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Marty, John J.

Official Senate Web Page Sessions Served

Other Information

Senate 1987-92 (District 63); Senate 1993-2012 (District 54); Senate 2013-2022 (District 66); Senate 2023-Present (District 40)

Party when first elected: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Counties Served: Hennepin, Ramsey

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Date of Birth: 11/1/1956

Birth Place: Evanston, Illinois

Birth County:

Birth Country: United States

Date of Death:

Gender: Male

Religion: Lutheran

Reported Minority: None Reported

Other Names:

City of Residence (when first elected): Roseville

Occupation (when first elected): Grant Analyst/Grant Consultant

EDUCATION

St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minnesota; B.A.; Ethics, 1978
University of Minnesota, Humphrey Institute; Fellowship; Policy Fellow, 1990-1991

OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

State Legislative Staff: Minnesota House of Representatives (House Criminal Justice Committee, Researcher and Committee Administrator); 1980 to 1984

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

Spouse: Connie Jaarsma (married in November 1981)
Children: Two children: Elsa and Micah
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

GENERAL NOTES

Special Legislative Concerns: climate, universal health care, economic justice, education, economic development, environment, ethics, energy, criminal justice, social, racial, and gender justice.

He grew up in Riverside, Illinois.

His father, Martin, was a Lutheran theologian.

He ran as the Democratic-Farmer-Labor endorsed candidate for Minnesota Governor in 1994; he lost to Arne Carlson.

He ran for the Democratic-Farmer-Labor endorsement for Minnesota Governor in 1998.

He ran unsuccessfully to become the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party endorsed candidate for Governor of Minnesota in the 2010 election. He dropped out during the state convention.

He was a Campaign Aide and Communications Director for the state Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, 1979-80.

He was a member of Nativity Lutheran Church in St. Anthony, Minnesota.

Religion provided by the Natural Resources Defense Council's State Directories 2005, Politics in Minnesota the Directory, 2005-2006, and a newspaper article.

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Total Days Served: 13988

SESSIONS SERVED

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

Session Details Convened Date: 1/14/2025

Body: Senate

District: 40

Elected: 11/8/2022

Residence: Roseville

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

Counties Represented: Ramsey

Occupation: Writer

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Elections
Finance (Chair) [He was chair beginning 2/3/2025. He was co-chair from 1/14/2025 to 2/3/2025.]
Labor
Rules and Administration
Rules and Administration: Subcommittee on Committees

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93rd Legislative Session (2023-2024)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/3/2023

Body: Senate

District: 40

Elected: 11/8/2022

Residence: Roseville

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

Counties Represented: Ramsey

Occupation: Writer

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Elections
Finance (Chair)
Labor
Rules and Administration

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92nd Legislative Session (2021-2022)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/5/2021

Body: Senate

District: 66

Elected: 11/3/2020

Residence: Roseville

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

Counties Represented: Ramsey

Occupation: Writer

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:

Finance
Rules and Administration

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

Session Details Convened Date: 1/8/2019

Body: Senate

District: 66

Elected: 11/8/2016

Residence: Roseville

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

Counties Represented: Ramsey

Occupation: Writer

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 3rd Sp.S. - Chief Author    2020 3rd Sp.S. - Author
2020 4th Sp.S. - Chief Author    2020 4th Sp.S. - Author
2020 5th Sp.S. - Chief Author    2020 5th Sp.S. - Author

Committees:

Energy and Utilities Finance and Policy
Finance
Health and Human Services Finance and Policy

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90th Legislative Session (2017-2018)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/3/2017

Body: Senate

District: 66

Elected: 11/8/2016

Residence: Roseville

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

Counties Represented: Ramsey

Occupation: Writer

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Energy and Utilities Finance and Policy
Finance
Health and Human Services Finance and Policy

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

Session Details Convened Date: 1/6/2015

Body: Senate

District: 66

Elected: 11/6/2012

Residence: Roseville

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

Counties Represented: Ramsey

Occupation: Writer

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Special Session Bills Authored: 2015 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author 2015 1st Sp.S. - Author

Committees:

Environment and Energy (Chair)
Health, Human Services and Housing
Rules and Administration
Taxes

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88th Legislative Session (2013-2014)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/8/2013

Body: Senate

District: 66

Elected: 11/6/2012

Residence: Roseville

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

Counties Represented: Ramsey

Occupation: Writer

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Environment and Energy (Chair)
Health, Human Services and Housing
Rules and Administration
Taxes

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87th Legislative Session (2011-2012)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/4/2011

Body: Senate

District: 54

Elected: 11/2/2010

Residence: Roseville

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

Counties Represented: Hennepin, Ramsey

Occupation: Writer

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:

Health and Human Services
Judiciary and Public Safety
Taxes

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86th Legislative Session (2009-2010) (second half of Senate term)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/6/2009

Body: Senate

District: 54

Elected: 11/7/2006

Residence: Roseville

Term of Office: 1/1/2007 to 1/2/2011
Oath Date: 1/3/2007

Counties Represented: Hennepin, Ramsey

Occupation: Writer

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Commerce and Consumer Protection
Health, Housing and Family Security (Chair)
Health, Housing and Family Security: Joint Health, Housing and Family Security with Finance: Economic Development and Housing Budget Division: Housing (also subcommittee to Finance: Economic Development and Housing Budget Division)
State and Local Government Operations and Oversight
State and Local Government Operations and Oversight: Elections
Taxes

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85th Legislative Session (2007-2008)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/3/2007

Body: Senate

District: 54

Elected: 11/7/2006

Residence: Roseville

Term of Office: 1/1/2007 to 1/2/2011
Oath Date: 1/3/2007

Counties Represented: Hennepin, Ramsey

Occupation: Writer

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Commerce and Consumer Protection
Health, Housing and Family Security (Chair)
State and Local Government Operations and Oversight
State and Local Government Operations and Oversight: Elections
Taxes

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84th Legislative Session (2005-2006) (second half of Senate term)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/4/2005

Body: Senate

District: 54

Elected: 11/5/2002

Residence: Roseville

Term of Office: 1/6/2003 to 12/31/2006
Oath Date: 1/7/2003

Counties Represented: Hennepin, Ramsey

Occupation: Writer

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Special Session Bills Authored: 2005 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author 2005 1st Sp.S. - Author

Committees:

Elections
Environment and Natural Resources (Chair)
Judiciary
Judiciary: Family Law
Rules and Administration
Rules and Administration: Elections
Rules and Administration: Personnel
Taxes

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83rd Legislative Session (2003-2004)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/7/2003

Body: Senate

District: 54

Elected: 11/5/2002

Residence: Roseville

Term of Office: 1/6/2003 to 12/31/2006
Oath Date: 1/7/2003

Counties Represented: Hennepin, Ramsey

Occupation: Writer

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Special Session Bills Authored: 2003 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author 2003 1st Sp.S. - Author

Committees:

Elections-2004
Environment and Natural Resources (Chair)
Judiciary
Judiciary: Family Law
Rules and Administration
Rules and Administration: Elections
Rules and Administration: Personnel
Taxes

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82nd Legislative Session (2001-2002)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/3/2001

Body: Senate

District: 54

Elected: 11/7/2000

Residence: Roseville

Term of Office: 1/1/2001 to 1/5/2003
Oath Date: 1/3/2001

Counties Represented: Hennepin, Ramsey

Occupation: Writer

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Commerce
Commerce: Consumer Protection and Regulated Industries
Commerce: Insurance
Judiciary (Chair)
Judiciary: Family Law
Rules and Administration
Rules and Administration: Elections
Rules and Administration: Personnel
Taxes
Taxes: Income and Sales Tax Budget Division
Telecommunications, Energy and Utilities

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81st Legislative Session (1999-2000) (second half of Senate term)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/5/1999

Body: Senate

District: 54

Elected: 11/5/1996

Residence: Roseville

Term of Office: 1/6/1997 to 12/31/2000
Oath Date: 1/7/1997

Counties Represented: Hennepin, Ramsey

Occupation: Writer

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Children, Families and Learning
Children, Families and Learning/Education Finance: Family and Early Childhood Education Budget Division
Commerce
Commerce: Consumer Protection and Regulated Industries
Commerce: Insurance
Election Laws (Chair)
Governmental Operations and Veterans/Election Laws/State Gov't. Finance Comm.: Governmental Operations Budget Division
Taxes
Taxes: Income and Sales Tax

80th Legislative Session (1997-1998)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/7/1997

Body: Senate

District: 54

Elected: 11/5/1996

Residence: Roseville

Term of Office: 1/6/1997 to 12/31/2000
Oath Date: 1/7/1997

Counties Represented: Hennepin, Ramsey

Occupation: Writer

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Children, Families and Learning
Children, Families and Learning/Education Finance: Family and Early Childhood Education Budget Division
Commerce
Commerce: Consumer Protection and Regulated Industries
Commerce: Insurance
Election Laws (Chair)
Governmental Operations and Veterans/Election Laws/State Gov't. Finance Comm.: Governmental Operations Budget Division
Taxes
Taxes: Income and Sales Tax

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79th Legislative Session (1995-1996) (second half of Senate term)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/3/1995

Body: Senate

District: 54

Elected: 11/3/1992

Residence: Roseville

Term of Office: 1/4/1993 to 1/5/1997
Oath Date: 1/5/1993

Counties Represented: Hennepin, Ramsey

Occupation: Writer

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Crime Prevention
Ethics and Campaign Reform (Chair)
Gaming Regulation
Rules and Administration
Taxes and Tax Laws
Taxes and Tax Laws: Income and Sales Tax

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78th Legislative Session (1993-1994)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/5/1993

Body: Senate

District: 54

Elected: 11/3/1992

Residence: Roseville

Term of Office: 1/4/1993 to 1/5/1997
Oath Date: 1/5/1993

Counties Represented: Hennepin, Ramsey

Occupation: Writer

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Committees:

Crime Prevention
Crime Prevention: Crime Prevention Finance Division
Ethics and Campaign Reform (Chair)
Gaming Regulation
Rules and Administration
Taxes and Tax Laws
Taxes and Tax Laws: Income and Sales Tax

77th Legislative Session (1991-1992)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/8/1991

Body: Senate

District: 63

Elected: 11/6/1990

Residence: Roseville

Term of Office: 1/7/1991 to 1/3/1993
Oath Date: 1/8/1991

Counties Represented: Hennepin, Ramsey

Occupation: Writer

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Committees:

Elections and Ethics
Energy and Public Utilities
Environment and Natural Resources
Environment and Natural Resources: Environmental Protection
Judiciary
Judiciary: Criminal Justice System Oversight
Judiciary: Criminal Law Division (Chair)
Taxes and Tax Laws
Taxes and Tax Laws: Income, Sales, and Economic Development Division

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76th Legislative Session (1989-1990) (second half of Senate term)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/3/1989

Body: Senate

District: 63

Elected: 11/4/1986

Residence: Roseville

Term of Office: 1/5/1987 to 1/6/1991
Oath Date: 1/6/1987

Counties Represented: Hennepin, Ramsey

Occupation: Writer

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Committees:

Environment and Natural Resources
Environment and Natural Resources: Environmental Protection
Governmental Operations
Judiciary
Judiciary: Criminal Law Division
Public Utilities and Energy
Public Utilities and Energy: Energy (Chair)

75th Legislative Session (1987-1988)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/6/1987

Body: Senate

District: 63

Elected: 11/4/1986

Residence: Roseville

Term of Office: 1/5/1987 to 1/6/1991
Oath Date: 1/6/1987

Counties Represented: Hennepin, Ramsey

Occupation: Grant Analyst/Grant Consultant

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Committees:

Environment and Natural Resources
Environment and Natural Resources: Environmental Protection
Governmental Operations
Judiciary
Judiciary: Criminal Law Division
Judiciary: Revisor's Bill (Chair)
Public Utilities and Energy
Public Utilities and Energy: Alternative Energy (Chair)

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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.

District News Files

2000 (54)

2001 (54)

2002 (54)

2003 (54)

2004 (54)

2005 (54)

2006 (54)

2007 (54)

2008 (54)

2009 (54)

These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.

Photographs

Jim Carlson and John Marty discuss senate business on the Senate Floor. Jim Carlson is a Democrat from Eagan and John Marty is a Democrat from Roseville. 1/26/2017. Photo credit: David Oakes, Senate Media Services.

Senator John Marty speaks in committee, St. Paul, Minnesota. c. 1987. Photo credit: Senate Media ServicesThis image was scanned from the files of the Minnesota Senate Photographer with the generous help of the Minnesota Digital Library..

Senator John Marty, Senator Howard Knutson, and Senator Mel Frederick confer in the Senate Chamber, St. Paul, Minnesota. c. 1987. Photo credit: Senate Media ServicesThis image was scanned from the files of the Minnesota Senate Photographer with the generous help of the Minnesota Digital Library..

Senator John Marty, Senator James Pehler, and Senator Pat Piper confer during a Senate floor session, St. Paul, Minnesota. c. 1987-1990. Photo credit: Senate Media ServicesThis image was scanned from the files of the Minnesota Senate Photographer with the generous help of the Minnesota Digital Library..

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