Dave Senjem


David Howard "Dave" Senjem is an American politician and member of the Minnesota Senate. He served as its majority leader from 2011 to 2013. A Republican, Senjem represents District 25, which includes portions of Dodge and Olmsted counties in the southeastern part of the state.

Early life, education, and career

Senjem grew up in Hayfield, Minnesota and attended Hayfield High School. After graduating, he earned a bachelor of arts degree from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. He served on the Rochester City Park Board for five years, then on the Rochester City Council from 1992 to 2002. He is a retired Environmental Affairs Officer for the Mayo Clinic in Rochester.
Senjem's family originates from Bingen, Buskerud County, Norway; the original family name was Sønju. His great-great-grandfather John N. Hanson served as a Republican state representative from Dodge County from 1873 to 1874.

Minnesota Senate

Senjem was first elected in 2002, and was reelected in 2006, 2010, 2012, and 2016. He served as minority leader from 2007 until January 3, 2011. On December 27, 2011, Senjem was elected majority leader after the previous majority leader, Amy Koch, resigned over an affair with a Senate staffer. Senjem became the third person to serve as both minority and majority leader, and the first to serve in both roles as a Republican.