Lisa Demuth
Lisa Demuth (Republican Party) is a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives, representing District 13A. She assumed office on January 8, 2019. Her current term ends on January 12, 2027.
Demuth (Republican Party) is running for election for Governor of Minnesota. She declared candidacy for the Republican primary scheduled on August 11, 2026.[source]
The Minnesota House of Representatives elected Demuth state speaker of the House on February 6, 2025. She defeated Rep. Melissa Hortman (D) by a 67-65 vote along party lines. Demuth was the first Black person and first female Republican to be elected House speaker.[1]
Demuth was born in Paynesville, Minnesota, in 1967. She received a diploma from Bloomington Kennedy High School in 1985. Demuth was a business owner.[2]
Before being elected to the state House in 2018, Demuth served on the Rockville-Cold Spring-Richmond School District School Board from 2007 to 2018. In November 2022, House Republicans elected Demuth state House minority leader for the 2023-2024 legislative session.[3]
Minnesota was a Democratic trifecta heading into 2024; however, following the 2024 elections, the House was split 67-67, resulting in a divided government. After the election, Rep.-elect Curtis Johnson (D) was found ineligible to serve because he did not live in the district, giving Republicans a 67-66 majority until a March 11, 2025, special election in which David Gottfried (D) was elected to fill the vacancy. Before the special election, both parties reached a power-sharing agreement in February 2025 where Republicans governed as the majority, electing Demuth. Once the House returned to a tie, both parties shared power and committees returned to equal party representation, except in the House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight committee.[4]
Following her 2025 election as House speaker, Demuth said, "There’s a lot of work that has to be done in a bipartisan fashion because we’re going to have to come together to pass bills. But it has to be affordable and there can’t be the waste of taxpayer dollars specifically in the area of fraud as we’ve seen just an unbelievable amount of fraud in the state of Minnesota."[5] University of Minnesota professor Kathryn Pearson spoke on Demuth's political philosophy: "Demuth is, on the one hand, a partisan Republican. On the other hand, [she] has shown herself to be someone who can work in a collaborative fashion. We’re likely to see both sides of her as speaker."[5]
Newsleaders' Dennis Dalman wrote in March 2025, "A fervid abortion opponent, Demuth has been considered a moderate conservative. Among the issues she is fighting for is prevention of waste, fraud and abuse in state grant funds managed by non-profit programs. Another of her legislative efforts, with other colleagues, is a 'Make Minnesota Affordable' strategy to lower taxes and the cost of living for families. Yet another effort is to ensure a strengthened support for Minnesota law-enforcement personnel and emergency medical workers."[6]
Committee assignments
2023-2024
Demuth was assigned to the following committees:
2021-2022
Demuth was assigned to the following committees:
- Early Childhood Finance and Policy Committee (decommissioned)
- Education Finance Committee
- Health Finance and Policy Committee
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
2026
See also: Minnesota gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2026
General election
The primary will occur on August 11, 2026. The general election will occur on November 3, 2026. General election candidates will be added here following the primary.
General election for Governor of Minnesota
Brad Kohler (Independent) and Mike Newcome (Independent) are running in the general election for Governor of Minnesota on November 3, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Brad Kohler (Independent)  | |
 | Mike Newcome (Independent) | |
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Democratic primary
Democratic primary for Governor of Minnesota
Rick DeVoe (D), Amy Klobuchar (D), Kobey Layne (D), and Christopher Seymore (D) are running in the Democratic primary for Governor of Minnesota on August 11, 2026.
| ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Tim Walz (D)
Republican primary
Republican primary for Governor of Minnesota
The following candidates are running in the Republican primary for Governor of Minnesota on August 11, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Peggy Bennett | |
 | Lisa Demuth | |
 | Thomas Evenstad | |
 | Patrick Knight | |
 | John Krhin | |
 | Mike Lindell | |
 | Phillip Parrish | |
 | Kendall Qualls | |
 | Kristin Robbins | |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Scott Jensen (R)
- Jeff Johnson (R)
- Chris Madel (R)
Endorsements
Ballotpedia is gathering information about candidate endorsements. To send us an endorsement, click here.
2024
See also: Minnesota House of Representatives elections, 2024
General election
General election for Minnesota House of Representatives District 13A
Incumbent Lisa Demuth defeated Cindy Aho in the general election for Minnesota House of Representatives District 13A on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Lisa Demuth (R) | 75.3 | 19,215 |
| Cindy Aho (D) | 24.6 | 6,282 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 20 | ||
| Total votes: 25,517 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Cindy Aho advanced from the Democratic primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 13A.
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Lisa Demuth advanced from the Republican primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 13A.
Campaign finance
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Demuth in this election.
2022
See also: Minnesota House of Representatives elections, 2022
General election
General election for Minnesota House of Representatives District 13A
Incumbent Lisa Demuth defeated Andrea Robinson in the general election for Minnesota House of Representatives District 13A on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Lisa Demuth (R) | 74.0 | 15,190 |
| Andrea Robinson (D) | 25.9 | 5,324 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 11 | ||
| Total votes: 20,525 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Andrea Robinson advanced from the Democratic primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 13A.
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Lisa Demuth advanced from the Republican primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 13A.
2020
See also: Minnesota House of Representatives elections, 2020
General election
General election for Minnesota House of Representatives District 13A
Incumbent Lisa Demuth defeated Katy Westlund in the general election for Minnesota House of Representatives District 13A on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Lisa Demuth (R) | 70.7 | 16,056 |
| Katy Westlund (D) | 29.1 | 6,610 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 28 | ||
| Total votes: 22,694 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Katy Westlund advanced from the Democratic primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 13A.
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Lisa Demuth advanced from the Republican primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 13A.
Campaign finance
2018
General election
General election for Minnesota House of Representatives District 13A
Lisa Demuth defeated Jim Read in the general election for Minnesota House of Representatives District 13A on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Lisa Demuth (R) | 61.0 | 11,348 |
 | Jim Read (D) | 38.9 | 7,243 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 10 | ||
| Total votes: 18,601 (100.00% precincts reporting) | |||
| = 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. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 13A
Jim Read advanced from the Democratic primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 13A on August 14, 2018.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Jim Read |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 13A
Lisa Demuth advanced from the Republican primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 13A on August 14, 2018.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Lisa Demuth |
| ||||
| = 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. | ||||
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Campaign themes
2026
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Lisa Demuth has not yet completed Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey. Send a message to Lisa Demuth asking her to fill out the survey. If you are Lisa Demuth, click here to fill out Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey.
Who fills out Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey?
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You can ask Lisa Demuth to fill out this survey by using the button below or emailing info@lisaformn.com.
2024
Lisa Demuth did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.
2022
Lisa Demuth did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
2020
Lisa Demuth did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.
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 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.
- 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.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Minnesota State Legislature in 2023.
- 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 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 2022.
- 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.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Minnesota State Legislature in 2021.
- 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.
- 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 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.
See also
2026 Elections
External links
|
Candidate Governor of Minnesota |
Officeholder Minnesota House of Representatives District 13A |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Minnesota Legislature, "Full House convenes for first time in 2025, elects Demuth speaker," February 6, 2025
- ↑ Minnesota Legislative Reference Library, "Demuth, Lisa," accessed April 25, 2025
- ↑ SC Times, "Emmer, Demuth elected to House leadership positions," November 16, 2022
- ↑ The Minnesota Daily, "Minnesota House DFL, Republicans reach agreement ending boycott," February 11, 2025
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 The Minnesota Daily, "Getting to know House Speaker Lisa Demuth," February 17, 2025
- ↑ Newsleaders, "Demuth honored as a ‘Woman of the Year’," March 7, 2025
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
Minnesota House of Representatives District 13A 2019-Present |
Succeeded by - |
