The seventieth Minnesota Legislature first convened on January 4, 1977. 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 2, 1976. It was the first Minnesota Legislature since the thirty-eighth Minnesota Legislature whose members of the Minnesota Senate were chosen in partisan elections.

Sessions The legislature met in a regular session from January 4, 1977 to May 23, 1977. A continuation of the regular session was held between January 17, 1978 and March 24, 1978. There were no special sessions of the 70th Legislature.

Party summary Resignations and new members are discussed in the "Membership changes" section, below.

Senate Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) Total Vacant DFL Ind. IR End of previous Legislature 37 1 28 66 1 Begin 48 0 18 66 1 February 15, 1977 49 67 0 November 1, 1977 48 66 1 December 9, 1977 19 67 0 December 1, 1978 47 66 1 December 29, 1978 20 67 0 Latest voting share Beginning of the next Legislature 47 0 20 67 0

House of Representatives Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) Total Vacant DFL IR End of previous Legislature 103 31 134 0 Begin 104 30 134 0 February 15, 1977 103 133 1 March 18, 1977 31 134 0 July 31, 1977 102 133 1 August 1977 101 32 October 11, 1977 33 134 0 November 4, 1977 100 133 1 December 19, 1977 34 134 0 March 21, 1978 99 35 Latest voting share Beginning of the next Legislature 67 67 134 0

Leadership Senate President of the Senate Edward J. Gearty (DFL-Minneapolis)

Senate Majority Leader Nicholas D. Coleman (DFL-Saint Paul)

Senate Minority Leader Robert O. Ashbach (IR-St. Paul)

House of Representatives Speaker of the House Martin O. Sabo (DFL-Minneapolis)

House Majority Leader Irvin N. Anderson (DFL-International Falls)

House Minority Leader Henry J. Savelkoul (IR-Albert Lea)

Members Senate Name District City Party Anderson, Jerald C. 19 North Branch DFL Ashbach, Robert O. 48 Saint Paul IR Bang, Jr., Otto T. 39 Edina IR Benedict, Robert M. 38 Bloomington DFL Bernhagen, John J. 22 Hutchinson IR Borden, Winston W. 13 Brainerd DFL Brataas, Nancy 33 Rochester IR Chenoweth, John C. 66 Saint Paul DFL Chmielewski, Sr., Florian W. 14 Sturgeon Lake DFL Coleman, Nicholas D. 65 Saint Paul DFL Davies, II, John Thomas 60 Minneapolis DFL Dieterich, Neil 62 Saint Paul DFL Dunn, Robert G. 18 Princeton IR Engler, Steven 25 Randolph IR Frederick, Mel 32 West Concord IR Gearty, Edward J. 54 Minneapolis DFL Gunderson, Jerome O. 35 Mabel DFL Hanson, Marvin B. 01 Hallock DFL Hughes, Jerome M. 50 Saint Paul DFL Humphrey, III, Hubert H. 44 New Hope DFL Jensen, Carl A. 28 Sleepy Eye IR Johnson, Douglas J. 06 Cook DFL Keefe, Sr., John B. 40 Hopkins IR Keefe, Stephen 59 Minneapolis DFL Kirchner, William G. 37 Richfield IR Kleinbaum, Jack I. 17 Saint Cloud DFL Knaak, Delores J. 49 White Bear Lake IR Knoll, Franklin J. 61 Minneapolis DFL Knutson, Howard A. 53 Burnsville IR Laufenburger, Roger A. 34 Lewiston DFL Lessard, Bob B. 03 International Falls DFL Lewis, Sr., B. Robert 41 Saint Louis Park DFL Luther, William Paul 45 Brooklyn Center DFL McCutcheon, William W. 67 Saint Paul DFL Menning, Marion O. 26 Edgerton DFL Merriam, Eugene R. 47 Coon Rapids DFL Milton, John Watson 49 White Bear Lake DFL Moe, Roger D. 02 Ada DFL Nelson, Tom A. 31 Austin DFL Nichols, James W. 20 Lake Benton DFL Ogdahl, Sr., Harmon T. 58 Minneapolis IR Olhoft, Wayne 11 Herman DFL Olson, Howard D. 27 Saint James DFL Penny, Timothy Joseph 30 New Richland DFL Perpich, George F. 05 Chisholm DFL Peterson, Collin Clark 10 Detroit Lakes DFL Pillsbury, George Sturgis 42 Wayzata IR Purfeerst, Clarence Mark 24 Faribault DFL Renneke, Earl W. 23 Le Sueur IR Schaaf, David D. 46 Fridley DFL Schmitz, Robert J. 36 Jordan DFL Schrom, Ed 16 Albany DFL Setzepfandt, A. O.H. 21 Bird Island DFL Sieloff, Ronald B. 63 Saint Paul IR Sikorski, Gerald Edward 51 Stillwater DFL Sillers, Douglas H. 09 Moorhead IR Solon, Sam George 07 Duluth DFL Spear, Allan H. 57 Minneapolis DFL Staples, Emily Anne 43 Plymouth DFL Stokowski, Eugene E. 55 Minneapolis DFL Strand, Roger Ernest 15 Cyrus DFL Stumpf, Jr., Peter P. 64 Saint Paul DFL Tennessen, Robert J. 56 Minneapolis DFL Ueland, Jr., Arnulf 29 Mankato IR Ulland, James E. 08 Duluth IR Vega, Conrado M. 52 South Saint Paul DFL Wegener, Myrton O. 12 Bertha DFL Willet, Gerald L. 04 Park Rapids DFL

House of Representatives Name District City Party Abeln, Lyle G. 38B Bloomington DFL Adams, Leo G. 44B New Hope DFL Albrecht, Raymond John 23A Brownton IR Anderson, Bruce W. 26A Slayton DFL Anderson, Delbert F. 15A Starbuck IR Anderson, Glen H. 15B Bellingham DFL Anderson, Irvin N. 03A International Falls DFL Anderson, Robert A. 10B Ottertail IR Arlandson, John R. 41A Golden Valley DFL Battaglia, David Peter 06B Two Harbors DFL Beauchamp, David J. 09A Moorhead DFL Begich, Joseph R. 06A Eveleth DFL Berg, Thomas K. 56B Minneapolis DFL Berglin, Linda Lee 59A Minneapolis DFL Berkelman, Thomas R. 08B Duluth DFL Biersdorf, John S. 32A Owatonna IR Birnstihl, Orville E. 24B Faribault DFL Brandl, John E. 61A Minneapolis DFL Braun, Arthur Michael 01A Greenbush DFL Brinkman, Bernard J. 16B Richmond DFL Byrne, Margaret Mary 64B Saint Paul DFL Carlson, Sr., Arne Helge 58B Minneapolis IR Carlson, Douglas W. 14A Sandstone IR Carlson, Sr., Lyndon R. 44A Brooklyn Center DFL Casserly, James R. 56A Minneapolis DFL Clark, Janet H. 60A Minneapolis DFL Clawson, John T. 19A Center City DFL Cohen, Richard J. 63B Saint Paul DFL Corbid, John R. 01B Oklee DFL Cummiskey, David R. 29A Mankato DFL Dahl, Harold J. 22B Howard Lake DFL Dean, William D. 58A Minneapolis IR Den Ouden, Gaylin L.R. 21B Prinsburg IR Eckstein, Anton Joseph 28B New Ulm DFL Eken, Willis Roy 02B Twin Valley DFL Ellingson, Robert L. 45B Brooklyn Center DFL Enebo, Stanley A. 60B Minneapolis DFL Erickson, Wendell O. 26B Hills IR Esau, Gilbert D. 28A Mountain Lake IR Evans, James 10A Detroit Lakes IR Ewald, Douglas 40A Minnetonka IR Faricy, Ray W. 63A Saint Paul DFL Fjoslien, David O. 11B Brandon IR Forsythe, Mary M. 39A Edina IR Friedrich, Donald L. 32B Rochester IR Fudro, Stanley J. 55A Minneapolis DFL Fugina, Peter X. 05A Virginia DFL George, Michael J. 50A Mahtomedi DFL Gunter, Clarence L. 21A Raymond DFL Hanson, Walter R. 62B Saint Paul DFL Haugerud, Neil Sherman 35A Preston DFL Heinitz, Orlando Jacob 43A Plymouth IR Hokanson, Shirley A. 37A Richfield DFL Jacobs, Joel 47A Coon Rapids DFL Jaros, Mike 07B Duluth DFL Jensen, Robert C. 53B Farmington DFL Johnson, Carl M. 23B Saint Peter DFL Jude, Thaddeus 42A Mound DFL Kahn, Phyllis L. 57A Minneapolis DFL Kaley, John R. 33A Rochester IR Kalis, Henry J. 30A Walters DFL Kelly, Randy Cameron 66B Saint Paul DFL Kelly, William Nelson 02A East Grand Forks DFL Kempe, Arnold E. 67A West Saint Paul DFL Kempe, Raymond J. 53A West Saint Paul DFL King, Dwayne A. 43B Golden Valley DFL Knickerbocker, Gerald C. 40B Hopkins IR Kostohryz, Sr., Richard J. 50B North Saint Paul DFL Kroening, Carl W. 54A Minneapolis DFL Kvam, Adolph Leonard 22A Litchfield IR Laidig, Gary W. 51A Stillwater IR Langseth, Keith L. 09B Glyndon DFL Lehto, Arlene Ione 08A Duluth DFL Lemke, Richard R. 34A Lake City DFL Mangan, Thomas J. 19B Anoka DFL Mann, George L. 27A Windom DFL McCarron, Paul 46A Unknown DFL McCollar, Maurice D. 49B White Bear Lake DFL McDonald, Kenneth James 36A Watertown IR McEachern, Robert O. 18B Saint Michael DFL Metzen, James P. 52A South Saint Paul DFL Moe, Donald M. 65B Saint Paul DFL Munger, Sr., Willard M. 07A Duluth DFL Murphy, Mary Catherine 14B Hermantown DFL Neisen, Howard J. 49A Mounds View DFL Nelsen, Bruce G. 12A Staples IR Nelsen, Jr., Marlin B. 13B Aitkin DFL Nelson, Ken G. 59B Minneapolis DFL Niehaus, Sr., Joseph T. 16A Sauk Centre IR Norton, Fred C. 65A Saint Paul DFL Novak, Steven G. 48A New Brighton DFL Onnen, Tony D. 22B Cokato IR Osthoff, C. Thomas 64A Saint Paul DFL Patton, Al W. 17A Sartell DFL Pehler, James C. 17B Saint Cloud DFL Peterson, Darrel L. 27B Fairmont IR Petrafeso, Paul R. 41B Saint Louis Park DFL Pleasant, Ray O. 39B Bloomington IR Prahl, Norman Rudolph 03B Grand Rapids DFL Redalen, Elton R. 35A Fountain IR Reding, Leo John 31B Austin DFL Rice, James Isaac 54B Minneapolis DFL Rose, John T. 48B Roseville IR Sabo, Martin Olav 57B Minneapolis DFL Samuelson, Donald B. 13A Brainerd DFL Sarna, John J. 55B Minneapolis DFL Savelkoul, Henry J. 31A Albert Lea IR Scheid, Linda J. 45A Brooklyn Park DFL Schulz, Victor H. 25B Goodhue DFL Searle, Sr., Rodney Newell 30B Waseca IR Searles, Robert L. 42B Wayzata IR Setzepfandt, A. O.H. 21B Bird Island DFL Sherwood, Glen A. 04B Pine River IR Sieben, Jr., Harry A. 52B Hastings DFL Sieben, Michael R. 51B Newport DFL Simoneau, Wayne A. 46B Fridley DFL Skoglund, Wesley J. 61B Minneapolis DFL Smogard, Ellsworth G. 20A Madison DFL Spanish, John J. 05B Hibbing DFL St. Onge, Doug J. 04A Bemidji DFL Stanton, Russell P. 20B Marshall DFL Stoa, Tom 34B Winona DFL Suss, Ted L. 36B New Prague DFL Swanson, James C. 37B Richfield DFL Tomlinson, John D. 67B Saint Paul DFL Vanasek, Robert E. 24A New Prague DFL Voss, Gordon Owen 47B Blaine DFL Waldorf, Eugene T. 66A Saint Paul DFL Welch, Richard J. 18A Cambridge DFL Wenstrom, Gene R. 11A Elbow Lake DFL Wenzel, Stephen G. 12B Little Falls DFL White, Jim F. 25A Farmington DFL Wieser, Jr., Al W. 35B La Crescent IR Wigley, Richard E. 29B Lake Crystal IR Williamson, Bruce D. 38A Bloomington DFL Wynia, Ann 62A Saint Paul DFL Zubay, Kenneth Peter 33B Rochester IR

Membership changes Senate District Vacated by Reason for change Successor Date successorseated 21 None Incumbent DFLer and then-Senate President Alec G. Olson had been reelected during the General Election of 1976. However, during the same election cycle, U.S. Senator Walter Mondale was elected Vice President of the United States, causing Mondale to resign from the U.S. Senate. Governor Wendell Anderson proceeded to appoint himself to Mondale's vacated seat, which caused Lieutenant Governor Rudy Perpich to succeed to the office of Governor, and hence created a vacancy in the office of Lieutenant Governor. As per the provisions of the Minnesota Constitution, Olson, as the last-elected President of the Senate, then succeeded to the office of Lieutenant Governor, causing him to automatically resign his seat in the Minnesota Senate effective December 29, 1976. Thus, this seat was already vacant when the 70th Legislature convened. A. O.H. Setzepfandt(DFL) February 15, 1977 49 John Watson Milton(DFL) Milton resigned effective November 1, 1977. Delores J. Knaak(IR) December 9, 1977 13 Winston W. Borden(DFL) Borden resigned to become the Executive Secretary of the Minnesota Association of Commerce and Industry. David E. Rued(IR) December 29, 1978

House of Representatives District Vacated by Reason for change Successor Date successorseated 21B A. O.H. Setzepfandt(DFL) Setzepfandt resigned from the Minnesota House of Representatives after having won the special election to represent district 21 in the Minnesota Senate. Gaylin L.R. Den Ouden(IR) March 18, 1977 22B Harold J. Dahl(DFL) Dahl resigned on July 31, 1977 to accept appointment as a judge. Tony Onnen(IR) October 11, 1977 35A Neil Sherman Haugerud(DFL) Haugerud resigned on November 4, 1977, to accept appointment by President Jimmy Carter to serve on the Upper Mississippi River Basin Commission. Elton R. Redalen(IR) December 19, 1977

Notes

References

Minnesota Legislators Past & Present - Session Search Results (Session 70, Senate) Minnesota Legislators Past & Present - Session Search Results (Session 70, House)