Dave Senjem

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.

Dave Senjem
Majority Leader of the Minnesota Senate
In office
December 27, 2011 – January 7, 2013
Preceded byAmy Koch
Succeeded byTom Bakk
Minority Leader of the Minnesota Senate
In office
January 3, 2007 – January 3, 2011
Preceded byDick Day
Succeeded byTom Bakk
Member of the Minnesota Senate
from the 25th district
29th (2003–2013)
Assumed office
January 7, 2003
Preceded byredrawn district
Personal details
Born (1942-12-20) December 20, 1942
Austin, Minnesota, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)Marlys
Children2
ResidenceRochester, Minnesota
Alma materLuther College
Occupationlegislator

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
  1. Minnesota Senators Past and Present
  2. Pugmire, Tim (November 4, 2010). "Bakk elected new Senate minority leader; GOP ponders leadership". Retrieved December 13, 2017.
  3. Rochester Senator David Senjem Elected Majority Leader
  4. "Minnesota GOP sent virus alert only to its side of the aisle". Star Tribune. Retrieved November 14, 2020.
Minnesota Senate
New district
 Senator from the 25th District
29th (2003–2013)
2003–present		 Incumbent
Party political offices
Preceded by
Dick Day		 Minnesota Senate Minority Leader
2007–2011		 Succeeded by
Tom Bakk
Preceded by
Amy Koch		 Minnesota Senate Majority Leader
2011–2013		 Succeeded by
Tom Bakk
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