Minnesota Legislature

Legislators Past & Present Home

Name Search:

Senjem, David H. "Dave"

Sessions Served

Other Information

Senate 2003-2012 (District 29); Senate 2013-2022 (District 25)

Party when first elected: Republican

Counties Served: Dodge, Olmsted

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Date of Birth: 12/20/1942

Birth Place: Austin, Minnesota

Birth County: Mower

Birth Country: United States

Date of Death:

Gender: Male

Religion: Lutheran

Reported Minority: None Reported

Other Names: Dave

City of Residence (when first elected): Rochester

Occupation (when first elected): Environmental Affairs Officer, Mayo Clinic

EDUCATION

Hayfield High School; Secondary; 1960
Luther College, Decorah, Iowa; B.A.; Biology

OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

State Board/Commission/Council: Minnesota Emergency Response Commission (16 years); [Dates Unknown]

County Board/Commissioner: Olmsted County, Minnesota (County Environmental Commission, 6 years); [Dates Unknown]

Municipal Board/Commission: Rochester, Minnesota (City Park Board, 5 years); [Dates Unknown]

Municipal Council/Aldermen: Rochester, Minnesota (City Council); 1992 to 2002 [Elected]

County Board/Commissioner: Olmsted County, Minnesota (County Commissioner); 2023 to ? [Elected]

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

Spouse: Marlys
Children: Two children: Jannah (daughter), Dwight (son)
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:
John N. Hanson - Great Great Grandfather

GENERAL NOTES

Special Legislative Concerns: preparing tomorrow's workforce, business climate, taxes, commerce, local government, bonding, energy, autism, mental health, agriculture, education, graduation rates, higher education, medical research.

He grew up in Hayfield, Minnesota.

His father, Howard Senjem, served as Mayor of Hayfield, Minnesota.

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

Click to view

Total Days Served: 7301

SESSIONS SERVED

92nd Legislative Session (2021-2022)

Session Details

Body: Senate

District: 25

Elected: 11/3/2020

Residence: Rochester

Term of Office: 1/5/2021 to 1/2/2023

Counties Represented: Dodge, Olmsted

Occupation: Retired environmental affairs officer, Mayo Clinic

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

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

Committees:

Capital Investment
Energy and Utilities Finance and Policy (Chair)
Environment and Natural Resources Policy and Legacy Finance

Click to view

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

Session Details

Body: Senate

District: 25

Elected: 11/8/2016

Residence: Rochester

Term of Office: 1/3/2017 to 1/4/2021

Counties Represented: Dodge, Olmsted

Occupation: Retired Environmental Affairs Officer, Mayo Clinic

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

Committees:

Capital Investment (Chair)
Energy and Utilities Finance and Policy
Environment and Natural Resources Policy and Legacy Finance
Taxes
Transportation Finance and Policy

Click to view

90th Legislative Session (2017-2018)

Session Details

Body: Senate

District: 25

Elected: 11/8/2016

Residence: Rochester

Term of Office: 1/3/2017 to 1/4/2021

Counties Represented: Dodge, Olmsted

Occupation: Retired Environmental Affairs Officer, Mayo Clinic

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

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

Committees:

Capital Investment (Chair)
Energy and Utilities Finance and Policy
Environment and Natural Resources Policy and Legacy Finance
Taxes
Transportation Finance and Policy

Click to view

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

Session Details

Body: Senate

District: 25

Elected: 11/6/2012

Residence: Rochester

Term of Office: 1/8/2013 to 1/2/2017

Counties Represented: Dodge, Olmsted

Occupation: Retired Environmental Affairs Officer, Mayo Clinic

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Capital Investment
Finance: Transportation and Public Safety Budget Division
Taxes
Transportation and Public Safety

Click to view

88th Legislative Session (2013-2014)

Session Details

Body: Senate

District: 25

Elected: 11/6/2012

Residence: Rochester

Term of Office: 1/8/2013 to 1/2/2017

Counties Represented: Dodge, Olmsted

Occupation: Retired Environmental Affairs Officer, Mayo Clinic

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

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

Committees:

Capital Investment
Finance: Transportation and Public Safety Division
Taxes
Transportation and Public Safety

Click to view

87th Legislative Session (2011-2012)

Session Details

Body: Senate

District: 29

Elected: 11/2/2010

Residence: Rochester

Term of Office: 1/4/2011 to 1/7/2013

Counties Represented: Dodge, Olmsted

Occupation: Environmental Affairs Officer, Mayo Clinic

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Special Session Bills Authored: 2011 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author 2011 1st Sp.S. - Author
2012 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author 2012 1st Sp.S. - Author

Committees:

Capital Investment (Chair)
Higher Education
Rules and Administration (Chair) [He was the Chair in 2012 only.]
Rules and Administration: Committees
Rules and Administration: Redistricting
Taxes
Transportation

Leadership Position: Assistant Majority Leader
Leadership Notes: He served in this position until December 27, 2011.

Leadership Position: Majority Leader
Leadership Notes: He was elected Majority Leader by the Republican caucus on December 27, 2011 after Amy Koch resigned from the position.

Click to view

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

Session Details

Body: Senate

District: 29

Elected: 11/7/2006

Residence: Rochester

Term of Office: 1/3/2007 to 1/3/2011

Counties Represented: Dodge, Olmsted

Occupation: Environmental Affairs Officer, Mayo Clinic

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Special Session Bills Authored: 2010 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author 2010 1st Sp.S. - Author
2010 2nd Sp.S. - Chief Author 2010 2nd Sp.S. - Author

Committees:

Capital Investment
Energy, Utilities, Technology and Communications
Finance [He was a member in 2010 only.]
Finance: Higher Education Budget and Policy Division
Higher Education
Rules and Administration
Rules and Administration: Committees
Rules and Administration: Conference Committees
Rules and Administration: Permanent and Joint Rules
Taxes
Taxes: Property Tax Division

Leadership Position: Minority Leader

Click to view

85th Legislative Session (2007-2008)

Session Details

Body: Senate

District: 29

Elected: 11/7/2006

Residence: Rochester

Term of Office: 1/3/2007 to 1/3/2011

Counties Represented: Dodge, Olmsted

Occupation: Environmental Affairs Officer, Mayo Clinic

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Special Session Bills Authored: 2007 1st Sp.S. - Author

Committees:

Capital Investment
Energy, Utilities, Technology and Communications
Finance: Higher Education Budget and Policy Division
Higher Education
Rules and Administration
Rules and Administration: Committees
Rules and Administration: Conference Committees
Rules and Administration: Permanent and Joint Rules
Taxes
Taxes: Property Taxes Division

Leadership Position: Minority Leader

Click to view

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

Session Details

Body: Senate

District: 29

Elected: 11/5/2002

Residence: Rochester

Term of Office: 1/7/2003 to 1/2/2007

Counties Represented: Dodge, Olmsted

Occupation: Environmental Affairs Officer, Mayo Clinic

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

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

Committees:

Capital Investment
Finance: State Government Budget Division
Finance: Transportation Budget Division
Jobs, Energy and Community Development
Jobs, Energy and Community Development: Energy
Jobs, Energy and Community Development: Housing
State and Local Government Operations
Transportation

Click to view

83rd Legislative Session (2003-2004)

Session Details

Body: Senate

District: 29

Elected: 11/5/2002

Residence: Rochester

Term of Office: 1/7/2003 to 1/2/2007

Counties Represented: Dodge, Olmsted

Occupation: Environmental Affairs Officer, Mayo Clinic

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Capital Investment
Jobs, Housing and Community Development-2003/Jobs, Energy and Community Development-2004
State and Local Government Operations

Click to view

OTHER INFORMATION

Articles & Books About
Mewes, Trey. "From State to County, Senjem Takes on New Role." Star Tribune, November 13, 2022, p. B5.

District Files

District File - 2003 District 29
District File - 2004 District 29
District File - 2005 District 29
District File - 2006 District 29
District File - 2007 District 29
District File - 2008 District 29
District File - 2009 District 29
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.

Legislators Past & Present Home

Name Search:

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