Minnesota Legislature

Legislators Past & Present Home

Name Search:

Gazelka, Paul E.

Sessions Served

Other Information

House 2005-2006 (District 12A); Senate 2011-2012 (District 12); Senate 2013-2022 (District 9)

Party when first elected: Republican

Counties Served: Cass, Crow Wing, Morrison, Todd, Wadena

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Date of Birth: 10/1/1959

Birth Place: St. Paul, Minnesota

Birth County: Ramsey

Birth Country: United States

Date of Death:

Gender: Male

Religion: Christian

Reported Minority: None Reported

Other Names:

City of Residence (when first elected): Brainerd

Occupation (when first elected): Business, Insurance Agent and Manager

EDUCATION

Roosevelt High School, Virginia; Secondary;
University of Minnesota, Duluth; Attended College;
Oral Roberts University, Tulsa, Oklahoma; B.S.; Business Management

OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

School Board/Administration: Minnesota (School Board, Chair); [Dates Unknown]

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

Spouse: Maralee (married around 1982)
Children: Five children: Jessica, Genna, Emily, Joshua, and Lydia
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

GENERAL NOTES

He ran and won as the Republican Party endorsed candidate for the Minnesota Senate in the 2010 primary election against Paul Koering.

He announced he would resign as Majority Leader in September of 2021. He was a candidate to run for Governor of Minnesota in 2022, but withdrew.

Religion provided by Politics in Minnesota the Directory, 2005-2006.

Click to view

Total Days Served: 5111

SESSIONS SERVED

92nd Legislative Session (2021-2022)

Session Details

Body: Senate

District: 09

Elected: 11/3/2020

Residence: East Gull Lake

Term of Office: 1/5/2021 to 1/2/2023

Counties Represented: Cass, Morrison, Todd, Wadena

Occupation: Business Owner

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Special Session Bills Authored: 2021 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author 2021 1st Sp.S. - Author

Committees:

Rules and Administration (Chair) [He was chair in 2021 only.]
Rules and Administration: Subcommittee on Committees (Chair)
Rules and Administration: Subcommittee on Conference Committees (Chair)
Taxes [He was a member in 2022 only.]

Leadership Position: Majority Leader
Leadership Notes: He announced on September 1, 2021 that he will resign as Majority Leader.

Click to view

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

Session Details

Body: Senate

District: 09

Elected: 11/8/2016

Residence: Nisswa

Term of Office: 1/3/2017 to 1/4/2021

Counties Represented: Cass, Morrison, Todd, Wadena

Occupation: Business owner

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Special Session Bills Authored: 2019 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author    2019 1st Sp.S. - Author
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:

Rules and Administration (Chair)
Taxes

Leadership Position: Majority Leader

Click to view

90th Legislative Session (2017-2018)

Session Details

Body: Senate

District: 09

Elected: 11/8/2016

Residence: Nisswa

Term of Office: 1/3/2017 to 1/4/2021

Counties Represented: Cass, Morrison, Todd, Wadena

Occupation: Business Owner, Paul Gazelka Insurance Agency Inc.

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Special Session Bills Authored: 2017 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author 2017 1st Sp.S. - Author

Committees:

Rules and Administration (Chair)
Taxes

Leadership Position: Majority Leader

Click to view

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

Session Details

Body: Senate

District: 09

Elected: 11/6/2012

Residence: Nisswa

Term of Office: 1/8/2013 to 1/2/2017

Counties Represented: Cass, Morrison, Todd, Wadena

Occupation: Business Owner, Paul Gazelka Insurance Agency Inc.

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Commerce
Finance: State Departments and Veterans Budget Division
Finance: Veterans and Military Affairs Subdivision
Rules and Administration
Rules and Administration: Personnel and Budget Subcommittee
Taxes
Taxes: Tax Reform Division

Leadership Position: Assistant Minority Leader

Click to view

88th Legislative Session (2013-2014)

Session Details

Body: Senate

District: 09

Elected: 11/6/2012

Residence: Nisswa

Term of Office: 1/8/2013 to 1/2/2017

Counties Represented: Cass, Morrison, Todd, Wadena

Occupation: Business Owner, Paul Gazelka Insurance Agency Inc.

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Special Session Bills Authored: 2013 1st Sp.S. - Author

Committees:

Commerce
Finance: State Departments and Veterans Division
Rules and Administration
Taxes: Tax Reform Division

Leadership Position: Assistant Minority Leader
Leadership Notes: He was named Assistant Minority Leader on February 24, 2014.

Click to view

87th Legislative Session (2011-2012)

Session Details

Body: Senate

District: 12

Elected: 11/2/2010

Residence: Brainerd

Term of Office: 1/4/2011 to 1/7/2013

Counties Represented: Crow Wing, Morrison

Occupation: Business Owner, Paul Gazelka Insurance Agency, Inc., State Farm Insurance

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Special Session Bills Authored: 2011 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author 2011 1st Sp.S. - Author

Committees:

Commerce and Consumer Protection
Environment and Natural Resources
State Government Innovation and Veterans
Transportation

Leadership Position: Assistant Majority Leader
Leadership Notes: He was selected for this position by the Republican caucus on December 27, 2011.

Click to view

84th Legislative Session (2005-2006)

Session Details

Body: House

District: 12A

Elected: 11/2/2004

Residence: Brainerd

Term of Office: 1/4/2005 to 1/2/2007

Counties Represented: Crow Wing

Occupation: Business, Insurance Agent and Manager

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Special Session Bills Authored: 2005 1st Sp.S. - Author

Committees:

Commerce and Financial Institutions Minutes
Commerce and Financial Institutions: Tourism Division Minutes
Jobs and Economic Opportunity Policy and Finance Minutes
Transportation Minutes

Ran in next election? Yes. Defeated in general election

Click to view

OTHER INFORMATION

Session Interviews
Session Interview (Video) 2005 House Interview

Articles & Books By
Gazelka, Paul. "Marketplace Ministers: Awakening God's People in the Workplace to Their Ultimate Purpose." Florida: Creation House, Strang Communications Company, 2003.

Articles & Books About
Dunn, Ruth. "Strong Family Ties: The Gazelka Family Goes to St. Paul." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, January 28, 2005, p. 15.

District Files

District File - 2005 District 12A
District File - 2006 District 12A
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.

Legislators Past & Present Home

Name Search:

Minnesota Legislative Reference Library, 645 State Office Building, Saint Paul, MN 55155