Minnesota's Congressional Delegation

By Elizabeth Dunbar, Minnesota Public Radio
January 25, 2011

Members of Minnesota's congressional delegation have served an average of 5.7 years in Congress. Forty states' delegations have more seniority on average, and eight states have less. Years served matters, because experience can impact what committees or party caucus leadership roles the members are given. Minnesota's delegation would have ranked higher had Democrat Jim Oberstar been re-elected to the 8th District in 2010. Oberstar served in the U.S. House for 36 years.

How Minnesota's delegation ranks in Congressional seniority

Sen. Amy Klobuchar

(D-Minn.)

Years in Congress: 4
Seniority within Senate: 59 senators have served longer
Influence: Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which vets Supreme Court nominees. Has shown leadership on consumer safety issues.

Sen. Al Franken

(D-Minn.)

Years in Congress: 1.5
Seniority within Senate: Ranked 83rd out of 100 senators
Influence: Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Has shown leadership on media consolidation issues.

Rep. Collin Peterson

(D-7th District)

Years in Congress: 19
Seniority within House: 52 out of 435 representatives have served longer
Influence: Past chairman of the House Agriculture Committee who is now the highest ranking Democrat on the committee since Republicans took over the House. Helped start Blue Dog Democrats coalition, a group of conservative Democrats in Congress.

Rep. Betty McCollum

(D-4th District)

Years in Congress: 10
Seniority within House: 164 representatives have served longer
Influence: Serves on the powerful House Appropriations Committee. Co-founded Congressional Global Health Caucus.

Rep. John Kline

(R-2nd District)

Years in Congress: 8
Seniority within House: 192 representatives have served longer
Influence: Chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee.

Rep. Michele Bachmann

(R-6th District)

Years in Congress: 4
Seniority within House: About 60 percent of House members have served longer
Influence: Founder and leader of the House Tea Party Caucus. Has highest national name recognition among Minnesota members of the House from frequent national media appearances.

Rep. Keith Ellison

(D-5th District)

Years in Congress: 4
Seniority within House: About 60 percent of House members have served longer
Influence: Co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, leadership role on LGBT Equality Caucus and member of the Congressional Black Caucus.

Rep. Tim Walz

(D-1st District)

Years in Congress: 4
Seniority within House: About 60 percent of House members have served longer
Influence: Serves on the Congressional-Executive Commission on China. Has leadership roles in the Congressional Rural Caucus and the National Guard and Reserve Caucus.

Rep. Erik Paulsen

(R-3rd District)

Years in Congress: 2
Seniority within House: 301 representatives have served longer
Influence: Member of the powerful House Committee on Ways and Means, which deals with economic policy. Co-chair of the Med Tech Caucus, which is concerned with issues in the medical technology industry.

Rep. Chip Cravaack

(R-8th District)

Years in Congress: 0
Seniority within House: Among 94 freshmen U.S. House members
Influence: Named vice chair of the Aviation Subcommittee on the House Transportation and Industry Committee. Has not authored any bills yet but has signed on as a cosponsor to eight bills.

Minnesota's Clout in Washington