Champion, Bobby Joe
House 2009-2012 (District 58B); Senate 2013-2022 (District 59); Senate 2023-Present (District 59)
Party when first elected: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Counties Served:
Hennepin
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
Date of Birth:
12/17/1963
Birth Place:
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Birth County:
Hennepin
Birth Country:
United States
Date of Death:
Gender:
Male
Religion:
Reported Minority: Black
Other Names:
City of Residence (when first elected):
Minneapolis
Occupation (when first elected):
Attorney
EDUCATION
Minneapolis North High School; Secondary; Graduate
Macalester College, St. Paul, Minnesota; B.A.; Political Science
William Mitchell College of Law; J.D.; 1995
OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE
State Attorney General Staff:
Minnesota Office of the Attorney General (Assistant Attorney General under Skip Humphrey and Mike Hatch);
19?? to ?
FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS
Spouse:
Angela
Children:
Three children: Bobby, Jaylen, and Myles (sons)
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:
GENERAL NOTES
Special Legislative Concerns: job creation, affordable housing, civil rights, education, economic development, criminal justice reform.
He is the first Black person to serve as Senate president and the most senior lawmaker of color when the new legislative session convened in 2023. (Sahan Journal)
When first elected in 2008, he was one of two black members of the House (Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder, February 13, 2009).
He is one of the founding members of the United Black Legislative Caucus.
He announced his intention to run for the 5th Congressional District in the 2018 election on June 5, 2018, but suspended his campaign on June 11, 2018. He continued his term in the Senate.
He was the co-founder and director of the 2003 Grammy nominated Excelsior Choir.
Body:
Senate
District:
59
Elected:
11/5/2024
Residence:
Minneapolis
Term of Office:
1/2/2023 to 1/3/2027
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation:
Attorney
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Finance
-
Jobs and Economic Development (Chair)
[Co-chair]
-
Rules and Administration
Body:
Senate
District:
59
Elected:
11/8/2022
Residence:
Minneapolis
Term of Office:
1/2/2023 to 1/3/2027
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation:
Attorney
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Finance
-
Jobs and Economic Development (Chair)
-
Rules and Administration
-
Rules and Administration: Subcommittee on Ethical Conduct (Chair)
Leadership Position:
President of the Senate
Body:
Senate
District:
59
Elected:
11/3/2020
Residence:
Minneapolis
Term of Office:
1/4/2021 to 1/1/2023
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation:
Attorney
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Capital Investment
-
Finance
-
Jobs and Economic Growth Finance and Policy
-
Rules and Administration: Subcommittee on Ethical Conduct
Body:
Senate
District:
59
Elected:
11/8/2016
Residence:
Minneapolis
Term of Office:
1/2/2017 to 1/3/2021
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation:
Attorney
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Capital Investment
-
Commerce and Consumer Protection Finance and Policy
-
Finance
-
Jobs and Economic Growth Finance and Policy
-
Rules and Administration: Subcommittee on Ethical Conduct
Body:
Senate
District:
59
Elected:
11/8/2016
Residence:
Minneapolis
Term of Office:
1/2/2017 to 1/3/2021
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation:
Attorney
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Capital Investment
-
Commerce and Consumer Protection Finance and Policy
-
Finance
-
Jobs and Economic Growth Finance and Policy
-
Rules and Administration: Subcommittee on Ethical Conduct
Body:
Senate
District:
59
Elected:
11/6/2012
Residence:
Minneapolis
Term of Office:
1/7/2013 to 1/1/2017
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation:
Attorney
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Capital Investment
-
Commerce
-
Finance
-
Finance: Judiciary Budget Division
-
Finance: Subcommittee on Equity
-
Finance: Subdivision on Justice Program (Chair)
-
Finance: Transportation and Public Safety Budget Division
-
Judiciary
-
Transportation and Public Safety
Body:
Senate
District:
59
Elected:
11/6/2012
Residence:
Minneapolis
Term of Office:
1/7/2013 to 1/1/2017
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation:
Attorney
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Capital Investment
-
Finance
-
Finance: State Departments and Veterans Division
-
Finance: Transportation and Public Safety Division
-
Transportation and Public Safety
Body:
House
District:
58B
Elected:
11/2/2010
Residence:
Minneapolis
Term of Office:
1/3/2011 to 1/6/2013
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation:
Attorney
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Body:
House
District:
58B
Elected:
11/4/2008
Residence:
Minneapolis
Term of Office:
1/5/2009 to 1/2/2011
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation:
Attorney
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Civil Justice
Minutes
-
Finance
Minutes
-
Finance: Transportation Finance and Policy Division
Minutes
-
Finance: Transportation Finance and Policy Division: Transportation and Transit Policy and Oversight Division
Minutes
Articles & Books About
-
Olson, Rochelle. "Raising the Bar in Senate: A Skillful Lawyer and Musician, Bobby Joe Champion Turns Down the Volume at Capitol." Star Tribune, February 27, 2023, p. A1.
-
Hegarty, Sue. "Breakfasts with Bobby to Continue." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, March 30, 2012, p. 20.
-
Schutz, Lee Ann. "Facing Complex Problems. For Champion, Jobs Are the Starting Point." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, February 6, 2009, p. 16.
Session Interviews
District Files
These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.
Photographs
Bobby Joe Champion on the Minnesota Senate floor, St. Paul, Minnesota
1/3/2023. Bobby Joe Champion is sworn in by Supreme Court Associate Justice Natalie E. Hudson becoming the first Black President of the Senate in the Senate's 164-year history at the time. Boby Joe Champion is a Democrat from Minneapolis.
Photo credit:
A.J. Olmscheid, Senate Media Services.
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.
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