Dick Cohen
Dick Cohen (Democratic Party) was a member of the Minnesota State Senate, representing District 64. Cohen assumed office in 1987. Cohen left office on January 5, 2021.
Cohen (Democratic Party) ran for re-election to the Minnesota State Senate to represent District 64. Cohen won in the general election on November 8, 2016.
Cohen served in Minnesota House of Representatives from 1977 to 1979, and from 1983 to 1987.
Biography
Cohen earned his bachelor's degree from Northwestern University, and his J.D. from the William Mitchell College of Law. His professional experience includes working as a public defender for Hennipen County.
Committee assignments
2019-2020
Cohen was assigned to the following committees:
- Rules and Administration Committee
- Finance Committee, Ranking Minority Member
- Senate Higher Education Finance and Policy Committee
- Jobs and Economic Growth Finance and Policy Committee
2017 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:
| Minnesota committee assignments, 2017 |
|---|
| • Finance |
| • Higher Education |
| • Rules and Administration |
2015 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Cohen served on the following committees:
| Minnesota committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| • Finance, Chair |
| • Capital Investment |
| • Rules and Administration |
2013-2014
At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Cohen served on the following committees:
| Minnesota committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Capital Investment |
| • Finance, Chair |
| • Judiciary |
| • Rules and Administration |
2011-2012
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Cohen served on the following committees:
| Minnesota committee assignments, 2011 |
|---|
| • Finance |
| • Jobs and Economic Growth |
| • Rules and Administration |
| • State Government Innovation and Veterans |
2009-2010
In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Cohen served on the following committees:
| Minnesota committee assignments, 2009 |
|---|
| • Capital Investment |
| • Finance, Chair |
| • Higher Education |
| • Rules and Administration |
Sponsored legislation
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
2020
- See also: Minnesota State Senate elections, 2020
Dick Cohen did not file to run for re-election.[1]
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 Dick Cohen defeated Ian Baird in the Minnesota State Senate District 64 general election.[2][3]
| Minnesota State Senate, District 64 General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic |  Dick Cohen Incumbent |
76.84% | 36,757 | |
| Republican | Ian Baird | 23.16% | 11,078 | |
| Total Votes | 47,835 | |||
| Source: Minnesota Secretary of State | ||||
Incumbent Dick Cohen ran unopposed in the Minnesota State Senate District 64 Democratic primary.[4][5]
| Minnesota State Senate, District 64 Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Democratic | Dick Cohen Incumbent (unopposed) | |
Ian Baird defeated Sharon Anderson in the Minnesota State Senate District 64 Republican primary.[4][5]
| Minnesota State Senate, District 64 Republican Primary, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican | Ian Baird |
64.48% | 461 | |
| Republican | Sharon Anderson | 35.52% | 254 | |
| Total Votes | 715 | |||
2012
- See also: Minnesota State Senate elections, 2012
Cohen won re-election in District 64 for State Senate. He defeated Alexander H. Jeffries in the Democratic primary on August 14 and defeated Sharon Anderson (R) and Scott Larson (I) in the general election on November 6.[6][7]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Dick Cohen Incumbent |
69.8% | 33,008 | |
| Republican | Sharon Anderson | 19.2% | 9,068 | |
| Independent | Scott Larson | 11% | 5,196 | |
| Total Votes | 47,272 | |||
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
|---|---|---|
|
Dick Cohen Incumbent |
89.4% | 5,797 |
| Alexander H. Jeffries | 10.6% | 685 |
| Total Votes | 6,482 | |
2010
- See also: Minnesota State Senate elections, 2010
Cohen won re-election to the 64th District seat in 2010. He had no primary opposition. Tony Hernandez ran for the seat on the Republican ticket. The general election took place on November 2, 2010.
| Minnesota State Senate, District 64 (2010) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
| Dick Cohen (DFL)
|
23854 | 70.74% | ||
| Tony Hernandez (R) | 9817 | 29.11% | ||
| Write-In | 51 | 0.15% | ||
2006
On November 7, 2006, Cohen won re-election to the 64th District Seat in the Minnesota State Senate, defeating Christine Van Tassel (R).[8]
| Minnesota State Senate, District 64 (2006) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
| Dick Cohen (DFL)
|
27,427 | 76.48% | ||
| Christine Van Tassel (R) | 8,369 | 23.34% | ||
| Write-In | 66 | 0.18% | ||
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.
Scorecards
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 2020.
- Action 4 Liberty — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
- AFSCME Council 5 — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to labor issues.
- 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.
- National Federation of Independent Business — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
- The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Minnesota State Legislature in 2019.
- Action 4 Liberty — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
- AFSCME Council 5 — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to labor issues.
- 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 Citizens Concerned for Life — Legislators are scored on bills related to reproductive health issues.
- The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Minnesota State Legislature in 2018.
- Action 4 Liberty — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
- 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 Citizens Concerned for Life — Legislators are scored on bills related to reproductive health issues.
- Taxpayers League of Minnesota — Legislators are scored on how they voted on tax and fiscal legislation.
- The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Minnesota State Legislature in 2017.
- AFSCME Council 5 — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to labor issues.
- 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."
- MinnCAN — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to education.
- Minnesota AFL-CIO — Legislators are scored on their votes on labor issues.
- Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life — Legislators are scored on bills related to reproductive health issues.
- Taxpayers League of Minnesota — Legislators are scored on how they voted on tax and fiscal legislation.
- The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Minnesota State Legislature in 2016.
- AFSCME Council 5 — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to labor issues.
- 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."
- MinnCAN — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to education.
- Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life — Legislators are scored on bills related to reproductive health issues.
- Minnesota Family Council — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to social issues.
- National Federation of Independent Business — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
- Taxpayers League of Minnesota — Legislators are scored on how they voted on tax and fiscal legislation.
- The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
- Voices for Racial Justice — Legislators are scored by the organization on "their support for legislation forwarding an equitable and inclusive Minnesota."
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Minnesota State Legislature in 2015.
- Clean Water Action — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.
- Minnesota Chamber of Commerce — Legislators are scored on business-related bills.
- Taxpayers League of Minnesota — Legislators are scored on how they voted on tax and fiscal legislation.
- The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Minnesota State Legislature in 2014.
- AFSCME Council 5 — Legislators are scored on if they supported or opposed AFSCME's position.
- Americans for Prosperity - Minnesota — Legislators are scored based on votes on economic issues.
- 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."
- Liberty Minnesota — Legislators are scored on bills of interest to an organization advocating "limited government, free enterprise, and individual liberty."
- MinnCAN — Legislators are scored based on bills related to education.
- Minnesota Chamber of Commerce — Legislators are scored on business-related bills.
- Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life — Legislators are scored on bills related to reproductive health issues.
- Minnesota Nurses Association — Legislators are scored based on issues affecting nurses, healthcare, and working families.
- Minnesota Voters for Animal Protection — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to animals.
- NARAL Pro-Choice Minnesota — Legislators are scored on bills related to reproductive health issues.
- National Federation of Independent Business — Legislators are scored on their votes on small business issues.
- Taxpayers League of Minnesota — Legislators are scored on how they voted on tax and fiscal legislation.
- The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
- Voices for Racial Justice — Legislators are scored by the organization on "their support for legislation forwarding an equitable and inclusive Minnesota."
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Minnesota State Legislature in 2013.
- AFSCME Council 5 — Legislators are scored on if they supported or opposed AFSCME's position.
- 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."
- MinnCAN — Legislators are scored based on bills related to education.
- Minnesota AFL-CIO — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to labor issues.
- Minnesota Chamber of Commerce — Legislators are scored on business-related bills.
- Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life — Legislators are scored on bills related to reproductive health issues.
- Minnesota Family Council — Legislators are scored by the organization on their votes on bills that affect Minnesota families.
- Minnesota Majority — Legislators are scored by the organization on "a wide range of issues including taxes, government spending, elections, childcare unionization, property rights and energy policy."
- Minnesota Nurses Association — Legislators are scored based on issues affecting nurses, patients, and working families.
- Minnesota Voters for Animal Protection — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to animals.
- NARAL Pro-Choice Minnesota — Legislators are scored on bills related to reproductive health issues.
- National Federation of Independent Business — Legislators are scored on their votes on small business issues.
- Taxpayers League of Minnesota — Legislators are scored on how they voted on tax and fiscal legislation.
- The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
- Voices for Racial Justice — Legislators are scored by the organization on "their support for legislation forwarding an equitable and inclusive Minnesota."
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Minnesota State Legislature in 2012.
- Taxpayers League of Minnesota — Legislators are scored on how they voted on tax and fiscal legislation.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Minnesota State Legislature in 2011.
- Taxpayers League of Minnesota — Legislators are scored on how they voted on tax and fiscal legislation.
External links
- Profile from Open States
- Biography from Project Vote Smart
- Legislative profile from Project Vote Smart
- Campaign Contributions: 2010, 2008, 2006, 2004, 2002, 2000, 1996
- Minnesota Public Radio votetracker profile
Footnotes
- ↑ Senator Dick Cohen, "Main Page," accessed April 27,2020
- ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "Candidate Filing Search," accessed August 25, 2016
- ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "General election results, 2016," accessed December 19, 2016
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Minnesota Secretary of State, "Candidate Filings," accessed June 3, 2016
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Minnesota Secretary of State, "Minnesota State Primary: Tuesday, August 9, 2016," accessed August 9, 2016
- ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "2012 State General Election Candidate Filings," accessed June 25, 2012
- ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "Minnesota State Canvassing Report - State Primary - Tuesday, August 14, 2012," accessed April 23, 2014
- ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "Official Results General Election - Nov. 7, 2006," accessed May 15, 2014
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
Minnesota State Senate District 64 1987-2021 |
Succeeded by Erin Murphy (D) |
