Kari Dziedzic
Majority Leader of the Minnesota Senate
In office
January 3, 2023 – February 6, 2024
Preceded byJeremy Miller
Succeeded byErin Murphy
Member of the Minnesota Senate
from the 60th district
59th (2012–2013)
Assumed office
January 20, 2012
Preceded byLarry Pogemiller
Personal details
Born1962 (age 61–62)
Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
RelativesWalt Dziedzic (father)
Joe Dziedzic (brother)
EducationUniversity of Minnesota (BS)

Kari Dziedzic (/ˈdiːdzɪk/ DEED-zik; born 1962) is an American politician. A member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL), she represents District 60, which includes portions of the city of Minneapolis in Hennepin County. Her district is also notable for including part of the University of Minnesota.[1] In 2022, she was selected by her caucus to serve as Majority Leader for the 93rd Minnesota Legislature.[2] She stepped down from leadership after the first session due to a cancer diagnosis. Before holding elected office, Dziedzic was executive assistant to U.S. Senator Paul Wellstone.

Early life, education, and career

Dziedzic is the daughter of Walt Dziedzic, a longtime Minneapolis City Council member, Minneapolis Park Board member, and police inspector.[3] Her brother is retired NHL player Joe Dziedzic.[4] She attended Edison High School in Minneapolis, and received a degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Minnesota.[5]

Dziedzic entered politics as an aide to U.S. Senator Paul Wellstone. Afterward, she worked for Hennepin County, first as communications director for the Hennepin County Attorney, then as a policy aide for County Commissioner Mark Stenglein.[6]

In the private sector, Dziedzic was an executive assistant to Minnesota North Stars owner Norm Green. She filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against him in 1993,[7] which was settled out of court.[8]

Minnesota Senate

Dziedzic was elected in a special election on January 10, 2012, and reelected in November 2012.[9] She succeeded former Minnesota Senate Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller, who had resigned to take a position in the administration of Governor Mark Dayton. Dziedzic was reelected in 2016, 2020, and 2022.

After the DFL retook the Senate majority in the 2022 Minnesota Senate election, Dziedzic was selected to serve as majority leader.[10]

On February 2, 2024, Dziedzic announced that she would step down as majority leader due to the return of her cancer.[11]

References

  1. ^ Minnesota Daily Staff (November 9, 2016). "Sen. Dziedzic re-elected to senate seat in District 60". mndaily.com - The Minnesota Daily. Retrieved September 19, 2017.
  2. ^ "Minnesota Senate Democrats choose Kari Dziedzic of Minneapolis as new majority leader". Star Tribune.
  3. ^ Grow, Doug (January 11, 2012). "Dziedzic daughter follows Dad's political advice to victory: 'Always run like you're one vote behind'". MinnPost. Retrieved March 4, 2013.
  4. ^ Olson, Rochelle (November 24, 2018). "Northeast Minneapolis giant Walt Dziedzic dies at 85". AP NEWS. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  5. ^ "Senator Kari Dziedzic". Minnesota Senate DFL. February 11, 2016. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  6. ^ "Dziedzic, Kari". Legislators Past & Present. Minnesota Legislative Reference Library. Retrieved February 25, 2013.
  7. ^ "North Star Owner Sued For Harassment | The Seattle Times". archive.seattletimes.com. Retrieved April 16, 2020.
  8. ^ "Google Groups". groups.google.com. Retrieved April 16, 2020.
  9. ^ Who needs New Hampshire? Minneapolis election winners: Susan Allen and Kari Dziedzic
  10. ^ "Minnesota Democrats tap Kari Dziedzic as new DFL leader". CBS News.
  11. ^ "Senate majority leader Kari Dziedzic leaving leadership post as cancer returns". Star Tribune.

External links

Minnesota Senate Preceded byLarry Pogemiller Member of the Minnesota Senatefrom the 60th district59th (2012–2013) 2012–present Incumbent Preceded byJeremy Miller Majority Leader of the Minnesota Senate 2023–2024 Succeeded byErin Murphy
Majority leaders of the Minnesota Senate
Members of the Minnesota Senate
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