Urdahl, Dean
House 2003-2012 (District 18B); House 2013-2022 (District 18A); House 2023-Present (District 16A)
Party when first elected: Republican
Counties Served:
Chippewa, Kandiyohi, McLeod, Meeker, Renville, Wright
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
Date of Birth:
8/18/1949
Birth Place:
, Minnesota
Birth County:
Birth Country:
United States
Date of Death:
Gender:
Male
Religion:
Lutheran
Reported Minority: None Reported
Other Names:
City of Residence (when first elected):
Grove City
Occupation (when first elected):
American History Teacher and Coach, New London-Spicer Middle School, 1971-2006
EDUCATION
Litchfield High School; Secondary;
St. Cloud State University; B.S.; Social Studies
OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE
State Board/Commission/Council:
Minnesota State Board of Nursing;
[Dates Unknown]
[Appointed]
State Board/Commission/Council:
Minnesota Commission on Public Service Reform;
[Dates Unknown]
[Appointed]
State Board/Commission/Council:
Minnesota Education in Agriculture Leadership Council;
[Dates Unknown]
[Appointed]
U.S. Legislative Staff/Council/Commission:
United States House of Representatives (Campaign Staff for United States Representative John Zwach);
1970 to 1970
U.S. Executive Branch:
Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission (Minnesota Representative);
07/30/2008 to 2???
[Appointed]
FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS
Spouse:
Karen
Children:
Three children: (sons)
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:
GENERAL NOTES
He announced he would not seek reelection in 2024.
"He cited infrastructure bills providing record investments in infrastructure projects for Greater Minnesota and his central role in restoring the state Capitol as highlights of his career." (West Central Tribune, March 17, 2024)
He ran unsuccessfully as the Independent Republican party endorsed candidate for the Minnesota House of Representatives in the 1992 and 1994 elections.
He ran unsuccessfully for the Republican party endorsement for the Minnesota House of Representatives in the 1996 primary election.
He was of Norwegian ancestry.
His family helped settle Litchfield Township, Minnesota in 1856.
Religion provided by Politics in Minnesota the Directory, 2005-2006.
Body: House
District: 16A
Elected: 11/8/2022
Residence: Grove City
Term of Office: 1/3/2023 to 1/13/2025
Counties Represented:
Chippewa, Kandiyohi, Meeker, Renville
Occupation: Author, retired educator
Party:
Republican
Body: House
District: 18A
Elected: 11/3/2020
Residence: Grove City
Term of Office: 1/5/2021 to 1/2/2023
Counties Represented:
McLeod, Meeker, Wright
Occupation: Author, retired educator
Party:
Republican
Body: House
District: 18A
Elected: 11/6/2018
Residence: Grove City
Term of Office: 1/8/2019 to 1/4/2021
Counties Represented:
McLeod, Meeker, Wright
Occupation: Author, retired educator
Party:
Republican
Committees:
-
Education Policy
Minutes
-
Ways & Means: Capital Investment Division
Minutes
-
Ways & Means: Legacy Finance Division
Minutes
Body: House
District: 18A
Elected: 11/8/2016
Residence: Grove City
Term of Office: 1/3/2017 to 1/7/2019
Counties Represented:
McLeod, Meeker, Wright
Occupation: Author, Retired Educator
Party:
Republican
Body: House
District: 18A
Elected: 11/4/2014
Residence: Grove City
Term of Office: 1/6/2015 to 1/2/2017
Counties Represented:
McLeod, Meeker, Wright
Occupation: Author, Retired Educator
Party:
Republican
Body: House
District: 18A
Elected: 11/6/2012
Residence: Grove City
Term of Office: 1/8/2013 to 1/5/2015
Counties Represented:
McLeod, Meeker, Wright
Occupation: Author/Retired Educator
Party:
Republican
Body: House
District: 18B
Elected: 11/2/2010
Residence: Grove City
Term of Office: 1/4/2011 to 1/7/2013
Counties Represented:
Meeker, Wright
Occupation: Retired Educator
Party:
Republican
Committees:
-
Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Policy and Finance: Legacy Funding Division (Chair)
Minutes
-
Government Operations and Elections
Minutes
-
State Government Finance
Minutes
Body: House
District: 18B
Elected: 11/4/2008
Residence: Grove City
Term of Office: 1/6/2009 to 1/3/2011
Counties Represented:
Meeker, Wright
Occupation: Retired Teacher/Author
Party:
Republican
Committees:
-
Agriculture, Rural Economies and Veterans Affairs
Minutes
-
Finance: Capital Investment Finance Division
Minutes
-
Finance: Cultural and Outdoor Resources Finance Division
Minutes
-
Finance: Transportation Finance and Policy Division: Transportation and Transit Policy and Oversight Division
Minutes
Body: House
District: 18B
Elected: 11/7/2006
Residence: Grove City
Term of Office: 1/3/2007 to 1/5/2009
Counties Represented:
Meeker, Wright
Occupation: Former Teacher, New London-Spicer Middle School/Author
Party:
Republican
Committees:
-
Agriculture, Rural Economies and Veterans Affairs
Minutes
-
E-12 Education
Minutes
-
Finance: Capital Investment Finance Division
Minutes
-
Finance: Minnesota Heritage Finance Division
Minutes
Body: House
District: 18B
Elected: 11/2/2004
Residence: Grove City
Term of Office: 1/4/2005 to 1/2/2007
Counties Represented:
Meeker, Wright
Occupation: American History Teacher and Coach, New London-Spicer Middle School
Party:
Republican
Committees:
-
Agriculture and Rural Development
Minutes
-
Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources Finance
Minutes
-
Higher Education Finance
Minutes
Body: House
District: 18B
Elected: 11/5/2002
Residence: Grove City
Term of Office: 1/7/2003 to 1/3/2005
Counties Represented:
Meeker, Wright
Occupation: American History Teacher and Coach, New London-Spicer Middle School, 1971-2006
Party:
Republican
Special Session Bills Authored: 2003 1st Sp.S. - Author
Session Interviews
Session Interview
(Video) 2016 House Interview
Articles & Books By
Urdahl, Dean. Retribution, a Novel. North Star Press of St. Cloud, 2009.
Urdahl, Dean. Uprising. North Star Press of St. Cloud, 2007.
Urdahl, Dean. Lives Lived Large: Minnesotans Who Made Their Mark. North Star Press of St. Cloud, 2001.
Urdahl, Dean. Touching Bases with Our Memories: The Players Who Made the Minnesota Twins, 1961 to 2001. North Star Press of St. Cloud, 2001
Articles & Books About
Kibiger, Michelle. "Persistence Pays Off: After Three Failed Tries at Winning a Seat in the House of Representatives, Urdahl Fulfills Another of..." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, March 28, 2003, p. 23.
District Files
District File - 2003 District 18B
District File - 2004 District 18B
District File - 2005 District 18B
District File - 2006 District 18B
District File - 2007 District 18B
District File - 2008 District 18B
District File - 2009 District 18B
These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.
The Minnesota Legislative Reference Library has collected newspaper articles on legislators since 1973. They are available in the Library.
Contact this legislator