Dave Senjem
Dave Senjem | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Majority Leader of the Minnesota Senate | |
| In office December 27, 2011 – January 7, 2013 | |
| Preceded by | Amy Koch |
| Succeeded by | Tom Bakk |
| Minority Leader of the Minnesota Senate | |
| In office January 3, 2007 – January 3, 2011 | |
| Preceded by | Dick Day |
| Succeeded by | Tom Bakk |
| Member of the Minnesota Senate from the 25th district 29th (2003–2013) | |
| Assumed office January 7, 2003 | |
| Preceded by | redrawn district |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 20, 1942 Austin, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Marlys |
| Children | 2 |
| Residence | Rochester, Minnesota |
| Alma mater | Luther College |
| Occupation | legislator |
David Howard Senjem (born December 20, 1942) is an American politician and member of the Minnesota Senate. He served as its majority leader from 2011 to 2013. A Republican, Senjem represents District 25, which includes portions of Dodge and Olmsted counties in the southeastern part of the state.
Early life, education, and career[]
Senjem grew up in Hayfield, Minnesota and attended Hayfield High School. After graduating, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. He served on the Rochester City Park Board for five years, then on the Rochester City Council from 1992 to 2002. He is a retired Environmental Affairs Officer for the Mayo Clinic in Rochester.[1]
Senjem's family originates from Bingen, Buskerud County, Norway; the original family name was Sønju. His great-great-grandfather John N. Hanson served as a Republican state representative from Dodge County from 1873 to 1874.[1]
Minnesota Senate[]
Senjem was first elected in 2002, and was reelected in 2006, 2010, 2012, 2016, and 2020. He served as minority leader from 2007 until January 3, 2011.[1][2] On December 27, 2011, Senjem was elected majority leader after the previous majority leader, Amy Koch, resigned over an affair with a Senate staffer.[3] Senjem became the third person to serve as both minority and majority leader, and the first to serve in both roles as a Republican.
Senjem tested positive for COVID-19 in November 2020. Upon finding out, the Minnesota Senate Republican chief of staff warned other Republicans of the positive test, but did not tell Democratic state legislators about the positive test, thus preventing them from taking the appropriate precautions.[4]
References[]
- ^ a b c Minnesota Senators Past and Present
- ^ Pugmire, Tim (November 4, 2010). "Bakk elected new Senate minority leader; GOP ponders leadership". Retrieved December 13, 2017.
- ^ Rochester Senator David Senjem Elected Majority Leader
- ^ "Minnesota GOP sent virus alert only to its side of the aisle". Star Tribune. Retrieved November 14, 2020.
External links[]
- Dave Senjem at Minnesota Legislators Past & Present
- Senator Dave Senjem official Minnesota Senate website
- Minnesota Public Radio Votetracker: Senator Senjem Voting Record
- Follow the Money – David Senjem Campaign Contributions
- Senator Dave Senjem official campaign website
Majority leaders of the Minnesota Senate | ||
|---|---|---|
 | ||
- 1942 births
- Living people
- Politicians from Rochester, Minnesota
- Minnesota state senators
- Minnesota Republicans
- American Lutherans
- American people of Norwegian descent
- Luther College (Iowa) alumni
- 21st-century American politicians
- People from Austin, Minnesota
- People from Hayfield, Minnesota