FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS
Spouse/Partner:
Amber Gianera
Children:
One child: Philip Chaltas (son)
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:
GENERAL NOTES
She was the first Native American woman to serve in the Minnesota Legislature. (Minnesota Women's Press, December 2017)
She is Lakota, Dakota and Anishinabe. Her father was from the Pine Ridge Reservation and her mother was from the Rosebud Reservation, both in South Dakota. She was a member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe in South Dakota. (Star Tribune, April 14, 2012)
"Minnesota Democrat Susan Allen made history January 10 as the first Native American Lesbian to be elected to a U.S. State legislature." (Indian Country Today, January 13, 2012)
She was the second openly lesbian member to serve in the Minnesota Legislature.
Body: House
District: 62B
Elected: 11/8/2016
Residence: Minneapolis
Term of Office: 1/3/2017 to 1/7/2019
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation: Attorney
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Special Session Bills Authored: 2017 1st Sp.S. - Author
Committees:
-
Commerce & Regulatory Reform
Minutes
-
Health & Human Services Finance
Minutes
-
Health & Human Services Reform
Minutes
-
Health & Human Services Reform: Subcommittee on Aging & Long-Term Care
Minutes
Body: House
District: 62B
Elected: 11/4/2014
Residence: Minneapolis
Term of Office: 1/6/2015 to 1/2/2017
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation: Attorney
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Agriculture Policy
Minutes
-
Health and Human Services Finance
Minutes
-
Health and Human Services Reform
Minutes
Body: House
District: 62B
Elected: 11/6/2012
Residence: Minneapolis
Term of Office: 1/8/2013 to 1/5/2015
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation: Attorney
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Body: House
District: 61B
Elected: 1/10/2012
Residence: Minneapolis
Term of Office: 1/19/2012 to 1/7/2013
(Special Election)
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation: Attorney
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Health and Human Services Reform
Minutes
[She was a member in 2012 only.]
-
Judiciary Policy and Finance
Minutes
[She was a member in 2012 only.]
-
State Government Finance: Veterans Services Division
Minutes
[She was a member in 2012 only.]
Session Notes:
She won the special election for District 61B, which was vacant due to the resignation of Rep. Jeff Hayden.
Session Interviews
Session Interview
(Video) 2014 House Interview
Articles & Books About
Shah, Allie. "Rep. Susan Allen Offers a Unique Legislative Voice." Star Tribune, April 14, 2012, p. B1, B5.
Cook, Mike. "Always Looking to Help Others. Allen Brings Her Fight for Social and Economic Justice to the House." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, January 27, 2012, p. 8
These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.
The Minnesota Legislative Reference Library has collected newspaper articles on legislators since 1973. They are available in the Library.