Jim Knoblach
Jim Knoblach (Republican Party) was a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives, representing District 14B. Knoblach assumed office on January 6, 2015. Knoblach left office on January 8, 2019.
Knoblach (Republican Party) ran for re-election to the Minnesota House of Representatives to represent District 14B. Knoblach lost in the general election on November 6, 2018.
Knoblach ended his campaign for re-election on September 21, 2018, amid allegations by his daughter Laura Knoblach of inappropriate behavior towards her.[1] His name still appeared on the ballot.[2]
Knoblach previously served in the House from 1995 to 2007.[3]
Knoblach was named to chair the Ways and Means Committee, which he helmed from 2003 to 2006, in the 2015 legislative session.[4]
Committee assignments
2017 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:
| Minnesota committee assignments, 2017 |
|---|
| • Taxes |
| • Ways and Means, Chair |
2015 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Knoblach served on the following committees:
| Minnesota committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| • Ways and Means, Chair |
| • Taxes |
Campaign themes
2014
Knoblach's website highlighted the following campaign themes:
| “ | Taxes and Spending
This past year, the U.S. Census Bureau listed Minnesota as the fourth highest taxed state. Just a few years ago, we had gotten out of the top ten. We need to restrain state taxes and spending so people have more money to spend on themselves, which will help our economy more than additional government spending. Creating Good Jobs Jim Knoblach has spent a lifetime in small business, creating jobs in industries like printing, real estate, medical devices, and technology. He successfully authored over $100 million in bonding projects for our area, creating many good construction jobs. He supports changes in our tax code to create and keep good jobs. Health Care Jim Knoblach believes health care should be accessible and affordable for all people. However, he believes big government approaches like Obamacare and MNSure are failing. The few good points in those programs, such as coverage for pre-existing conditions, were already available in Minnesota before Obamacare. Jim believes we need to provide freedom to let people purchase the health care they find best for themselves. Increased competition, including allowing health insurance to be purchased across state lines, should be used to drive down health insurance costs. Tax credits and subsidies should be provided to make health insurance affordable for those who cannot otherwise afford it Transportation Jim Knoblach believes we need to widen I-94 to three lanes up to Saint Cloud. He supports prioritizing more money for roads and bridges. However, in addition to expanding our road system, Jim recognizes the need to do a better job of maintaining what we have. The potholes of this past year are evidence of the lack of sufficient maintenance funds in recent years. Jim also believes we need to have a well-functioning transit system. K-12 Education As a graduate of the Saint Cloud public school system, Jim appreciates the excellent education he received. He believes a strong public school system is, as our Minnesota Constitution says, “…the duty of the legislature.” But Jim also knows the challenges public education faces are changing, and he thus supports the Saint Cloud area getting its fair share of funding for special education and English language learning, which has not been happening. He also supports expanding tax credits for public and private school students. During his years in the Legislature, Jim was the chief author of the law that automatically paid back school districts any funds shifted away from them for other purposes. Higher Education As a parent of two college age children, and former university Board Member, Jim knows the challenges of providing a college education. He also remembers the years it took him to pay off his student loans. Jim believes higher education is critical for both students and our society. He believes we need to ensure higher education is affordable. State supported colleges and universities should be properly funded and use this funding in the most effective and efficient way possible. New Legislative Office Building Jim Knoblach has been the state wide leader in fighting against the new $90 million legislative office building. He believes it is a huge waste of money, and this money could be better used elsewhere.[5][6] |
” |
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
2018
General election
General election for Minnesota House of Representatives District 14B
Dan Wolgamott defeated incumbent Jim Knoblach in the general election for Minnesota House of Representatives District 14B on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Dan Wolgamott (D) | 58.1 | 7,950 |
 | Jim Knoblach (R) | 41.7 | 5,705 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.3 | 36 | ||
| Total votes: 13,691 (100.00% precincts reporting) | |||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 14B
Dan Wolgamott advanced from the Democratic primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 14B on August 14, 2018.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Dan Wolgamott |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 14B
Incumbent Jim Knoblach advanced from the Republican primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 14B on August 14, 2018.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Jim Knoblach |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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2016
Elections for the Minnesota House of Representatives 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 Jim Knoblach defeated Zach Dorholt in the Minnesota House of Representatives District 14B general election.[7][8]
| Minnesota House of Representatives, District 14B General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  Jim Knoblach Incumbent |
51.33% | 8,887 | |
| Democratic | Zach Dorholt | 48.67% | 8,427 | |
| Total Votes | 17,314 | |||
| Source: Minnesota Secretary of State | ||||
Zach Dorholt ran unopposed in the Minnesota House of Representatives District 14B Democratic primary.[9][10]
| Minnesota House of Representatives, District 14B Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Democratic | Zach Dorholt (unopposed) | |
Incumbent Jim Knoblach ran unopposed in the Minnesota House of Representatives District 14B Republican primary.[9][10]
| Minnesota House of Representatives, District 14B Republican Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Republican | Jim Knoblach Incumbent (unopposed) | |
This candidate ran in one of Ballotpedia's races to watch in 2016. Read more »
2014
Elections for the Minnesota House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election was held on August 12, 2014, and a general election took place on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was June 3, 2014. Incumbent Zach Dorholt was unopposed in the Democratic primary. Jim Knoblach was unopposed in the Republican primary. Knoblach defeated Dorholt in the general election.[11][12][13]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Jim Knoblach |
50.2% | 5,674 | |
| Democratic | Zach Dorholt Incumbent | 49.5% | 5,605 | |
| Write-in | Write-in | 0.3% | 35 | |
| Total Votes | 11,314 | |||
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 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.
Recent news
This section links to a Google news search for the term "Jim + Knoblach + Minnesota + House"
See also
- Minnesota House of Representatives
- Minnesota House of Representatives District 14B
- Minnesota House of Representatives elections, 2014
- Minnesota State Legislature
External links
- Office website
- Official campaign website
- Jim Knoblach on Facebook
- Jim Knoblach on Twitter
- Jim Knoblach on LinkedIn
Footnotes
- ↑ MPR News, "MN Rep. Jim Knoblach ends campaign ahead of MPR abuse allegations story," September 21, 2018
- ↑ The Star Tribune, "Minnesota Rep. Jim Knoblach ends re-election bid after allegations by daughter," September 21, 2018
- ↑ Knoblach Volunteer Committee, "About," accessed October 18, 2014
- ↑ WJON, "Jim Knoblach Named Chair Of House ‘Ways And Means’ Committee," November 18, 2014
- ↑ Knoblach Volunteer Committee, "Issues," accessed October 18, 2014
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "Candidate Filing Search," accessed August 25, 2016
- ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "General election results, 2016," accessed December 19, 2016
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Minnesota Secretary of State, "Candidate Filings," accessed June 3, 2016
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Minnesota Secretary of State, "Minnesota State Primary: Tuesday, August 9, 2016," accessed August 9, 2016
- ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "2014 general election results," accessed November 5, 2014
- ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "State Canvassing Board Report," August 19, 2014
- ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "2014 State General Election Candidate Filings," accessed July 25, 2014
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Zach Dorholt (D) |
Minnesota House of Representatives District 14B 2015-2019 |
Succeeded by Dan Wolgamott (D) |
