Tom Bakk
Minority Leader of the Minnesota Senate
In office
January 3, 2017 – February 1, 2020
Preceded byDavid Hann
Succeeded bySusan Kent
In office
January 4, 2011 – January 7, 2013
Preceded byDave Senjem
Succeeded byDavid Hann
Majority Leader of the Minnesota Senate
In office
January 8, 2013 – January 2, 2017
Preceded byDave Senjem
Succeeded byPaul Gazelka
Member of the Minnesota Senate
In office
January 7, 2003 – January 2, 2023
Preceded byDoug Johnson
Succeeded byGrant Hauschild
Constituency6th district (2003–2013)
3rd district (2013–2023)
Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives
from the 6A district
In office
January 3, 1995 – January 6, 2003
Preceded byDavid Peter Battaglia
Succeeded byDavid Dill
Personal details
Born (1954-06-08) June 8, 1954
Virginia, Minnesota, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic (before 2020)
Independent (2020–present)
SpouseLaura
Children4
EducationMesabi Range College
University of Minnesota, Duluth (BA)

Thomas M. Bakk (/bɒk/ BOK;[1] born June 8, 1954) is a Minnesota politician. He served in the Minnesota legislature from 1995 to 2023 and is a former majority leader and minority leader.[2]

Early life, education, and career

Bakk was born and raised in Cook, Minnesota, where he graduated from Cook High School in 1972.[3] 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.[4]

Political career

Minnesota House of Representatives

Bakk represented District 6A in the Minnesota House of Representatives from 1995 to 2003.[4]

Minnesota Senate

Bakk was first elected to the Minnesota Senate in 2002 and was re-elected in 2006, 2010, 2012, and 2016.[4] After the 2010 election, in which Republicans gained control of the Senate for the first time since party designation, Bakk was elected by his caucus to serve as its first-ever minority leader.[5] 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.[6] Bakk was again elected by his caucus to serve as minority leader following the 2016 election, which saw Republicans re-gain control of the upper chamber.[7]

In late 2019, it was reported that Susan Kent, a state senator from Woodbury, intended to challenge Bakk for his caucus leadership post.[8] On February 1, 2020, in a caucus meeting that lasted more than six hours, Kent defeated Bakk, succeeding him as minority leader.[9]

Three weeks after the 2020 elections, when it was determined that the DFL did not win a majority in the Senate, Bakk and fellow DFL state senator David Tomassoni announced they would no longer caucus with Democrats and instead form their own “independent caucus.” Republican Majority Leader Paul Gazelka welcomed the move and gave Bakk the chairmanship to the Capital Investment in exchange for voting in line with the Republican Party on floor votes. This changed the composition of the Senate to 34 Republicans, 31 Democrats, and two independents.[10]

In March 2022, Bakk announced he was not seeking re-election to the State Senate and would retire from politics at the end of the year.[11] Bakk endorsed Babbitt mayor Andrea Zupancich (GOP) to succeed him in the state Senate later that year. [12]

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, and beginning 2009 with a little more than $131,000. He ended his campaign in March 2010.[13]

Electoral history

Minnesota Senate 3rd district election, 2012[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic (DFL) Tom Bakk (incumbent) 28,427 64.59 +1.55pp
Republican Jennifer Havlick 15,509 35.24 -1.67pp
Minnesota Senate 6th district election, 2010[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic (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[16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic (DFL) Tom Bakk (incumbent) 25,275 71.33 -0.93pp
Republican Jennifer Havlick 10,065 28.41
Minnesota Senate 6th district election, 2002[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic (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.[4] He is a Lutheran.[4]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Senate Members' Pronunciation". Minnesota State Senate. May 13, 2023. Archived from the original on October 4, 2021. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
  2. ↑ "DFL leader Tom Bakk faces leadership challenge from fellow Senate Democrat". Star Tribune. Retrieved January 2, 2020.
  3. ↑ "Tom Bakk has always been a builder – from houses to union deals to laws". Twin Cities. May 1, 2015. Retrieved February 17, 2018.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "Bakk, Thomas M. "Tom"". Legislators Past & Present. Minnesota Legislative Reference Library. Retrieved January 10, 2013.
  5. ↑ Shaw, Charley (November 4, 2010). "Tom Bakk elected Senate minority leader". Politics in Minnesota. Retrieved January 25, 2013.
  6. ↑ "Bakk chosen as Minnesota Senate majority leader". Duluth News Tribune. November 8, 2012. Retrieved January 25, 2013.
  7. ↑ "Bakk to serve as DFL Senate Minority Leader". Mesabi Daily News. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
  8. ↑ Van Oot, Torey. "DFL leader Tom Bakk faces leadership challenge from fellow Senate Democrat". Star Tribune. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
  9. ↑ Bierschbach, Briana. "Susan Kent ousts Tom Bakk as Senate DFL leader". Star Tribune. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
  10. ↑ Hauser, Tom; Maher, Tracy (November 18, 2020). "Longtime Minnesota senators quit DFL caucus to form Independent Caucus". KSTP-TV. Hubbard Broadcasting. Archived from the original on March 4, 2021. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
  11. ↑ Simon, Alexandra (March 17, 2022). "Minnesota State Senator Tom Bakk announces retirement". KARE-TV. Retrieved December 18, 2022.
  12. ↑ "Reader's View: Zupancich most ready to replace me in Senate". Duluth News Tribune. November 3, 2022. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  13. ↑ Scheck, Tom (March 20, 2010). "Sen. Bakk drops out of race for governor". Minnesota Public Radio. Retrieved July 20, 2010.
  14. ↑ "Results for State Senator District 3". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved January 25, 2013.
  15. ↑ "State Senator District: 06". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved January 25, 2013.
  16. ↑ "State Senator District 06". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved January 25, 2013.
  17. ↑ "State Senator District 06". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved January 25, 2013.
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