Head of government of the U.S. state of Minnesota
The governor of Minnesota is the head of government of the U.S. state of Minnesota , leading the state's executive branch . Forty people have been governor of Minnesota, though historically there were also three governors of Minnesota Territory . Alexander Ramsey , the first territorial governor, also served as state governor several years later. State governors are elected to office by popular vote, but territorial governors were appointed to the office by the United States president . The current governor of Minnesota is Tim Walz of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL).
Powers and qualifications [ edit ]
Similar to the U.S. president , the governor has veto power over bills passed by the Minnesota State Legislature . As in most states, but unlike the U.S. president, the governor can also make line-item vetoes , where specific provisions in bills can be stripped out while allowing the overall bill to be signed into law.
The governor of Minnesota must be 25 years old upon assuming office, and must have been a Minnesota resident for one year before the election.
Since a 1958 amendment[ a] to the Minnesota Constitution , governors are elected to four-year terms, with no limits on the number of terms they may serve.[ 3]
The governor has a cabinet consisting of the leaders of various state departments. The governor appoints these department heads, who, other than the head of the Department of Military Affairs and the chairs of the Metropolitan Council and the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission, are called commissioners . Cabinet members include:[ 4]
Cabinet
Office
Incumbent
Term began
Commissioner of Administration
Tamar Gronvall
Oct. 9, 2023[ 5]
Commissioner of Agriculture
Thom Petersen
Jan. 7, 2019
Commissioner of Children, Youth and Families
Tikki Brown
July 1, 2024[ 6]
Commissioner of Commerce
Grace Arnold
Sept. 11, 2020[ 7]
Commissioner of Corrections
Paul Schnell
Jan. 7, 2019[ 8]
Commissioner of Education
Willie Jett
Jan. 2, 2023
Commissioner of Employment and Economic Development
Matt Varilek
June 20, 2023[ 9]
Commissioner of Health
Brooke Cunningham
Jan. 2, 2023[ 10]
Commissioner of the Minnesota Office of Higher Education
Dennis Olsen
Jan. 7, 2019[ 11]
Commissioner of Minnesota Housing Finance Agency
Jennifer Lemaile Ho
Jan. 7, 2019
Commissioner of Human Rights
Rebecca Lucero
Jan. 7, 2019[ 12]
Commissioner of Human Services
Jodi Harpstead
Aug. 12, 2019[ 13]
Commissioner of the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board
Ida Rukavina
Jan. 2, 2023
Commissioner and Chief Information Officer of MN.IT Services
Tarek Tomes
April 16, 2019
Commissioner of Labor and Industry
Nicole Blissenbach
Jan. 2, 2023
Commissioner of Management and Budget
Erin Campbell
Aug.15, 2023[ 14]
Commissioner of Minnesota Bureau of Mediation Services
Johnny Villareal
Dec. 22, 2021[ 15]
Chairperson of the Metropolitan Council
Charlie Zelle
Jan. 6, 2020[ 16]
Adjutant General
Maj. Gen. Shawn Manke
Aug. 12, 2020[ 17]
Commissioner of Natural Resources
Sarah Strommen
Jan. 7, 2019
Commissioner of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
Katrina Kessler
Nov. 1, 2021[ 18]
Commissioner of Public Safety
Bob Jacobson
Jan. 2, 2023
Commissioner of Revenue
Paul Marquart
Jan. 2, 2023
Commissioner of Transportation
Nancy Daubenberger
Jan. 7, 2019[ 19]
Commissioner of Veterans Affairs
Brad Lindsay
Sept. 23, 2023[ 20]
The Minnesota Governor's Residence is located in Saint Paul , at 1006 Summit Avenue .
The line of succession for the Governor is established by Article V, Section 5 of the Minnesota Constitution [ 21] and Minnesota Statute 4.06.[ 22]
Minnesota Governor's Fishing Opener[ edit ]
The Minnesota Governor's Fishing Opener is a tradition that dates back to 1948.[ 23] The event was designed to promote the development of Minnesota's recreation industry.[ 24] [ 25] The Governor goes to a selected lake in Minnesota to fish on the opening weekend of the fishing season.[ 26]
^ "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries" . The Council of State Governments. Retrieved August 7, 2024 .
^ "1957 Session Laws" . Office of the Revisor of Statutes . Retrieved 24 July 2024 .
^ "The Green Papers: Minnesota 2006 Midterm Election" . Richard E. Berg-Andersson, Research and Commentary. Retrieved 2008-09-05 .
^ "Governor's Cabinet" . Retrieved 2023-04-06 .
^ Governor Walz Selects Tamar Gronvall to Serve as Commissioner of Administration , 18 Sept, 2023 press release. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024
^ Alex Perez, Minnesota Names Tikki Brown its First Commissioner for Children, Youth and Families , 1 May 2024, The Imprint. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024
^ Minnesota Commerce Department, Leadership Team Accessed 8 Nov. 2024
^ DOC Executive Leadership Team Accessed 8 Nov. 2024
^ Minnesota Dept. of Emplopyment and Economic Development, Matt Varilek. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024
^ "Commissioner Brooke Cunningham - MN Dept. of Health" . www.health.state.mn.us . Retrieved 2024-11-13 .
^ "Commissioner's Office" . Minnesota Office of Higher Education . Retrieved 2024-10-20 .
^ "commissioner" . Minnesota.gov . Archived from the original on 2020-04-12. Retrieved 2020-03-17 .
^ Jon. Wittman. "Commissioner Jodi Harpstead" . Minnesota Department of Human Services . Retrieved 2020-03-17 .
^ [Governor Walz Congratulates Departing Commissioner Jim Schowalter, Selects Deputy Commissioner Erin Campbell to Serve as Commissioner of Management and Budget https://mn.gov/governor/newsroom/press-releases/index.jsp?id=1055-584395 ], July 12, 2023 press release
^ Governor Walz Appoints Johnny Villarreal to be Commissioner of the Bureau of Mediation Services , Dec. 20, 2021 press release. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024
^ Charlie Zelle named Metropolitan Council Chair . 23 Dec. 2019 press release. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024
^ Cambridge native named new leader of the Minnesota National Guard , 12 Aug. 2020. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024.
^ [https://www.pca.state.mn.us/about-mpca/commissioners-office Minnesota Pollution Control agency — Katrina Kessler, Commissioner. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024
^ Alex Chhith, Gov. Tim Walz appoints Nancy Daubenberger new MnDOT commissioner , 23 May 2022, Minnesota Star Tribune , accessed 8 Nov. 2024
^ Governor Walz Thanks Retiring Commissioner Herke, Opens Selection Process for Cabinet Vacancy , 12 Sept. 2023 press release. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024
^ "Constitution of the State of Minnesota: Article V" . Office of the Revisor of Statutes . Retrieved August 22, 2019 .
^ "Constitutional Offices and Duties, Chapter 4: 4.06" . Office of the Revisor of Statutes . Retrieved August 22, 2019 .
^ 2023 Minnesota Governor’s Fishing Opener May 12-13, 2023 Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, viewed June 21, 2023
^ Marshall, Brandon - Mankato to host 2023 Minnesota Governor’s Fishing Opener . Rochester KAAL ABC 6, August 8, 2022
^ Mankato and Madison Lake hosting Governor’s 2023 Fishing Opener, without Gov. Walz . KARE 11, May 9, 2023
^ Fishing in Minnesota Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Viewed June 21, 2023
▌ Republican : 27 (27 states)
▌ Democratic : 28 (23 states, 4 territories, 1 district)
▌ Independent: 1 (1 territory)
Minnesota statewide elected officials
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