Lisa Demuth
Minority Leader of the Minnesota House of Representatives
Assumed office
January 3, 2023
Preceded byKurt Daudt
Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives
from the 13A district
Assumed office
January 8, 2019
Preceded byJeff Howe
Personal details
Born (1967-02-10) February 10, 1967 (age 57)
Paynesville, Minnesota, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseNick
Children4

Lisa Demuth (born February 10, 1967)[1] is an American politician serving in the Minnesota House of Representatives since 2019. A member of the Republican Party of Minnesota, Demuth represents District 13A in central Minnesota, which includes the cities of St. Joseph and Cold Spring, and parts of Stearns County. She has served as leader of the House Republican caucus and minority leader of the House of Representatives since 2023.[1]

Early life, education, and career

Demuth was born in Paynesville, Minnesota. She graduated from Bloomington Kennedy High School.[2]

Demuth co-owns and manages commercial property with her husband, Nick. She was elected to the Rocori school board as a write-in candidate in 2007 and reelected twice.[2][3]

Minnesota House of Representatives

Demuth was first elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2018. Demuth was recruited to run by the former representative for 13A, Jeff Howe, who was stepping down to run for the Minnesota Senate.[4] During the 2020-2021 legislative session, Demuth served as an assistant minority leader in the House.[1] Demuth is pro-life and supported fetal heartbeat legislation in the Minnesota House.[5]

After the 2022 Minnesota House of Representatives Election saw Republicans fail to flip the House from Democratic control, Demuth was voted to serve as Minority Leader by her caucus. Demuth has portrayed herself as more collaborative and calm than her predecessor, Kurt Daudt. According to the American Conservative Union's scorecard, Demuth was ranked as less conservative than the average Republican legislator.[5]

Demuth, who is biracial, is the first African American and the first biracial person to serve as Minority Leader of the Minnesota House of Representatives and the House Republican caucus.[1] According to Demuth, she asked fellow legislators to pick her based on her qualifications, not her race.[6]

Electoral history

2018 Election for Minnesota State Representative District 13A[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Lisa Demuth 11,348 61.01%
Democratic (DFL) Jim Read 7,243 38.94%
2020 Election for Minnesota State Representative District 13A[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Lisa Demuth 16,056 70.75%
Democratic (DFL) Katy Westlund 6,610 29.13%
2022 Election for Minnesota State Representative District 13A[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Lisa Demuth 15,190 74.01%
Democratic (DFL) Andrea Robinson 5,324 25.94%

Personal life

Demuth and her husband, Nick, reside in Cold Spring, Minnesota. They have four children.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Demuth, Lisa". Minnesota Legislative Reference Library. Retrieved November 8, 2018.
  2. ^ a b Knaak, Mike (October 19, 2018). "House 13A candidates focus on health care, jobs - The News Leaders". The Newsleaders. Von Meyer Publishing. Retrieved November 8, 2018.
  3. ^ Hertel, Nora G. (June 6, 2018). "Rocori school board member Lisa Demuth vies for Rep. Jeff Howe's legislative seat". St. Cloud Times. Retrieved November 8, 2018.
  4. ^ Session Interview (Video) 2019 House Interview. "Video - Minnesota Legislature". www.lrl.mn.gov. Retrieved 2023-01-15.((cite web)): CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  5. ^ a b "New House Republican leader Lisa Demuth vows 'calm and conversational' style". MinnPost. 2022-12-05. Retrieved 2023-01-15.
  6. ^ Olson, Rochelle. "Lisa Demuth is first woman, person of color to lead Minnesota House GOP caucus". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-01-15.
  7. ^ Minnesota Secretary of State. "2018 Results for State Representative District 13A". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  8. ^ Minnesota Secretary of State. "2020 Results for State Representative District 13A". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  9. ^ Minnesota Secretary of State. "2022 Results for State Representative District 13A". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved 15 January 2023.

External links

Minnesota House of Representatives Preceded byKurt Daudt Minority Leader of the Minnesota House of Representatives 2023–present Incumbent
Statewide elected officials and legislative leaders of Minnesota
Floor leaders of state houses
Minority leaders of the Minnesota House of Representatives
Members of the Minnesota House of Representatives
Categories