Tony Lourey


Tony Lourey is an American politician and the former commissioner of human services of the U.S. state of Minnesota. He is a former Democratic–Farmer–Labor member of the Minnesota Senate representing District 11.

Early life, education, and career

Lourey was born in Pine County, Minnesota. He attended the University of Minnesota, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts, attended Hamline University School of Law, and attended William Mitchell College of Law, graduating with a Juris Doctor in 2011. Prior to his election to the Senate, he was a township supervisor of Kerrick Township, Minnesota for eight years.

Political career

Lourey was first elected to the Minnesota Senate in 2006 to represent District 8, succeeding his mother, Becky Lourey. He was re-elected in 2010. After redistricting, he was elected to represent District 11—which included Carlton and Pine counties and parts of Kanabec and St. Louis counties in the northeast—in 2012 and re-elected in 2016. He resigned on January 3, 2019, after he was selected to be commissioner of human services by Governor Tim Walz.

Personal life

Lourey and his wife, Marlana Benzie-Lourey, have three children. They are the owners of the Askov American newspaper, which was founded by former legislator and governor Hjalmar Petersen.