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Ann Rest

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Ann Rest
Democratic Party
Minnesota State Senate District 43
Tenure
2023 - Present
Term ends
2027
Years in position
3
Predecessor: Charles Wiger (D)
Prior offices:
Minnesota State Senate District 45
Years in office: 2001 - 2023
Successor: Kelly Morrison (D)
Minnesota House of Representatives
Years in office: 1985 - 2001
Compensation
Base salary
$51,750/year
Per diem
$86/day
Elections and appointments
Last election
November 8, 2022
Education
Bachelor's
Northwestern University
Graduate
University of Minnesota
Personal
Birthplace
Norfolk, VA
Religion
Christian: Methodist
Profession
Certified public accountant
Contact
Official website
Official Facebook
Official YouTube
Campaign website
Personal Facebook
Personal Instagram
Personal LinkedIn

Ann Rest (Democratic Party) is a member of the Minnesota State Senate, representing District 43. She assumed office on January 3, 2023. Her current term ends on January 5, 2027.

Rest (Democratic Party) ran for re-election to the Minnesota State Senate to represent District 43. She won in the general election on November 8, 2022.

Rest served in the Minnesota House of Representatives from 1985 to 2001.

On September 16, 2025, Rest announced she would not seek re-election to the Minnesota State Senate District 43 in 2026.[1]

Biography

Ann Rest was born in Norfolk, Virginia, and lives in New Hope, Minnesota. Rest earned a B.A. in Latin and Greek from Northwestern University in 1964 and master's degrees from the University of Chicago (M.A.), Harvard University (MAT and MPA), and the University of Minnesota (MBT). Her career experience includes working as a certified public accountant.[2][3]

Committee assignments

2025-2026

Rest was assigned to the following committees:

2023-2024

Rest was assigned to the following committees:

2021-2022

Rest was assigned to the following committees:

2019-2020

Rest was assigned to the following committees:

2017 legislative session

At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:

Minnesota committee assignments, 2017
• Rules and Administration
• State Government
• Taxes

2015 legislative session

At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Rest served on the following committees:

2013-2014

At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Rest served on the following committees:

Minnesota committee assignments, 2013
• Taxes, Vice chair
• Transportation and Public Safety

2011-2012

In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Rest served on the following committees:

2009-2010

In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Rest served on the following committees:

The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.


Elections

2026

See also: Minnesota State Senate elections, 2026

Ann Rest did not file to run for re-election.

2022

See also: Minnesota State Senate elections, 2022

General election

General election for Minnesota State Senate District 43

Incumbent Ann Rest defeated Andy Schuler in the general election for Minnesota State Senate District 43 on November 8, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Ann Rest
Ann Rest (D)
 
77.3
 
27,350
Image of Andy Schuler
Andy Schuler (Legal Marijuana Now Party) Candidate Connection
 
21.7
 
7,686
 Other/Write-in votes
 
1.0
 
352

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 35,388
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

The Democratic primary election was canceled. Incumbent Ann Rest advanced from the Democratic primary for Minnesota State Senate District 43.

Legal Marijuana Now Party primary election

The Legal Marijuana Now Party primary election was canceled. Andy Schuler advanced from the Legal Marijuana Now Party primary for Minnesota State Senate District 43.

Campaign finance

2020

See also: Minnesota State Senate elections, 2020

General election

General election for Minnesota State Senate District 45

Incumbent Ann Rest defeated Roxana Bruins and Andy Schuler in the general election for Minnesota State Senate District 45 on November 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Ann Rest
Ann Rest (D)
 
60.7
 
29,054
Image of Roxana Bruins
Roxana Bruins (R)
 
29.3
 
14,040
Image of Andy Schuler
Andy Schuler (Legal Marijuana Now Party) Candidate Connection
 
9.9
 
4,729
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.1
 
40

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 47,863
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

The Democratic primary election was canceled. Incumbent Ann Rest advanced from the Democratic primary for Minnesota State Senate District 45.

Republican primary election

The Republican primary election was canceled. Roxana Bruins advanced from the Republican primary for Minnesota State Senate District 45.

Legal Marijuana Now Party primary election

The Legal Marijuana Now Party primary election was canceled. Andy Schuler advanced from the Legal Marijuana Now Party primary for Minnesota State Senate District 45.

Campaign finance

2016

See also: Minnesota State Senate elections, 2016

Elections for the Minnesota State Senate took place in 2016. The primary election took place on August 9, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was May 31, 2016.

Incumbent Ann Rest defeated Roxana Bruins in the Minnesota State Senate District 45 general election.[4][5]

Minnesota State Senate, District 45 General Election, 2016
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Ann Rest Incumbent 63.83% 27,509
     Republican Roxana Bruins 36.17% 15,588
Total Votes 43,097
Source: Minnesota Secretary of State


Incumbent Ann Rest ran unopposed in the Minnesota State Senate District 45 Democratic primary.[6][7]

Minnesota State Senate, District 45 Democratic Primary, 2016
Party Candidate
    Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Ann Rest Incumbent (unopposed)


Roxana Bruins ran unopposed in the Minnesota State Senate District 45 Republican primary.[6][7]

Minnesota State Senate, District 45 Republican Primary, 2016
Party Candidate
    Republican Green check mark transparent.png Roxana Bruins  (unopposed)

2012

See also: Minnesota State Senate elections, 2012

Rest won re-election in 2012. She was unopposed in the August 14 primary and defeated Blair Tremere (R) in the general election on November 6, 2012.[8][9]

Minnesota State Senate, District 45, General Election, 2012
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngAnn Rest Incumbent 66.2% 28,755
     Republican Blair Tremere 33.8% 14,680
Total Votes 43,435

2010

See also: Minnesota State Senate elections, 2010

Rest won re-election to the 45th District seat in 2010. She faced Patrick Wiles in the primary. Nick Petersen ran for the seat on the Republican ticket. The general election took place on November 2, 2010.

Minnesota State Senate, District 45 (2010)
Candidates Votes Percent
Green check mark transparent.png Ann Rest (DFL) 17263 58.61%
Nick Petersen (R) 58.61 41.28%
Write-In 34 0.12%

2006

See also: Minnesota State Senate elections, 2006

On November 7, 2006, Rest won re-election to the 45th District Seat in the Minnesota State Senate, defeating Derek Brigham (R).[10]

Minnesota State Senate, District 45 (2006)
Candidates Votes Percent
Green check mark transparent.png Ann Rest (DFL) 20,522 64.27%
Derek Brigham (R) 11,365 35.59%
Write-In 44 0.14%

Campaign themes

2022

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Ann Rest did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

2020

Ann Rest did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.

2012

Rest's website highlighted the following campaign themes:[11]

Capitol Repair, Preservation And Restoration

  • Excerpt: "I am a strong supporter of efforts to repair, preserve and restore the Capitol building which is in grave disrepair, not only on the outside, as witnessed by marble chunks falling off the building, but also on the inside where water damage in the dome has been extensive."

Photo Id For Voters Constitutional Amendment

  • Excerpt: "In addition, there is no evidence whatsoever of wide spread voter impersonation fraud in Minnesota. Irregularities have occurred when felons, whose voting rights have not been restored, attempt to vote, often not recognizing that they must wait to vote until they are released from probation."

Constitutional Amendment Defining Marriage

  • Excerpt: "I voted against the proposal to place on the 2012 general election ballot a question to define marriage. I am convinced that it is wrong to even consider allowing some Minnesotans the opportunity to vote to deny civil rights to other law-abiding Minnesotans."

Vikings Stadium Proposals

  • Excerpt: "I voted for the bill in the Senate on May 8. The bill has some user fees, an increased contribution from the Vikings, but still contains the electronic gambling."

Nuclear Energy And The Minnesota Moratorium

  • Excerpt: "I have reconsidered my position in response to new safety concerns about nuclear plants and in light of the devastating earthquake in Japan. It is unlikely that the bill will be returned from the conference, but if it is, I will be voting against it."

Campaign finance summary

Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.

Ann Rest campaign contribution history
YearOfficeStatusContributionsExpenditures
2022Minnesota State Senate District 43Won general$45,119 $45,552
2020Minnesota State Senate District 45Won general$81,743 N/A**
2016Minnesota State Senate, District 45Won $72,582 N/A**
2012Minnesota State Senate, District 45Won $44,643 N/A**
2010Minnesota State Senate, District 45Won $48,149 N/A**
2006Minnesota State Senate, District 45Won $63,560 N/A**
2002Minnesota State Senate, District 45Won $41,998 N/A**
2000Minnesota State Senate, District 46Won $42,228 N/A**
1998Minnesota State House, District 46AWon $30,710 N/A**
1996Minnesota State House, District 46AWon $21,185 N/A**
** Data on expenditures is not available for this election cycle
Note: Totals above reflect only available data.

Scorecards

See also: State legislative scorecards, State legislative scorecards in Minnesota

A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.

Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.

Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Minnesota State Legislature in 2025.

  • Legislative Evaluation Assembly of Minnesota — Legislators are scored on their support for the organization's principles, which it defines as "provid[ing] a basis for a constitutionally limited government established to sustain life, liberty, justice, property rights and free enterprise."
  • Minnesota AFL-CIO — Legislators are scored on their votes on labor issues.
  • Minnesota Chamber of Commerce — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
  • The Freedom Index — Legislators are scored on their adherence to the limited government principles of the U.S. Constitution.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Minnesota State Legislature in 2024.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Minnesota State Legislature in 2023.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Minnesota State Legislature in 2022.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Minnesota State Legislature in 2021.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Minnesota State Legislature in 2020.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Minnesota State Legislature in 2019.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Minnesota State Legislature in 2018.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Minnesota State Legislature in 2017.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Minnesota State Legislature in 2016.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Minnesota State Legislature in 2015.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Minnesota State Legislature in 2014.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Minnesota State Legislature in 2013.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Minnesota State Legislature in 2012.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Minnesota State Legislature in 2011.

Personal

Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Rest is divorced with one child.

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External links

Candidate

Minnesota State Senate District 43
  • Website
    		•

    Officeholder

    Minnesota State Senate District 43
  • Website
  • Facebook
  • YouTube
    		•

    Personal

  • Facebook
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    		•

    Footnotes

    1. ↑ ‘'Bring Me The News, "'Honor of my life': Sen. Ann Rest announces her retirement," September 18, 2025
    2. ↑ LinkedIn, "Ann Rest," accessed March 30, 2023
    3. ↑ Minnesota State Senate, "Senator Ann H. Rest," accessed March 30, 2023
    4. ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "Candidate Filing Search," accessed August 25, 2016
    5. ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "General election results, 2016," accessed December 19, 2016
    6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Minnesota Secretary of State, "Candidate Filings," accessed June 3, 2016
    7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Minnesota Secretary of State, "Minnesota State Primary: Tuesday, August 9, 2016," accessed August 9, 2016
    8. ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "State of Minnesota Canvassing Report," accessed May 25, 2014
    9. ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "Minnesota State Canvassing Report - State Primary - Tuesday, August 14, 2012," accessed April 23, 2014
    10. ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "Official Results General Election - Nov. 7, 2006," accessed May 15, 2014
    11. ↑ "annrest," Official Campaign Website

    Political offices
    Preceded by
    Charles Wiger (D)     		Minnesota State Senate District 43
    2023-Present    		 Succeeded by
    -
    Preceded by
    -     		Minnesota State Senate District 45
    2001-2023    		 Succeeded by
    Kelly Morrison (D)
    Preceded by
    -     		Minnesota House of Representatives
    1985-2001    		 Succeeded by
    -


    Current members of the Minnesota State Senate
    Leadership
    Senate President:Bobby Champion
    Majority Leader:Erin Murphy
    Minority Leader:Mark Johnson
    Senators
    District 1
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    Rob Kupec (D)
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    Paul Utke (R)
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    Jeff Howe (R)
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    District 35
    District 36
    District 37
    District 38
    Susan Pha (D)
    District 39
    District 40
    District 41
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    District 43
    Ann Rest (D)
    District 44
    Tou Xiong (D)
    District 45
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    Ron Latz (D)
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    Democratic Party (34)
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