Minnesota Legislature

Legislators Past & Present Home

Name Search:

Kent, Susan

Sessions Served

Other Information

Senate 2013-2022 (District 53)

Party when first elected: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Counties Served: Ramsey, Washington

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Date of Birth: 11/18/1963

Birth Place: New Orleans, Louisiana

Birth County:

Birth Country:

Date of Death:

Gender: Female

Religion: Episcopalian

Reported Minority: None Reported

Other Names:

City of Residence (when first elected): Woodbury

Occupation (when first elected): None Listed

EDUCATION

Newman High School; Secondary;
University of Texas, Austin; B.S.; Communications

OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

Spouse: Chris
Children: One child: Andrew (son)
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

GENERAL NOTES

Special Legislative Concerns: economic development and jobs, education, transportation, and healthcare.

She was the first woman to lead the Senate DFL caucus.

She announced she will be stepping down from her leadership role (effective September 13) and would not seek reelection in 2022.

Religion provided by Politics in Minnesota, The Directory, 2013-2014.

Click to view

Total Days Served: 3647

SESSIONS SERVED

92nd Legislative Session (2021-2022)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/5/2021

Body: Senate

District: 53

Elected: 11/3/2020

Residence: Woodbury

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

Counties Represented: Ramsey, Washington

Occupation: None listed

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:

Commerce and Consumer Protection Finance and Policy [She was a member in 2022 only.]
Finance
Rules and Administration [She was a member in 2021 only.]
Rules and Administration: Subcommittee on Committees
Rules and Administration: Subcommittee on Conference Committees
Transportation Finance and Policy [She was a member in 2022 only.]

Leadership Position: Minority Leader - She resigned as Minority Leader September 13, 2021.

Click to view

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

Session Details Convened Date: 1/8/2019

Body: Senate

District: 53

Elected: 11/8/2016

Residence: Woodbury

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

Counties Represented: Ramsey, Washington

Occupation: None listed

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
2020 6th Sp.S. - Chief Author    2020 6th Sp.S. - Author
2020 7th Sp.S. - Chief Author    2020 7th Sp.S. - Author

Committees:

E-12 Finance and Policy
Rules and Administration: Subcommittee on Ethical Conduct
State Government Finance and Policy and Elections
Transportation Finance and Policy

Leadership Position: Minority Leader - She was Minority Leader for 2020 only.

Leadership Position: Assistant Minority Leader

Click to view

90th Legislative Session (2017-2018)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/3/2017

Body: Senate

District: 53

Elected: 11/8/2016

Residence: Woodbury

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

Counties Represented: Ramsey, Washington

Occupation: None Listed

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

E-12 Policy
State Government Finance and Policy and Elections
Transportation Finance and Policy

Leadership Position: Assistant Minority Leader

Click to view

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

Session Details Convened Date: 1/6/2015

Body: Senate

District: 53

Elected: 11/6/2012

Residence: Woodbury

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

Counties Represented: Ramsey, Washington

Occupation: None Listed

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

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

Committees:

Education
Finance: E-12 Policy and Budget Division
Finance: Higher Education and Workforce Development Budget Division
Finance: Transportation and Public Safety Budget Division
Higher Education and Workforce Development

Click to view

88th Legislative Session (2013-2014)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/8/2013

Body: Senate

District: 53

Elected: 11/6/2012

Residence: Woodbury

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

Counties Represented: Ramsey, Washington

Occupation: None Listed

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Education
Finance: E-12 Division
Finance: Higher Education and Workforce Development Division
Finance: Transportation and Public Safety Division
Higher Education and Workforce Development
Transportation and Public Safety

Click to view

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.

These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.

Photographs

Paul Gazelka and Susan Kent discuss senate business during a floor session. Paul Gazelka is a Republican from East Gull Lake and Susan Kent is a Democrat from Woodbury. 4/25/2022. Photo credit: A.J. Olmscheid, Senate Media Services.

Melissa Wiklund and Susan Kent discuss legislation during a floor session in the Senate Chamber. Melissa Wiklund is a Democrat from Bloomington and Susan Kent is a Democrat from Woodbury. 3/29/2018. Photo credit: David Oakes, Senate Media Services.

Legislators Past & Present Home

Name Search:

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