Tom Bakk

Tom Bakk
Minority Leader of the Minnesota Senate
Assumed office
January 3, 2017
Preceded by David Hann
In office
January 4, 2011 – January 7, 2013
Preceded by Dave Senjem
Succeeded by David Hann
Majority Leader of the Minnesota Senate
In office
January 8, 2013 – January 2, 2017
Preceded by Dave Senjem
Succeeded by Paul Gazelka
Member of the Minnesota Senate
from the 3rd district
6th (2003–2013)
Assumed office
January 7, 2003
Preceded by Douglas Johnson
Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives
from the 6A district
In office
January 3, 1995 – January 6, 2003
Preceded by David Peter Battaglia
Succeeded by David Dill
Personal details
Born (1954-06-08) June 8, 1954
Virginia, Minnesota, U.S.
Political party Democratic
Spouse(s) Laura
Children 4
Education Mesabi Range College
University of Minnesota, Duluth (BA)

Thomas M. "Tom" Bakk (born June 8, 1954) is a Minnesota politician and the minority leader of the Minnesota Senate. A member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL), he represents District 3, which includes portions of Cook, Koochiching, Lake and St. Louis counties in the northeastern part of Minnesota.

Early life, education, and career

Bakk was born and raised in Cook, Minnesota, where he graduated from Cook High School in 1972.[1] He received an associate degree from Mesabi Community College and a bachelor's degree in business administration and labor relations from the University of Minnesota Duluth. He is a retired union carpenter and labor official.[2]

Minnesota House of Representatives

Bakk represented District 6A in the Minnesota House of Representatives from 1995 to 2003.[2]

Minnesota Senate

Bakk was first elected to the Minnesota Senate in 2002 and was re-elected in 2006, 2010, 2012, and 2016. He has served as the chair of the Senate Rules and Administration Committee and has also served on the Taxes Committee, which he chaired from 2007 to 2010. He previously served on the Rules and Administration subcommittees for Committees and Conference Committees.[2]

After the 2010 election, Bakk was elected by his caucus to serve as the minority leader during the 2011–2012 session.[3] He was the first DFLer to serve as minority leader since party identification returned to the Minnesota Legislature in 1973. After the DFL regained a majority in the 2012 election, Bakk was elected by his caucus to serve as majority leader, a position he assumed when the Legislature convened on January 8, 2013.[4] After the DFL lost a majority following the 2016 election, Bakk was elected by his caucus to again serve as minority leader.

2010 Minnesota gubernatorial campaign

Bakk at a DFL gubernatorial debate in November 2009

Bakk campaigned in the 2010 Minnesota gubernatorial election. He led in early fundraising among the DFL candidates, raising $146,000 in 2008. He began 2009 with a little more than $131,000. He ended his campaign in March 2010.[5]

Electoral history

Minnesota Senate 3rd district election, 2012[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
DFL Tom Bakk (incumbent) 28,427 64.59
Republican Jennifer Havlick 15,509 35.24
Minnesota Senate 6th district election, 2010[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
DFL Tom Bakk (incumbent) 21,728 62.94 -8.39pp
Republican Jennifer Havlick 12,742 36.91 +8.50pp
Minnesota Senate 6th district election, 2006[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
DFL Tom Bakk (incumbent) 25,275 71.33 -0.93pp
Republican Jennifer Havlick 10,065 28.41
Minnesota Senate 6th district election, 2002[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
DFL Tom Bakk 24,934 72.26
Independence Tom Norman 9,467 27.44

Personal life

Bakk and his wife, Laura, who works as a legislative assistant in the Minnesota Senate, have four children.[2]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Tom Bakk has always been a builder – from houses to union deals to laws". Twin Cities. 2015-05-01. Retrieved 2018-02-17.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Bakk, Thomas M. "Tom"". Legislators Past & Present. Minnesota Legislative Reference Library. Retrieved January 10, 2013.
  3. ↑ Shaw, Charley (November 4, 2010). "Tom Bakk elected Senate minority leader". Politics in Minnesota. Retrieved January 25, 2013.
  4. ↑ "Bakk chosen as Minnesota Senate majority leader". Duluth News Tribune. November 8, 2012. Retrieved January 25, 2013.
  5. ↑ Scheck, Tom (March 20, 2010). "Sen. Bakk drops out of race for governor". Minnesota Public Radio. Retrieved July 20, 2010.
  6. ↑ "Results for State Senator District 3". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved January 25, 2013.
  7. ↑ "State Senator District: 06". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved January 25, 2013.
  8. ↑ "State Senator District 06". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved January 25, 2013.
  9. ↑ "State Senator District 06". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved January 25, 2013.
Minnesota House of Representatives
Preceded by
David Peter Battaglia		 Member of the House of Representatives
from the 6A district
1995–2003		 Succeeded by
David Dill
Minnesota Senate
Preceded by
Douglas Johnson		 Senator from the 3rd district
6th (2003–2013)
2003–present		 Incumbent
Preceded by
Dave Senjem		 Minority Leader of the Minnesota Senate
2011–2013		 Succeeded by
David Hann
Preceded by
Dave Senjem		 Majority Leader of the Minnesota Senate
2013–2017		 Succeeded by
Paul Gazelka
Preceded by
David Hann		 Minority Leader of the Minnesota Senate
2017–present		 Incumbent
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