Paul Torkelson

Paul Torkelson
Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives
from the 15B district
21B (2009–2012), 16B (2013-2022)
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 6, 2009
Preceded byBrad Finstad
Personal details
Born (1952-07-12) July 12, 1952
PartyRepublican
SpouseCindy
Children2
EducationGustavus Adolphus College (BA)

Paul M. Torkelson (/ˈtɔːrkəlsən/ TOR-kəl-sən;[1] born July 12, 1952) is an American politician serving as a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives since 2009. A member of the Republican Party of Minnesota, Torkelson represents District 15B in southwestern Minnesota, which includes the city of New Ulm and all or parts of Blue Earth, Brown, and Redwood Counties.[2]

Early life, education and career

Torkelson earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in instrumental music education from Gustavus Adolphus College in 1974.

In 2006, Governor Tim Pawlenty appointed Torkelson to the Minnesota Governor's Clean Water Council, a position he held until his election to the House. He is a member of the Minnesota's Deer Hunters Association, a former vice president of the Minnesota Farm Bureau, and a former chair of St. James Health Services.[3][2]

Torkelson is a fourth-generation Watonwan County corn, soybean and pork farmer, with family roots in the area since 1878, and a former music teacher.[4] He is a Lutheran.[2]

Minnesota House of Representatives

Torkelson was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2008, succeeding incumbent Representative Brad Finstad, who decided not to seek reelection, and has been reelected every two years since.[2]

Torkelson was an assistant majority leader during the 2011-12 legislative session and an assistant minority leader from 2013-14. He chaired the Capital Investment Committee in 2015-16, and the Transportation Finance Committee in 2017-18. During the 2021-22 legislative session, Torkelson again served as an assistant majority leader. After the 2022 election, he was appointed to serve as deputy minority leader by incoming Minority Leader Lisa Demuth.[5] After the 2024 election, he was appointed Assistant Republican Floor Leader. Torkelson also co-chairs the Ways and Means Committee.[6]

On January 30, 2026, Torkelson announced he was not running for reelection in 2026.[7]

Electoral history

2008 Minnesota State House - District 21B[8]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Paul Torkelson 9,111 51.43
Democratic (DFL) Robert Skillings 8,586 48.47
Write-in 17 0.10
Total votes 17,714 100.0
Republican hold
2010 Minnesota State House - District 21B[9]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Paul Torkelson 11,774 98.31
Write-in 203 1.69
Total votes 11,977 100.0
Republican hold
2012 Minnesota State House - District 16B[10]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Paul Torkelson 11,243 56.14
Democratic (DFL) James Kanne 6,466 32.29
Independent Jerry "Pike" Pagel 2,303 11.50
Write-in 13 0.06
Total votes 20,025 100.0
Republican hold
2014 Minnesota State House - District 16B[11]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Paul Torkelson 9,053 64.94
Democratic (DFL) James Kanne 4,872 34.95
Write-in 16 0.11
Total votes 13,941 100.0
Republican hold
2016 Minnesota State House - District 16B[12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Paul Torkelson 14,529 73.06
Democratic (DFL) Austin Grossenburg 5,333 26.82
Write-in 25 0.11
Total votes 19,887 100.0
Republican hold
2018 Minnesota State House - District 16B[13]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Paul Torkelson 10,772 63.20
Democratic (DFL) Marinda "Mindy" Kimmel 6,268 36.77
Write-in 5 0.03
Total votes 17,045 100.0
Republican hold
2020 Minnesota State House - District 16B[14]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Paul Torkelson 14,476 67.61
Democratic (DFL) Marinda "Mindy" Kimmel 6,908 32.26
Write-in 28 0.13
Total votes 21,412 100.0
Republican hold
2022 Minnesota State House - District 15B[15]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Paul Torkelson 13,444 72.39
Democratic (DFL) Tom Kuster 5,075 27.39
Write-in 10 0.05
Total votes 18,529 100.0
Republican hold
2024 Minnesota State House - District 15B[16]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Paul Torkelson 16,814 72.65
Democratic (DFL) Tom Kuster 6,315 27.29
Write-in 14 0.06
Total votes 23,143 100.0
Republican hold

References

  1. ↑ Informational interview with Rep. Paul Torkelson (R-Hanska). MNHouseInfo. February 5, 2024. Event occurs at 10:50. Retrieved August 23, 2024 – via YouTube.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Torkelson, Paul - Legislator Record - Minnesota Legislators Past & Present".
  3. ↑ "The Voter's Self Defense System".
  4. ↑ "About Paul Torkelson MN State Representative 21B". Archived from the original on January 6, 2009. Retrieved November 8, 2009.
  5. ↑ News Desk (November 15, 2022). "Rep. Torkelson of Hanska appointed Deputy Minority Leader for MN House Republican Caucus". Southern Minnesota News. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
  6. ↑ "Torkelson, Paul - Legislator Record - Minnesota Legislators Past & Present". www.lrl.mn.gov.
  7. ↑ "Rep. Paul Torkelson - RELEASE: REP. TORKELSON ANNOUNCES HE WILL NOT SEEK RE-ELECTION". www.house.mn.gov.
  8. ↑ "2008 Results for State Representative District 21B". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
  9. ↑ "2010 Results for State Representative District 21B". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
  10. ↑ "2012 Results for State Representative District 16B". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
  11. ↑ "2014 Results for State Representative District 16B". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
  12. ↑ "2016 Results for State Representative District 16B". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
  13. ↑ "2018 Results for State Representative District 16B". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
  14. ↑ "2020 Results for State Representative District 16B". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
  15. ↑ "2022 Results for State Representative District 15B". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
  16. ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State https://electionresults.sos.mn.gov/results/Index?ErsElectionId=170&scenario=StateRepresentative&DistrictId=384&show=Go. Retrieved April 29, 2025. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
This page is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.