John Carlson (Minnesota)
John Carlson is a former Republican member of the Minnesota State Senate, representing District 4 from 2011 to 2013.
Carlson is employed with American Family Insurance and John Carlson Agency Inc.
Carlson graduated from Bemidji State University.
Campaign themes
Carlson's website highlighted the following campaign themes:[1]
Governance
- Excerpt: "All power lies with the people except specific and carefully limited powers granted to government by our federal and state constitutions. "
Economy
- Excerpt: "Economic prosperity is best achieved by private sector job creation. Minnesota must lower taxes on business and reduce or remove burdensome regulations."
Budget
- Excerpt: "Minnesota’s financial stability and sustainability relies on continued fiscal restraint and responsibility."
Education
- Excerpt: "I support a vibrant education system that embraces a variety of learning environments to be determined and directed at the local level. "
Healthcare
- Excerpt: "Recently enacted federal health reform legislation does nothing to reduce increasing health care costs; in fact, it will serve to exacerbate the problem."
Committee assignments
2011-2012
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Carlson served on these committees:
- Capital Investment
- Environment and Natural Resources
- Higher Education
- State Government Innovation and Veterans
Issues
Presidential preference
2012
John Carlson (Minnesota) endorsed Rick Santorum in the 2012 presidential election.[2]
Elections
2012
- See also: Minnesota State Senate elections, 2012
Carlson ran for re-election in the 5th District in 2012 after redistricting. He ran unopposed in the August 14 primary and was defeated by third district incumbent Tom Saxhaug (D) in the general election is on November 6.[3]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic |  Tom Saxhaug Incumbent |
52.4% | 21,301 | |
| Republican | John Carlson Incumbent | 47.6% | 19,362 | |
| Total Votes | 40,663 | |||
2010
- See also: Minnesota State Senate elections, 2010
Carlson had no opponent in the primary. He defeated incumbent Mary Olson (DFL) in the general election.[4]
| Minnesota State Senate, District 4 (2010) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
| John Carlson (R)
|
18956 | 54.53% | ||
| Mary Olson (DFL) | 15752 | 45.31% | ||
| Write-In | 0.16 | 55% | ||
Campaign finance summary
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Scorecards
Taxpayers League of Minnesota
The Taxpayers League of Minnesota, a Minnesota-based taxpayer advocacy organization, releases a legislative scorecard for the Minnesota House of Representatives and Minnesota State Senate once a year. The scorecard gives each legislator a score based on how they voted in the prior legislative term on tax issues and “their efforts to balance the state budget without a tax increase.” The organization also compiles a legislator’s individual "Lifetime Score."[5]
2012
Carlson received a score of 43 percent in the 2012 scorecard, ranking 39th out of all 67 Minnesota State Senate members.[6]
2011
Carlson received a score of 77 percent in the 2011 scorecard, ranking 34th out of all 67 Minnesota State Senate members.[7]
Recent news
This section links to a Google news search for the term John + Carlson + Minnesota + Senate
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Carlson and his wife Ann have two children.
External links
- Campaign site
- House website
- Biography from Project Vote Smart
- Legislative profile from Project Vote Smart
- Campaign Contributions: 2010
Footnotes
- ↑ "carlson4senate," Official Campaign Website
- ↑ Rick Santorum for President, "SANTORUM ANNOUNCES MINNESOTA LEADERSHIP ENDORSEMENTS," February 6, 2012
- ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "Minnesota State Canvassing Report - State Primary - Tuesday, August 14, 2012," accessed April 23, 2014
- ↑ Secretary of State Official general election results
- ↑ Taypayers League of Minnesota, "Legislative Scorecards," accessed May 15, 2014
- ↑ Taypayers League of Minnesota, "Legislative Scorecard, 2012," accessed May 15, 2014
- ↑ Taypayers League of Minnesota, "Legislative Scorecard, 2011," accessed May 15, 2014
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Mary Olson (DFL) |
Minnesota State Senate District 4 2011–2013 |
Succeeded by Kent Eken (DFL) |
