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Severson, Daniel "Dan"

Sessions Served

Other Information

House 2003-2010 (District 14A)

Party when first elected: Republican

Counties Served: Benton, Stearns

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Date of Birth: 8/31/1954

Birth Place: Mora, Minnesota

Birth County: Kanabec

Birth Country: United States

Date of Death:

Gender: Male

Religion: Christian

Reported Minority: None Reported

Other Names: Dan

City of Residence (when first elected): Sauk Rapids

Occupation (when first elected): Substitute Teacher/Business Owner/Retired Military, Navy Pilot

EDUCATION

St. Cloud Technical High School; Secondary; Graduate, 1973
St. Cloud State University; B.A.; Physics Major, Math and Computer Science Minor
Attended Graduate School; Transportation

OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

Military: United States Navy (Fighter Pilot/Naval Officer/Commander, Awarded the Navy Commendation Medal and the Navy Achievement Medal); 1979 to 10/2000

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

Spouse: Cathy Jo Pederson (married in 1975)
Children: Two children: Nicole (daughter), Joshua (son)
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

GENERAL NOTES

He announced he would seek the Republican party endorsement to run for the United States Senate against Amy Klobuchar in the 2012 election.

He ran unsuccessfully as the Republican Party endorsed candidate for Minnesota Secretary of State in the 2010 election. He lost to Mark Ritchie.

He ran unsuccessfully as the Republican Party endorsed candidate for Minnesota Secretary of State in the 2014 election. He lost to Steve Simon.

He ran unsuccessfully in Congressional District 19 (in Florida) in 2020. He lost the primary to Byron Donalds.

Religion provided by Politics in Minnesota the Directory, 2005-2006.

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Total Days Served: 2920

SESSIONS SERVED

86th Legislative Session (2009-2010)

Session Details

Body: House

District: 14A

Elected: 11/4/2008

Residence: Sauk Rapids

Term of Office: 1/5/2009 to 1/2/2011

Counties Represented: Benton, Stearns

Occupation: Retired Military

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Special Session Bills Authored: 2010 2nd Sp.S. - Author

Committees:

Agriculture, Rural Economies and Veterans Affairs: Veterans Affairs Division Minutes
Finance: Housing Finance and Policy and Public Health Finance Division Minutes
Finance: Public Safety Finance Division Minutes
Finance: Transportation Finance and Policy Division Minutes

Leadership Position: Minority Whip

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85th Legislative Session (2007-2008)

Session Details

Body: House

District: 14A

Elected: 11/7/2006

Residence: Sauk Rapids

Term of Office: 1/1/2007 to 1/4/2009

Counties Represented: Benton, Stearns

Occupation: Retired Military, Navy Pilot

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Agriculture, Rural Economies and Veterans Affairs: Veterans Affairs Division Minutes
Finance Minutes
Finance: Education Finance and Economic Competitiveness Finance Division: Higher Education and Work Force Development Policy and Finance Division Minutes
Finance: Housing Policy and Finance and Public Health Finance Division Minutes
Finance: Transportation Finance Division Minutes
Finance: Transportation Finance Division: Transportation and Transit Policy Minutes

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84th Legislative Session (2005-2006)

Session Details

Body: House

District: 14A

Elected: 11/2/2004

Residence: Sauk Rapids

Term of Office: 1/4/2005 to 1/2/2007

Counties Represented: Benton, Stearns

Occupation: Retired Military, Navy Pilot

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

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

Committees:

Commerce and Financial Institutions Minutes
Commerce and Financial Institutions: Technology, Bioscience and Medical Products Division Minutes
Education Policy and Reform Minutes
Governmental Operations and Veterans Affairs Minutes
Transportation Minutes

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83rd Legislative Session (2003-2004)

Session Details

Body: House

District: 14A

Elected: 11/5/2002

Residence: Sauk Rapids

Term of Office: 1/7/2003 to 1/3/2005

Counties Represented: Benton, Stearns

Occupation: Substitute Teacher/Business Owner/Retired Military, Navy Pilot

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

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

Committees:

Jobs and Economic Development Finance Minutes
Local Government and Metropolitan Affairs Minutes
Transportation Policy Minutes

OTHER INFORMATION

Session Interviews
Session Interview (Video) 2006 House Interview

Video
House Floor Retirement Speech, May 16, 2010 (Video) 2010

Articles & Books About
"Severson Soars in Crowded District 19 Congressional Race." The Floridian, March 2020.

Radomski, Lauren. "Leaving Before His Self-Imposed Limit. Severson Looks to Continue Work on Election Reform as Secretary of State." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, April 23, 2010, p. 22.

Schutz, Lee Ann. "Preparing for Vet's Return: Provisions Framed to Make Minnesota a 'Veteran-Friendly State'." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, April 13, 2007, p. 3.

Lonergan, Tom. "Coming Home: After Living Outside of Minnesota During Many Years of Military Service, Severson Jets into the House of Representatives." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, March 21, 2003, p. 24

District Files

District File - 2003 District 14A
District File - 2004 District 14A
District File - 2005 District 14A
District File - 2006 District 14A
District File - 2007 District 14A
District File - 2008 District 14A
District File - 2009 District 14A
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.

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