In 1996, Michelle was first elected to the Minnesota Senate in a special election by flipping a long-held Democrat seat, a position she held until 2018. In 2011, Michelle was the first woman in Minnesota history to serve as President of the Minnesota Senate. She also served as Chair of the Minnesota Senate Higher Education Committee, and most recently was the 49th Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota, ascending to that position following the resignation of her predecessor.
Michelle has spent the last two decades cultivating strong relationships with the agriculture community and will continue to fight for Minnesota’s farm families in Congress. Michelle knows that policies pushed by Nancy Pelosi’s Democrats, like the radical Green New Deal, will be incredibly harmful for the agricultural industry and raise energy costs for every American.
During her time in public service, Michelle has championed many important issues for Minnesota families, workers, and small businesses. She strongly believes in our Second Amendment rights and is a fierce defender of the unborn.
A native Minnesotan, Michelle received a B.A. in Political Science from St. Cloud State University and a J.D. from William Mitchell College of Law. She and her husband, Scott, have two adult children and six grandchildren, and live in the Paynesville area.
