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Joe McDonald

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Joe McDonald
Image of Joe McDonald
Minnesota House of Representatives District 29A
Tenure

2011 - Present

Term ends

2027

Years in position

14

Compensation

Base salary

$51,750/year

Per diem

$66/day

Elections and appointments
Last elected

November 5, 2024

Personal
Religion
Christian: Catholic
Profession
Photographer/Business Owner
Contact

Joe McDonald (Republican Party) is a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives, representing District 29A. He assumed office in 2011. His current term ends on January 12, 2027.

McDonald (Republican Party) ran for re-election to the Minnesota House of Representatives to represent District 29A. He won in the general election on November 5, 2024.

Biography

McDonald earned his A.A. in Photography from Hennepin Technical College, master's degree in photography in 2003, and craftsman degree in 2008. His professional experience includes owning a photography studio.[1]

Committee assignments

Note: This membership information was last updated in September 2023. Ballotpedia completes biannual updates of committee membership. If you would like to send us an update, email us at: editor@ballotpedia.org.

2023-2024

McDonald was assigned to the following committees:

2021-2022

McDonald was assigned to the following committees:

2019-2020

McDonald 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
Health and Human Services Reform
Taxes, Vice chair
Transportation and Regional Governance

2015 legislative session

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

2013-2014

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

Minnesota committee assignments, 2013
Education Finance
Health and Human Services Finance
Legacy

2011-2012

In the 2011-2012 legislative session, McDonald 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

2024

See also: Minnesota House of Representatives elections, 2024

General election

General election for Minnesota House of Representatives District 29A

Incumbent Joe McDonald defeated Chris Brazelton in the general election for Minnesota House of Representatives District 29A on November 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Joe McDonald
Joe McDonald (R)
 
70.7
 
18,788
Image of Chris Brazelton
Chris Brazelton (D) Candidate Connection
 
29.2
 
7,750
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.1
 
21

Total votes: 26,559
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

The Democratic primary election was canceled. Chris Brazelton advanced from the Democratic primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 29A.

Republican primary election

The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Joe McDonald advanced from the Republican primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 29A.

Campaign finance

Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for McDonald in this election.

2022

See also: Minnesota House of Representatives elections, 2022

General election

General election for Minnesota House of Representatives District 29A

Incumbent Joe McDonald defeated Sherri Leyda in the general election for Minnesota House of Representatives District 29A on November 8, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Joe McDonald
Joe McDonald (R)
 
70.7
 
14,798
Sherri Leyda (D)
 
29.2
 
6,115
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.1
 
24

Total votes: 20,937
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. Sherri Leyda advanced from the Democratic primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 29A.

Republican primary election

The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Joe McDonald advanced from the Republican primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 29A.

2020

See also: Minnesota House of Representatives elections, 2020

General election

General election for Minnesota House of Representatives District 29A

Incumbent Joe McDonald defeated Renee Cardarelle in the general election for Minnesota House of Representatives District 29A on November 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Joe McDonald
Joe McDonald (R)
 
70.3
 
17,823
Renee Cardarelle (D)
 
29.6
 
7,499
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.1
 
36

Total votes: 25,358
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. Renee Cardarelle advanced from the Democratic primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 29A.

Republican primary election

The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Joe McDonald advanced from the Republican primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 29A.

Campaign finance

2018

See also: Minnesota House of Representatives elections, 2018

General election

General election for Minnesota House of Representatives District 29A

Incumbent Joe McDonald defeated Renee Cardarelle in the general election for Minnesota House of Representatives District 29A on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Joe McDonald
Joe McDonald (R)
 
67.9
 
13,114
Renee Cardarelle (D)
 
32.0
 
6,193
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.1
 
18

Total votes: 19,325
(100.00% precincts reporting)
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

Democratic primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 29A

Renee Cardarelle advanced from the Democratic primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 29A on August 14, 2018.


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.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 29A

Incumbent Joe McDonald advanced from the Republican primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 29A on August 14, 2018.

Candidate
Image of Joe McDonald
Joe McDonald

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.

2016

See also: Minnesota House of Representatives elections, 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 Joe McDonald defeated Cortney Phillips in the Minnesota House of Representatives District 29A general election.[2][3]

Minnesota House of Representatives, District 29A General Election, 2016
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.png Joe McDonald Incumbent 69.71% 14,916
     Democratic Cortney Phillips 30.29% 6,482
Total Votes 21,398
Source: Minnesota Secretary of State


Cortney Phillips ran unopposed in the Minnesota House of Representatives District 29A Democratic primary.[4][5]

Minnesota House of Representatives, District 29A Democratic Primary, 2016
Party Candidate
    Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Cortney Phillips  (unopposed)


Incumbent Joe McDonald ran unopposed in the Minnesota House of Representatives District 29A Republican primary.[4][5]

Minnesota House of Representatives, District 29A Republican Primary, 2016
Party Candidate
    Republican Green check mark transparent.png Joe McDonald Incumbent (unopposed)

2014

See also: Minnesota House of Representatives elections, 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 Joe McDonald was unopposed in both the Republican primary and the general election.[6][7][8]

2012

See also: Minnesota House of Representatives elections, 2012

McDonald won re-election in the 2012 election for Minnesota House of Representatives District 29A. He was unopposed in the Republican primary on August 14 and defeated Susann Dye (D) in the general election on November 6, 2012.[9][10]

Minnesota House of Representatives, District 29A, General Election, 2012
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngJoe McDonald Incumbent 62% 13,002
     Democratic Susann Dye 38% 7,954
Total Votes 20,956

2010

See also: Minnesota House of Representatives elections, 2010

McDonald won election to the District 19B Seat in 2010. He had no primary opposition. He defeated Christine Brazelton (DFL) in the general election on November 2, 2010.[11]

Minnesota House of Representatives, District 19B (2010)
Candidates Votes Percent
Christine Brazelton (DFL) 7,179 32.67%
Green check mark transparent.png Joe McDonald (R) 14,770 67.22%
Write-In 25 0.11%

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Joe McDonald did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.

2022

Joe McDonald did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

2020

Joe McDonald did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.

2016

Joe McDonald's campaign website highlighted the following issues:[12]

Statement of Principles
  • To always apply the principle of limited government based on the rule of law and truth to every proposal.
  • To always honor the central place of individual liberty both in life and in politics.
  • To always encourage free enterprise, entrepreneurship and economic reforms grounded in the free market solutions.
  • To always support local, state and national interests in advancing freedom and opposing tyranny in all its forms.
  • To always be in firm defense of family, community, faith and constitutional principles, first, last and always.
  • To listen to the people I represent and respect those with whom I disagree.
  • If “We the People” are to succeed in the critical political and policy battles ahead, we must be certain of our purpose.
  • We all must work resolutely to defend the high ground of Americas founding principles based on Judean Christian values of Life, Liberty and property.[13]

Presidential preference

2012

See also: Endorsements by state officials of presidential candidates in the 2012 election

Joe McDonald endorsed Rick Santorum in the 2012 presidential election.[14]

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.


Joe McDonald campaign contribution history
YearOfficeStatusContributionsExpenditures
2024* Minnesota House of Representatives District 29AWon general$45,678 $46,188
2022Minnesota House of Representatives District 29AWon general$28,749 $23,292
2020Minnesota House of Representatives District 29AWon general$28,991 N/A**
2018Minnesota House of Representatives District 29AWon general$27,965 N/A**
2016Minnesota House of Representatives, District 29aWon $27,403 N/A**
2014Minnesota House of Representatives, District 29aWon $16,797 N/A**
2012Minnesota House, District 29AWon $19,717 N/A**
2010Minnesota House, District 19BWon $21,388 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 and 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 Minnesota scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.


2024


2023


2022


2021


2020


2019


2018


2017


2016


2015


2014


2013


2012


2011

Personal

Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
McDonald and his wife, Rachel, have three children. His father, K.J. McDonald, served in the House from 1977 to 1982, and from 1983 to 1990.[1]

See also


External links

Footnotes

Political offices
Preceded by
-
Minnesota House of Representatives District 29A
2011-Present
Succeeded by
-


Current members of the Minnesota House of Representatives
Leadership
Speaker of the House:Lisa Demuth
Majority Leader:Harry Niska
Representatives
District 1A
District 1B
District 2A
District 2B
District 3A
District 3B
District 4A
District 4B
Jim Joy (R)
District 5A
District 5B
District 6A
Ben Davis (R)
District 6B
District 7A
District 7B
District 8A
District 8B
District 9A
District 9B
District 10A
District 10B
District 11A
District 11B
District 12A
District 12B
District 13A
District 13B
District 14A
District 14B
District 15A
District 15B
District 16A
District 16B
District 17A
District 17B
District 18A
District 18B
District 19A
District 19B
District 20A
District 20B
District 21A
District 21B
District 22A
District 22B
District 23A
District 23B
District 24A
District 24B
District 25A
Kim Hicks (D)
District 25B
District 26A
District 26B
District 27A
District 27B
District 28A
District 28B
Max Rymer (R)
District 29A
District 29B
District 30A
District 30B
District 31A
District 31B
District 32A
District 32B
District 33A
District 33B
District 34A
District 34B
Xp Lee (D)
District 35A
District 35B
District 36A
District 36B
District 37A
District 37B
District 38A
District 38B
District 39A
District 39B
District 40A
District 40B
District 41A
District 41B
District 42A
District 42B
District 43A
District 43B
District 44A
District 44B
District 45A
District 45B
District 46A
District 46B
District 47A
District 47B
Ethan Cha (D)
District 48A
Jim Nash (R)
District 48B
District 49A
District 49B
District 50A
District 50B
District 51A
District 51B
District 52A
Liz Reyer (D)
District 52B
District 53A
District 53B
District 54A
District 54B
District 55A
District 55B
District 56A
District 56B
John Huot (D)
District 57A
District 57B
District 58A
District 58B
District 59A
Fue Lee (D)
District 59B
District 60A
District 60B
District 61A
District 61B
District 62A
District 62B
District 63A
District 63B
District 64A
District 64B
District 65A
District 65B
District 66A
District 66B
District 67A
Liz Lee (D)
District 67B
Jay Xiong (D)
Republican Party (67)
Democratic Party (67)