title: 77th Minnesota Legislature
text: # 77th Minnesota Legislature
  
  The seventy-seventh Minnesota Legislature first convened on January 8, 1991. The 67 members of the Minnesota Senate and the 134 members of the Minnesota House of Representatives were elected during the General Election of November 6, 1990.
  
  ## Sessions
  
  The legislature met in a regular session from January 8, 1991, to May 20, 1991. A continuation of the regular session was held between January 6, 1992, and April 16, 1992. There were no special sessions of the seventy-seventh Legislature.
  
  ## Party summary
  
      Resignations and new members are discussed in the "Membership changes" section, below.
  
  ### Senate
  
  | | Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) | Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) | Total | Vacant |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | DFL | IR | Total | Vacant |
  | End of previous Legislature | 44 | 23 | 67 | 0 |
  | Begin | 46 | 21 | 67 | 0 |
  | December 7, 1991 | 46 | 20 | 66 | 1 |
  | January 9, 1992 | 46 | 21 | 67 | 0 |
  | May 20, 1992 | 46 | 20 | 66 | 1 |
  | Latest voting share | 69% | 30% | | |
  | Beginning of the next Legislature | 45 | 22 | 67 | 0 |
  
  ### House of Representatives
  
  | | Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) | Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) | Total | Vacant |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | DFL | IR | Total | Vacant |
  | End of previous Legislature | 78 | 52 | 130 | 4 |
  | Begin | 79 | 53 | 132 | 2 |
  | February 7, 1991 | 79 | 54 | 133 | 1 |
  | February 18, 1991 | 79 | 55 | 134 | 0 |
  | November 1, 1991 | 78 | 55 | 133 | 1 |
  | January 2, 1992 | 78 | 56 | 134 | 0 |
  | May 7, 1992 | 78 | 55 | 133 | 1 |
  | May 11, 1992 | 78 | 54 | 132 | 2 |
  | July, 1992 | 79 | 53 | 132 | 2 |
  | December 14, 1992 | 78 | 53 | 131 | 3 |
  | Latest voting share | 58% | 40% | | |
  | Beginning of the next Legislature | 86 | 47 | 133 | 1 |
  
  ## Leadership
  
  ### Senate
  
  **President of the Senate**
  
  
      Jerome M. Hughes (DFL-Maplewood)
  
  **Senate Majority Leader**
  
  
      Roger Moe (DFL-Erskine)
  
  **Senate Minority Leader**
  
  
      Duane Benson (IR-Lanesboro)
  
  ### House of Representatives
  
  **Speaker of the House**
  
  
      Until January 6, 1992 Robert Vanasek (DFL-New Prague)
      After January 6, 1992 Dee Long (DFL-Minneapolis)
  
  **House Majority Leader**
  
  
      Until July 11, 1991 Dee Long (DFL-Minneapolis)
      After July 11, 1991 Alan Welle (DFL-Willmar)
  
  **House Minority Leader**
  
  
      Terry Dempsey (IR-New Ulm)
  
  ## Members
  
  ### Senate
  
  | Name | District | City | Party |
  | - | - | - | - |
  | Adkins, Betty | 22 | St. Michael | DFL |
  | Beckman, Tracy | 26 | Bricelyn | DFL |
  | Belanger, William | 41 | Bloomington | IR |
  | Benson, Duane | 32 | Lanesboro | IR |
  | Benson, Joanne | 17 | St. Cloud | IR |
  | Berg, Charlie | 11 | Chokio | DFL |
  | Berglin, Linda | 60 | Minneapolis | DFL |
  | Bernhagen, John | 21 | Hutchinson | IR |
  | Bertram, Joe | 16 | Paynesville | DFL |
  | Brataas, Nancy | 33 | Rochester | IR |
  | Chmielewski, Florian | 14 | Sturgeon Lake | DFL |
  | Cohen, Dick | 64 | St. Paul | DFL |
  | Dahl, Gregory | 50 | Ham Lake | DFL |
  | Davis, Chuck | 18 | Princeton | DFL |
  | Day, Dick | 30 | Owatonna | IR |
  | DeCramer, Gary | 27 | Ghent | DFL |
  | Dicklich, Ron | 05 | Hibbing | DFL |
  | Finn, Skip | 04 | Cass Lake | DFL |
  | Flynn, Carol | 61 | Minneapolis | DFL |
  | Frank, Don | 51 | Spring Lake Park | DFL |
  | Frederickson, Dave | 20 | Murdock | DFL |
  | Frederickson, Dennis | 23 | New Ulm | IR |
  | Gustafson, Jim | 08 | Duluth | IR |
  | Halberg, Chuck | 38 | Burnsville | IR |
  | Hottinger, John | 24 | Mankato | DFL |
  | Hughes, Jerome M. | 54 | Maplewood | DFL |
  | Johnson, Dean | 15 | Willmar | IR |
  | Johnson, Doug | 06 | Tower | DFL |
  | Johnson, Janet | 19 | North Branch | DFL |
  | Johnston, Terry | 36 | Prior Lake | IR |
  | Kelly, Randy | 67 | St. Paul | DFL |
  | Knaak, Fritz | 53 | White Bear Lake | IR |
  | Kroening, Carl | 57 | Minneapolis | DFL |
  | Laidig, Gary | 55 | Stillwater | IR |
  | Langseth, Keith | 09 | Glyndon | DFL |
  | Larson, Cal | 10 | Fergus Falls | IR |
  | Lessard, Bob | 03 | International Falls | DFL |
  | Luther, Bill | 47 | Brooklyn Park | DFL |
  | Marty, John | 63 | Roseville | DFL |
  | McGowan, Pat | 33 | Maple Grove | IR |
  | Mehrkens, Lyle | 26 | Red Wing | IR |
  | Merriam, Gene | 49 | Coon Rapids | DFL |
  | Metzen, James | 39 | South St. Paul | DFL |
  | Moe, Roger | 02 | Erskine | DFL |
  | Mondale, Ted | 44 | Saint Louis Park | DFL |
  | Morse, Steven | 34 | Dakota | DFL |
  | Neuville, Thomas | 25 | Northfield | IR |
  | Novak, Steve | 52 | New Brighton | DFL |
  | Olson, Gen | 43 | Minnetrista | IR |
  | Pappas, Sandra | 65 | St. Paul | DFL |
  | Pariseau, Pat | 37 | Farmington | IR |
  | Piper, Pat | 31 | Austin | DFL |
  | Pogemiller, Larry | 58 | Minneapolis | DFL |
  | Price, Leonard | 56 | Woodbury | DFL |
  | Ranum, Jane | 62 | Minneapolis | DFL |
  | Reichgott Junge, Ember | 46 | New Hope | DFL |
  | Renneke, Earl | 35 | Le Sueur | IR |
  | Riveness, Phil | 40 | Bloomington | DFL |
  | Sams, Dallas | 12 | Staples | DFL |
  | Samuelson, Don | 13 | Brainerd | DFL |
  | Solon, Sam | 07 | Duluth | DFL |
  | Spear, Allan | 59 | Minneapolis | DFL |
  | Storm, Don | 42 | Edina | IR |
  | Stumpf, LeRoy | 01 | Thief River Falls | DFL |
  | Terwilliger, Roy | 42 | Edina | IR |
  | Traub, Judy | 45 | Minnetonka | DFL |
  | Vickerman, Jim | 28 | Tracy | DFL |
  | Waldorf, Gene | 66 | St. Paul | DFL |
  
  ### House of Representatives
  
  | Name | District | City | Party |
  | - | - | - | - |
  | Abrams, Ron | 45A | Minnetonka | IR |
  | Anderson, Richard H. | 30B | Waseca | IR |
  | Anderson, Bob | 10B | Ottertail | DFL |
  | Anderson, Irv | 03A | International Falls | DFL |
  | Battaglia, David Peter | 06A | Two Harbors | DFL |
  | Bauerly, Jerry | 18B | Sauk Rapids | DFL |
  | Beard, Pat | 56B | Cottage Grove | DFL |
  | Begich, Joseph | 06B | Eveleth | DFL |
  | Bertram, Jeff | 16B | Paynesville | DFL |
  | Bettermann, Hilda | 11B | Brandon | IR |
  | Bishop, Dave | 33B | Rochester | IR |
  | Blatz, Kathleen | 41B | Bloomington | IR |
  | Bodahl, Larry | 35B | Waconia | DFL |
  | Boo, Ben | 08B | Duluth | IR |
  | Brown, Chuck | 11A | Appleton | DFL |
  | Carlson, Lyndon | 46B | Crystal | DFL |
  | Carruthers, Phil | 47B | Brooklyn Center | DFL |
  | Clark, Karen | 60A | Minneapolis | DFL |
  | Cooper, Roger | 21B | Bird Island | DFL |
  | Dauner, Marvin | 09B | Hawley | DFL |
  | Davids, Gregory | 32B | Preston | IR |
  | Dawkins, Andy | 65A | St. Paul | DFL |
  | Dempsey, Terry | 23A | New Ulm | IR |
  | Dille, Steve | 21A | Dassel | IR |
  | Dorn, John | 24A | Mankato | DFL |
  | Erhardt, Ron | 42B | Edina | IR |
  | Farrell, Jim | 67A | St. Paul | DFL |
  | Frederick, Sal | 24B | Mankato | IR |
  | Frerichs, Don | 32A | Rochester | IR |
  | Garcia, Edwina | 40A | Richfield | DFL |
  | Girard, Jim | 27A | Lynd | IR |
  | Goodno, Kevin | 09A | Moorhead | IR |
  | Greenfield, Lee | 61A | Minneapolis | DFL |
  | Gruenes, Dave | 17B | St. Cloud | IR |
  | Gutknecht, Gil | 33A | Rochester | IR |
  | Hanson, Jeff | 56A | Woodbury | DFL |
  | Hartle, Dean | 30A | Owatonna | IR |
  | Hasskamp, Kris | 13A | Crosby | DFL |
  | Haukoos, Bob | 31A | Albert Lea | IR |
  | Hausman, Alice | 63B | St. Paul | DFL |
  | Heir, Phil | 50B | Blaine | IR |
  | Henry, Joyce | 40B | Bloomington | IR |
  | Hufnagle, Paul | 41A | Bloomington | IR |
  | Hugoson, Gene | 29A | Granada | IR |
  | Jacobs, Joel | 49B | Coon Rapids | DFL |
  | Janezich, Jerry | 05B | Chisholm | DFL |
  | Jaros, Mike | 07B | Duluth | DFL |
  | Jefferson, Jeff | 57B | Minneapolis | DFL |
  | Jennings, Loren Geo | 19B | Harris | DFL |
  | Johnson, Alice | 51A | Spring Lake Park | DFL |
  | Johnson, Bob | 04A | Bemidji | DFL |
  | Johnson, Virgil | 34A | Caledonia | IR |
  | Kahn, Phyllis | 58B | Minneapolis | DFL |
  | Kalis, Henry | 29B | Walters | DFL |
  | Kelso, Becky | 36A | Shakopee | DFL |
  | Kinkel, Tony | 04B | Park Rapids | DFL |
  | Knickerbocker, Jerry | 43B | Minnetonka | IR |
  | Koppendrayer, LeRoy | 18A | Princeton | IR |
  | Krambeer, Rich | 47A | Brooklyn Park | IR |
  | Krinkie, Philip | 53A | Shoreview | IR |
  | Krueger, Rick | 12B | Staples | DFL |
  | Lasley, Harold | 19A | Cambridge | DFL |
  | Leppik, Peggy | 45B | Golden Valley | IR |
  | Lieder, Bernard | 02A | Crookston | DFL |
  | Limmer, Warren | 48A | Maple Grove | IR |
  | Long, Dee | 59A | Minneapolis | DFL |
  | Lourey, Becky | 14B | Kerrick | DFL |
  | Lynch, Teresa | 50A | Andover | IR |
  | Macklin, Bill | 36B | Lakeville | IR |
  | Mariani, Carlos | 65B | St. Paul | DFL |
  | Marsh, Marcus M. | 17A | Sauk Rapids | IR |
  | McEachern, Bob | 22A | Maple Lake | DFL |
  | McGuire, Mary Jo | 63A | Falcon Heights | DFL |
  | McPherson, Harriet | 55B | Stillwater | IR |
  | Milbert, Bob | 39B | South St. Paul | DFL |
  | Morrison, Connie | 38A | Burnsville | IR |
  | Munger, Willard | 07A | Duluth | DFL |
  | Murphy, Mary | 08A | Hermantown | DFL |
  | Nelson, Ken | 62A | Minneapolis | DFL |
  | Nelson, Syd | 12A | Sebeka | DFL |
  | Newinski, Dennis | 54B | Maplewood | IR |
  | O'Connor, Rich | 66B | St. Paul | DFL |
  | Ogren, Paul Anders | 14A | Aitkin | DFL |
  | Olsen, Sally | 44A | Saint Louis Park | IR |
  | Olson, Edgar | 02B | Fosston | DFL |
  | Olson, Katy | 28B | Sherburn | DFL |
  | Omann, Bernie | 16A | St. Joseph | IR |
  | Onnen, Tony | 22B | Cokato | IR |
  | Orenstein, Howard | 64B | St. Paul | DFL |
  | Orfield, Myron | 59B | Minneapolis | DFL |
  | Osthoff, Tom | 66A | St. Paul | DFL |
  | Ostrom, Don | 23B | St. Peter | DFL |
  | Ozment, Dennis | 37B | Rosemount | IR |
  | Pauly, Sidney | 42A | Eden Prairie | IR |
  | Pellow, Dick | 52B | New Brighton | IR |
  | Pelowski, Gene | 34B | Winona | DFL |
  | Petersen, Doug | 20A | Madison | DFL |
  | Pugh, Tom | 39A | South St. Paul | DFL |
  | Reding, Leo | 31B | Austin | DFL |
  | Rest, Ann | 46A | New Hope | DFL |
  | Rice, Jim | 57A | Minneapolis | DFL |
  | Rodosovich, Peter | 25B | Faribault | DFL |
  | Rukavina, Tom | 05A | Virginia | DFL |
  | Runbeck, Linda | 52A | Circle Pines | IR |
  | Sarna, John | 58A | Minneapolis | DFL |
  | Schafer, Gary | 35A | Gibbon | IR |
  | Scheid, Linda | 47A | Brooklyn Park | DFL |
  | Schreiber, Bill | 48B | Brooklyn Park | IR |
  | Seaberg, Art | 38B | Eagan | IR |
  | Segal, Gloria | 44B | St. Louis Park | DFL |
  | Simoneau, Wayne | 51B | Fridley | DFL |
  | Skoglund, Wes | 61B | Minneapolis | DFL |
  | Smith, Steve | 43A | Mound | IR |
  | Solberg, Loren | 03B | Bovey | DFL |
  | Sparby, Wally | 01B | Thief River Falls | DFL |
  | Stanius, Brad | 53B | White Bear Lake | IR |
  | Steensma, Andy | 27B | Luverne | DFL |
  | Sviggum, Steve | 26A | Kenyon | IR |
  | Swenson, Doug | 55A | Forest Lake | IR |
  | Thompson, Loren | 10A | Waubun | DFL |
  | Tompkins, Eileen | 37A | Apple Valley | IR |
  | Trimble, Steve | 67B | St. Paul | DFL |
  | Tunheim, Jim | 01A | Kennedy | DFL |
  | Uphus, Sylvester | 15A | Sauk Centre | IR |
  | Valento, Don | 54A | Little Canada | IR |
  | Vanasek, Robert | 25A | New Prague | DFL |
  | Vellenga, Kathleen | 64A | St. Paul | DFL |
  | Wagenius, Jean | 62B | Minneapolis | DFL |
  | Waltman, Bobby Joe | 26B | Elgin | IR |
  | Weaver, Charlie | 49A | Anoka | IR |
  | Wejcman, Linda | 60B | Minneapolis | DFL |
  | Welker, Ray | 20B | Montevideo | IR |
  | Welle, Alan | 15B | Willmar | DFL |
  | Wenzel, Steve | 13B | Little Falls | DFL |
  | Winter, Ted | 28A | Fulda | DFL |
  
  ## Membership changes
  
  ### Senate
  
  | District | Vacated by | Reason for change | Successor | Date successor seated |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | 42 | Don Storm (IR) | Resigned December 7, 1991, to accept appointment to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission. | Roy Terwilliger (IR) | January 9, 1992 |
  | 08 | Jim Gustafson (IR) | Resigned May 20, 1992, to accept appointment to the position of Commissioner of the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board. | Remained vacant | Remained vacant |
  
  ### House of Representatives
  
  | District | Vacated by | Reason for change | Successor | Date successor seated |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | 32B | Elton Redalen (IR) | Resigned January 7, 1991, to accept appointment as the Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. Was reelected, but resigned before the 77th Legislature convened. | Greg Davids (IR) | February 18, 1991 |
  | 50B | Joe Quinn (DFL) | Resigned January 7, 1991, to accept appointment as a Minnesota Judicial District Court Judge. Was reelected, but resigned before the 77th Legislature convened. | Phil Heir (IR) | February 7, 1991 |
  | 47A | Linda Scheid (DFL) | Resigned November 1, 1991, to become Vice President for Community Affairs with Burnet Realty. | Rich Krambeer (IR) | January 2, 1992 |
  | 44A | Sally Olsen (IR) | Resigned May 7, 1992, to accept appointment as a Minnesota Workers' Compensation Court of Appeals Judge. | Remained vacant | Remained vacant |
  | 23A | Terry Dempsey (IR) | Resigned May 11, 1992, to accept appointment as a Minnesota Judicial District Court Judge. | Remained vacant | Remained vacant |
  | 44B | Gloria Segal (DFL) | Resigned December 14, 1992, due to health reasons related to a cancerous tumor. | Remained vacant | Remained vacant |
  