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    Torres Ray, Patricia

    Sessions Served    Other Information

    Senate 2007-2012 (District 62); Senate 2013-2022 (District 63)

    Party when first elected:  Democratic-Farmer-Labor

    Counties Served:  Hennepin

    BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

    Date of Birth: 3/25/1964
    Birth Place: Pasto,
    Birth County:
    Birth Country: Colombia
    Date of Death:
    Gender: Female
    Religion: Catholic
    Reported Minority: Hispanic, Latino or Spanish Origin
    Other Names:
    Former Name: Torres
    City of Residence (when first elected): Minneapolis
    Occupation (when first elected): Consultant/Social Services, Minnesota Department of Human Services

    EDUCATION

    Catholic Schools; Elementary School;
    Sagrado Corzon de Jesus Bethlemitas High School, Colombia; Secondary;
    University of Minnesota; B.A.; Urban Studies
    University of Minnesota, Humphrey Institute; M.P.A.; Public Affairs, 2004
    University, Pasto, Colombia; Studied Law;

    OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

    Judicial Administration: Hennepin County Juvenile Court, Minnesota (Juvenile Court Consultant); [Dates Unknown]
    State Board/Commission/Council: Minnesota State Ombudsperson for Families; 1992 to ?
    State Agency: Minnesota Department of Human Services (Policy Analyst/Program Administrator); 1998 to 2006

    FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

    Spouse: Jackson "Jack" Ray (married in 1987)
    Children: Two children: Tomas and Carlos (sons)
    Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

    GENERAL NOTES

    Special Legislative Concerns: education, health and human services, environment, economic development.

    She was the first known Hispanic woman to serve in the Minnesota Senate. (Star Tribune, December 1, 2006) Edwina Garcia was the first known Hispanic woman to serve in the Minnesota Legislature.

    She moved to Minnesota in November 1987.

    She ran for the 5th Congressional District in the 2018 election. She lost the primary and continued her term in the Senate.

    She announced she would not seek reelection in 2022.

    Religion provided by the Catholic Spirit, January 18, 2007, p. 11.

    Most recent term photo
    Click to view
    Total Days Served: 5845

    SESSIONS SERVED

    92nd Legislative Session (2021-2022)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/5/2021
    Body: Senate
    District: 63
    Elected: 11/3/2020
    Residence: Minneapolis
    Term of Office: 1/4/2021 to 1/1/2023
    Oath Date: 1/5/2021
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Consultant
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Committees:
    • Energy and Utilities Finance and Policy
    • Environment and Natural Resources Finance
    • Rules and Administration: Subcommittee on Ethical Conduct
    term photo
    Click to view

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

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/8/2019
    Body: Senate
    District: 63
    Elected: 11/8/2016
    Residence: Minneapolis
    Term of Office: 1/2/2017 to 1/3/2021
    Oath Date: 1/3/2017
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Consultant
    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 5th Sp.S. - Chief Author    2020 5th Sp.S. - Author
    Committees:
    • E-12 Finance and Policy
    • Environment and Natural Resources Policy and Legacy Finance
    • Local Government
    term photo
    Click to view

    90th Legislative Session (2017-2018)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/3/2017
    Body: Senate
    District: 63
    Elected: 11/8/2016
    Residence: Minneapolis
    Term of Office: 1/2/2017 to 1/3/2021
    Oath Date: 1/3/2017
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Consultant
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Committees:
    • E-12 Finance
    • Environment and Natural Resources Policy and Legacy Finance
    • Local Government
    term photo
    Click to view

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

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/6/2015
    Body: Senate
    District: 63
    Elected: 11/6/2012
    Residence: Minneapolis
    Term of Office: 1/7/2013 to 1/1/2017
    Oath Date: 1/8/2013
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Consultant
    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:
    • Education
    • Finance: E-12 Policy and Budget Division
    • Finance: Higher Education and Workforce Development Budget Division
    • Finance: State Departments and Veterans Budget Division
    • Finance: Subcommittee on Equity
    • Higher Education and Workforce Development
    • State and Local Government (Chair)
    term photo
    Click to view

    88th Legislative Session (2013-2014)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/8/2013
    Body: Senate
    District: 63
    Elected: 11/6/2012
    Residence: Minneapolis
    Term of Office: 1/7/2013 to 1/1/2017
    Oath Date: 1/8/2013
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Consultant
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Committees:
    • Education (Chair)
    • Finance: E-12 Division
    • Finance: Higher Education and Workforce Development Division
    • Higher Education and Workforce Development
    • State and Local Government
    term photo
    Click to view

    87th Legislative Session (2011-2012)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/4/2011
    Body: Senate
    District: 62
    Elected: 11/2/2010
    Residence: Minneapolis
    Term of Office: 1/3/2011 to 1/6/2013
    Oath Date: 1/4/2011
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Consultant
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Committees:
    • Education
    • Jobs and Economic Growth
    • State Government Innovation and Veterans
    term photo
    Click to view

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

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/6/2009
    Body: Senate
    District: 62
    Elected: 11/7/2006
    Residence: Minneapolis
    Term of Office: 1/1/2007 to 1/2/2011
    Oath Date: 1/3/2007
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Consultant
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Special Session Bills Authored:     2010 2nd Sp.S. - Author
    Committees:
    • Education
    • Finance: E-12 Education Budget and Policy Division
    • Finance: E-12 Education Budget and Policy Division: Integration Aid
    • Finance: Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Budget Division
    • Finance: Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Budget Division: Clean Water Legacy
    • Finance: Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Budget Division: Energy Subdivision
    • Finance: Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Budget Division: Parks and Trails Legacy (Chair)
    • Health, Housing and Family Security
    Leadership Position: Majority Whip
    term photo
    Click to view

    85th Legislative Session (2007-2008)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/3/2007
    Body: Senate
    District: 62
    Elected: 11/7/2006
    Residence: Minneapolis
    Term of Office: 1/1/2007 to 1/2/2011
    Oath Date: 1/3/2007
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Consultant/Social Services, Minnesota Department of Human Services
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Committees:
    • Education
    • Finance: E-12 Education Budget Division
    • Finance: Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Budget Division
    • Finance: Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Budget Division: Energy Subdivision
    • Health, Housing and Family Security
    Leadership Position: Majority Whip
    term photo
    Click to view

    OTHER INFORMATION

    Articles & Books About

    • Peterson-de la Cueva, Lisa. "Primed for Power: Patricia Torres Ray is Working to Launch More Women into Elected Office." Minnesota Women's Press, October 2014, p. 10-11.

    District News Files

    2007 (62)
    2008 (62)
    2009 (62)
    These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.

    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.

    Photographs

    Chris Eaton, Melisa López-Franzen, and Patricia Torres Ray on the Minnesota Senate floor, St. Paul, Minnesota 4/12/2018. Chris Eaton, Melisa López-Franzen, and Patricia Torres Ray converse on tthe Senate Floor. Chris Eaton is a Democrat from Brooklyn Center, Melisa Franzen is Democrat from Edina, and Patricia Torres Ray is a Democrat from Minneapolis. Photo credit: A.J. Olmscheid, Senate Media Services.
    Patricia Torres Ray and Chris Eaton on the Minnesota Senate floor, St. Paul, Minnesota 2/26/2015. Patricia Torres Ray and Chris Eaton review legislation during a floor session in the Senate Chamber. Patricia Torres Ray is a Democrat from Minneapolis and Chris Eaton is a Democrat from Brooklyn Center. Photo credit: David Oakes, Senate Media Services.

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