Lyle Koenen


Lyle J. Koenen is a Minnesota politician and former member of the Minnesota Senate. A member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party, he represented District 17, which included portions of Chippewa, Kandiyohi, Renville, and Swift counties in the southwestern part of the state.

Early life, education, and career

Koenen attended Maynard High School in Maynard, then went on to Willmar Technical College in Willmar, earning his A.A. in agriculture. He has worked as a dairy farmer and was also a milk truck and school bus driver. He has been co-chair of the Chippewa County National Farmers Union since 1996.

Minnesota House of Representatives

Koenen was first elected in 2002, and was re-elected four times. He served as chair of the House Agriculture, Rural Economies and Veterans Affairs subcommittee for the Veterans Affairs Division. On May 21, 2011, he joined the Republicans in voting for a constitutional amendment to define marriage as between a man and woman.

Minnesota Senate

Koenen was elected to the Senate in a special election in 2012 to fill the seat left vacant after the death of Gary Kubly. He was sworn in on April 18, 2012. Koenen ran for re-election to the newly drawn District 17 in 2012, defeating incumbent Willmar Republican Joseph Gimse. He lost re-election to Republican Andrew Lang.