Speakers of the Minnesota House of Representatives, 1849-present
Compiled by: Minnesota Legislative Reference Library
Compiled from: Minnesota legislative manuals and other sources, including
previous library compilations and several histories of Minnesota
While efforts have been made to verify this information in more than one source, the library cannot guarantee the accuracy of sources; errors are possible. Please report any errors to the library staff.
Under PARTY: DFL=Democratic-Farmer-Labor, R=Republican, IR=Independent-Republican, A=Alliance, D=Democrat, C=Conservative, FL=Farmer-Labor, L=Liberal, P=Populist, W=Whig
Where a name or party designation is not given in the list, it was not given authoritatively in the sources so far consulted. It may be available from other sources.
Following YEAR: E=Extra Session
Citations to "Toensing" refer to W.F. Toensing, Minnesota Congressmen, Legislators, and other Elected State Officials: An Alphabetical Check List, 1849-1971 (Minnesota Historical Society, 1971).
The position of House Speaker, elected at the beginning of the odd year session, is usually held for the full biennium. Changes made during the biennium are noted.
| YEAR | SPEAKER | PARTY | DIST. | RESIDENCE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Kelliher, Margaret Anderson | DFL | 60A | Minneapolis |
| 2007 | Kelliher, Margaret Anderson | DFL | 60A | Minneapolis |
| 2005 | Sviggum, Steve | R | 28B | Kenyon |
| 2003 | Sviggum, Steve | R | 28B | Kenyon |
| 2001 | Sviggum, Steve | R | 28B | Kenyon |
| 1999 | Sviggum, Steve | R | 28B | Kenyon |
| 1997 | Carruthers, Phil | DFL | 47B | Brooklyn Center |
| 1995 | Anderson, Irvin N. | DFL | 3A | International Falls |
| 1993 | Anderson, Irvin N.; elected by DFL caucus 1 September 1993. |
DFL | International Falls | |
| 1993 | Long, Dee; resigned speaker's chair 5 August 1993, effective 15 Sept. 1993. | DFL | 59A | Minneapolis |
| 1991 | Long, Dee; elected speaker by DFL caucus
11 Aug. 1991; elected speaker by House, 6 Jan. 1992. |
DFL | 59A | Minneapolis |
| 1991 | Vanasek, Robert E.; resigned speaker's
chair 1991 to become executive director of Minnesota High Tech Council. |
DFL | 25A | New Prague |
| 1989 | Vanasek, Robert E. | DFL | 25A | New Prague |
| 1987 | Vanasek, Robert E.; elected speaker by DFL caucus 2 June 1987, elected Speaker of by the House on June 25, 1987 (Special Session), effective June 25, 1987 ) | DFL | 25A | New Prague |
| 1987 | Norton, Fred C.; appointed by Gov. Perpich
to Minn. Court of Appeals, 27 May 1987, effective 1 July 1987. |
DFL | 65A | St. Paul |
| 1985 | Jennings, David M. | IR | 29A | Truman |
| 1985E | Jennings, David M. | IR | 29A | Truman |
| 1983 | Sieben, Harry A.(Tex), Jr. | DFL | 37B | Hastings |
| 1982E1 | Sieben, Harry A.(Tex), Jr. | DFL | 52B | Hastings |
| 1982E2 | Sieben, Harry A.(Tex), Jr. | DFL | 52B | Hastings |
| 1982E3 | Sieben, Harry A.(Tex), Jr. | DFL | 52B | Hastings |
| 1981 | Sieben, Harry A.(Tex), Jr. | DFL | 52B | Hastings |
| 1981E1 | Sieben, Harry A.(Tex), Jr. | DFL | 52B | Hastings |
| 1981E2 | Sieben, Harry A.(Tex), Jr. | DFL | 52B | Hastings |
| 1981E3 | Sieben, Harry A.(Tex), Jr. | DFL | 52B | Hastings |
| 1980 | Norton, Fred C.; mid-term retirements and other changes necessitated elections resulting in 68-66 DFL majority; DFL split in two factions (23/45); a coalition of 49 IR and 26 DFL elected Norton Speaker. | DFL | 65A | St. Paul |
| 1979 | Searle, Rodney N.; elected as a compromise since the house was evenly divided (67/67)*. | IR | 30B | Waseca |
| 1977 | Sabo, Martin O. (Martin Olav) | DFL | 57B | Minneapolis |
| 1975 | Sabo, Martin O. (Martin Olav) | DFL | 57B | Minneapolis |
| 1973 | Sabo, Martin O. (Martin Olav) | DFL | 57B | Minneapolis |
| 1971 | Dirlam, Aubrey W. | C/R | 17A | Redwood Falls |
| 1971E | Dirlam, Aubrey W. | C/R | 17A | Redwood Falls |
| 1969 | Duxbury, Lloyd L. | C/R | 1B | Caledonia |
| 1967 | Duxbury, Lloyd L. | C/R | 1B | Caledonia |
| 1967E | Duxbury, Lloyd L. | C/R | 1B | Caledonia |
| 1966E | Duxbury, Lloyd L. | C/R | 1 | Caledonia |
| 1965 | Duxbury, Lloyd L. | C/R | 1 | Caledonia |
| 1963 | Duxbury, Lloyd L. | C/R | 1 | Caledonia |
| 1961 | Chilgren, Edwin J. | L/D | 62 | Littlefork |
| 1961E | Chilgren, Edwin J.; "The Liberals have
controlled the House only in 1933, 1937, 1955, 1957, 1959 and 1961"--Mitau, Politics in Minnesota (1970), p. 83. |
L/D | 62 | Littlefork |
| 1961E2 | Chilgren, Edwin J. | L/D | 62 | Littlefork |
| 1959 | Chilgren, Edwin J. | L/D | 62 | Littlefork |
| 1959E | Chilgren, Edwin J. | L/D | 62 | Littlefork |
| 1958E | Johnson, Alfred I. | L/D | 25 | Benson |
| 1957 | Johnson, Alfred I. | L/D | 25 | Benson |
| 1957E | Johnson, Alfred I. | L/D | 25 | Benson |
| 1955 | Johnson, Alfred I. | L/D | 25 | Benson |
| 1955E | Johnson, Alfred I. | L/D | 25 | Benson |
| 1953 | Hartle, John A. | C/R | 16 | Owatonna |
| 1951 | Hartle, John A. | C/R | 16 | Owatonna |
| 1951E | Hartle, John A. | C/R | 16 | Owatonna |
| 1949 | Hartle, John A. | C/R | 16 | Owatonna |
| 1947 | Hall, Lawrence M. | C/R | 45 | St. Cloud |
| 1945 | Hall, Lawrence M. | C/R | 45 | St. Cloud |
| 1944E | Hall, Lawrence M. | C/R | 45 | St. Cloud |
| 1943 | Hall, Lawrence M. | C/R | 45 | St. Cloud |
| 1941 | Hall, Lawrence M. | C/R | 45 | St. Cloud |
| 1939 | Hall, Lawrence M.; elected as Democrat
in 1934; in 1939, caucused with Conservatives to become youngest Speaker. |
C/R | 45 | St. Cloud |
| 1937 | Barker, Harold H (Harold Henry) | L/FL | 48 | Elbow Lake |
| 1937E | Barker, Harold H. (Harold Henry) | L/FL | 48 | Elbow Lake |
| 1936E | Johnson, George W. | C/R | 59 | Duluth |
| 1935 | Johnson, George W. | C/R | 59 | Duluth |
| 1935E | Johnson, George W. | C/R | 59 | Duluth |
| 1933 | Munn, Charles; originally (date?) caucused with Conservatives, but was elected to Railroad and Warehouse Commission in 1934 as Farmer-Labor. | L/FL | 36 | Osseo |
| 1933E | Munn, Charles | L | 36 | Osseo |
| 1931 | Swenson, Oscar A. | C/R | 15 | Nicollet |
| 1929 | Johnson, John A. | C/R | 1 | Preston |
| 1927 | Johnson, John A. | C/R | 1 | Preston |
| 1925 | Johnson, John A. | C/R | 1 | Preston (erroneously given as "Princeton" in 1925 legislative manual) |
| 1923 | Nolan, William I. | C/R | 33 | Minneapolis |
| 1921 | Nolan, William I. | C/R | 33 | Minneapolis |
| 1919 | Nolan, William I.; "Although Conservative members were in control of the Legislature-- there were 24 Representatives and 8 Senators who were elected with the endorsement of the Nonpartisan league ... 5 Senators and 11 Representatives of the 'Working People's Nonpartisan Political League."--Christianson, Minnesota history, v. 2, p. 371. | C/R | 33 | Minneapolis |
| 1919E | Nolan, William I. | C/R | 33 | Minneapolis |
| 1917 | Parker, Ralph J. | C? | 1 | Spring Valley |
| 1916E | Flowers, H. H. | C/R | 17 | Cleveland |
| 1915 | Flowers, H. H. | C/R | 17 | Cleveland |
| 1913 | Rines, Henry; "'Progressives' controlled the organization of both houses"--Christianson, Minnesota history, v. 2 p. 330. | 32 | Mora | |
| 1912E | Dunn, Howard H. | R | 9 | Fairmont |
| 1911 | Dunn, Howard H. | R | 9 | Fairmont |
| 1909 | Rockne, Anton J. (Anton Julius); "Governor Eberhart was a Republican and his party now again in full control of the Executive and Legislative branches of the state government."--Christian son, Minnesota history, v. 2, p. 317. | R | 29 | Zumbrota |
| 1907 | Johnson, Lawrence H. Name given as Lawrence
W. in Minnesota in three centuries, v. 4, p. 299, but as Lawrence H. on p. 298. |
R | 43 | Minneapolis |
| 1905 | Clague, Frank; "Legislature remained under Republican control" [during Gov. John A. Johnson's terms, 1905-1909]--Mitau, Politics in Minnesota, p. 9. | R | 19 | Lamberton |
| 1903 | Babcock, Leverett W.; "[From 1860 to 1904 the] state Legislature remained under Republican control except for 1891 session"--Mitau, Politics in Minnesota, p. 6. Name given (probably erroneously) as L. V. Babcock in Minnesota in three centuries, v. 4, p. 282. | R | 53 | Wadena |
| 1902E | Dowling, Michael J. (Michael John) | R | 22 | Renville |
| 1901 | Dowling, Michael J. (Michael John) | R | 22 | Renville |
| 1899 | Dare, Arthur N. | R | 45 | Elk River |
| 1897 | Jones, John D. Jones' service as speaker
shown as 1895 in Toensing |
R | 46 | Long Prairie |
| 1895 | Van Sant, Samuel R. (Samuel Rinnah) | 15 | Winona | |
| 1893 | Lee, William E. (William Edward) | R | 46 | Long Prairie |
| 1891 | Champlin, Ezra T.; Democratic-Alliance coalition--Minnesota history, Sept. 1957, p. 303. | A | 10 | Garden City |
| 1889 | Graves, Charles H. (Charles Hinman) | R | 46 | Duluth |
| 1887 | Merriam, William R. (William Rush) | R | 26 | St. Paul |
| 1885 | Gibbs, John L. | R | 4 | Geneva |
| 1883 | Fletcher, Loren | R | 29 | Minneapolis |
| 1881 | Fletcher, Loren | R | 26 | Minneapolis |
| 1881E | Fletcher, Loren | R | 26 | Minneapolis |
| 1879 | Gilman, Charles A. (Charles Andrew) In Toensing, Gilman is shown as speaker in 1879 only. | R | 31 | St. Cloud |
| 1878 | Gilman, Charles A. (Charles Andrew) | R | 31 | St. Cloud |
| 1877 | Gibbs, John L. Gibbs' service as speaker
shown as 1876 in Toensing |
R | 5 | Geneva |
| 1876 | Kinyon, William R. | R | 12 | Owatonna |
| 1875 | Kinyon, William R. | R | 12 | Owatonna |
| 1874 | Hall, Albert R. | R? | 27 | Dayton |
| 1873 | Hall, Albert R. | R? | 27 | Dayton |
| 1872 | Hall, Albert R. | R? | 27 | Dayton |
| 1871 | Merriam, John L. | R | 1 | St. Paul |
| 1870 | Merriam, John L. | R | 1 | St. Paul |
| 1869 | Davidson, Chester D. | R | 5 | Minneapolis |
| 1868 | Farmer, John Q. (John Quincy) | W;R | 14 | Spring Valley |
| 1867 | Farmer, John Q. (John Quincy) | W;R | 14 | Spring Valley |
| 1866 | Wakefield, James B. | R | 20 | Blue Earth City (Blue Earth, Winnebago per Toensing) |
| 1865 | Armstrong, Thomas H. Toensing shows Armstrong as speaker 1864-1865 | R | 12 | High Forest |
| 1864 | Benson, Jared | R | 4 | Anoka |
| 1863 | Sherwood, Charles D.; youngest at age 29? | R | 14 | Elkhorn |
| 1862 | Benson, Jared | R | 4 | Anoka |
| 1862E | Benson, Jared | R | 4 | Anoka |
| 1861 | Benson, Jared; given as a Democrat on one list. | R | 4 | Anoka |
| 1859 | Coggswell, Amos; was in the Republican
constitutional convention in 1857, but in 1867 was Democratic candidate
for Minnesota secretary of state (Minnesota in three centuries,
v. 3, p. 47, 56, 447-448. |
R/D | 15 | Aurora |
| 1858 | Bradley, George; 12 March 1858- 12 August 1858 |
R? | 7 | Belle Plaine |
| 1857/1858 | Watrous, John S.; 2 Dec. 1857- 12 March 1858 |
R? | 26 |
TERRITORY
| 1857 | Furber, Joseph W. | W | 1 | Cottage Grove |
| 1857E | Furber, Joseph W. | W | 1 | Cottage Grove |
| 1856 | Gardner, Charles; spelled Gardiner in one source |
4 | Westervelt (Mantorville per Toensing) | |
| 1855 | Norris, James S. | D | 2 | Cottage Grove |
| 1854 | Taylor, Nathan C. D. | 1 | Taylors Falls | |
| 1853 | Day, David | 5 | Long Prairie | |
| 1852 | Ludden, John D. | 4 | Marine | |
| 1851 | Ames, Michael E. | 2 | Stillwater (St. Paul per Toensing; Minnesota in three centuries, p. 451, "In 1849, he came to Stillwater and four years later to St. Paul.") | |
| 1849 | Furber, Joseph W. | W | 1 | Cottage Grove |
Notes:
*In 1979, the parties were evenly divided. An article from the January 8, 1979 Minneapolis Tribune described how the leadership of the Minnesota House would be handled: "Under an agreement tentatively approved late Sunday, the Independent-Republicans will elect the speaker of the House from their ranks. To balance his power, the DFL will get the chairmanship --and a one-vote majority -- of both the rules and tax committees; the DFL will also get the chairmanship of the appropriations committee."
