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Michelle Benson

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Michelle Benson
Image of Michelle Benson

Republican Party

Prior offices
Minnesota State Senate District 31
Successor: Calvin Bahr

Education

Bachelor's

College of Saint Catherine

Graduate

University of Saint Thomas

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Campaign Instagram

Campaign YouTube

Personal LinkedIn

Michelle Benson (Republican Party) was a member of the Minnesota State Senate, representing District 31. She assumed office in 2011. She left office on January 3, 2023.

Benson (Republican Party) ran for election for Governor of Minnesota. She did not appear on the ballot for the Republican primary on August 9, 2022.

Biography

Benson earned her bachelor's degree in chemistry from St. Catherine's University and her MBA from St. Thomas University. Her professional experience includes working as a Certified Public Accountant and project manager.

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.

2021-2022

Benson was assigned to the following committees:

2019-2020

Benson 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
• Finance
• Health and Human Services, Chair
• Human Services Reform
• Rules and Administration, Vice chair

2015 legislative session

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

2013-2014

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

Minnesota committee assignments, 2013
• Environment and Energy
• Health, Human Services and Housing

2011-2012

In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Benson 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

2022

Governor of Minnesota

See also: Minnesota gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2022

General election

General election for Governor of Minnesota

The following candidates ran in the general election for Governor of Minnesota on November 8, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Tim Walz
Tim Walz (D)
 
52.3
 
1,312,349
Image of Scott Jensen
Scott Jensen (R)
 
44.6
 
1,119,941
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
James McCaskel (Legal Marijuana Now Party)
 
1.2
 
29,346
Image of Steve Patterson
Steve Patterson (Grassroots-Legalize Cannabis Party of Minnesota)
 
0.9
 
22,599
Image of Hugh McTavish
Hugh McTavish (Independence-Alliance Party of Minnesota) Candidate Connection
 
0.7
 
18,156
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Gabrielle Prosser (Socialist Workers Party)
 
0.3
 
7,241
Image of Joyce Lacey
Joyce Lacey (Independent) (Write-in)
 
0.0
 
11
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Mohamed Mourssi-Alfash (Independent) (Write-in)
 
0.0
 
5
Image of Loner Blue
Loner Blue (Independent) (Write-in)
 
0.0
 
4
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Joshua Olgbolahan Jubril (Independent) (Write-in)
 
0.0
 
0
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.0
 
1,009

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 2,510,661
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.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Governor of Minnesota

Incumbent Tim Walz defeated Ole Savior in the Democratic primary for Governor of Minnesota on August 9, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Tim Walz
Tim Walz
 
96.5
 
416,973
Image of Ole Savior
Ole Savior
 
3.5
 
14,950

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 431,923
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.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Governor of Minnesota

Scott Jensen defeated Joyce Lacey and Bob Carney Jr. in the Republican primary for Governor of Minnesota on August 9, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Scott Jensen
Scott Jensen
 
89.3
 
288,499
Image of Joyce Lacey
Joyce Lacey
 
6.6
 
21,308
Image of Bob Carney Jr.
Bob Carney Jr.
 
4.1
 
13,213

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 323,020
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.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Grassroots-Legalize Cannabis Party of Minnesota primary election

Grassroots-Legalize Cannabis Party of Minnesota primary for Governor of Minnesota

Steve Patterson defeated Darrell Paulsen in the Grassroots-Legalize Cannabis Party of Minnesota primary for Governor of Minnesota on August 9, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Steve Patterson
Steve Patterson
 
59.1
 
1,003
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Darrell Paulsen
 
40.9
 
693

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 1,696
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.

Legal Marijuana Now Party primary election

Legal Marijuana Now Party primary for Governor of Minnesota

James McCaskel defeated Chris Wright in the Legal Marijuana Now Party primary for Governor of Minnesota on August 9, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
James McCaskel
 
51.9
 
1,461
Image of Chris Wright
Chris Wright Candidate Connection
 
48.1
 
1,356

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 2,817
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.

Minnesota State Senate

Michelle Benson did not file to run for re-election.

2020

See also: Minnesota State Senate elections, 2020

General election

General election for Minnesota State Senate District 31

Incumbent Michelle Benson defeated Kate Luthner in the general election for Minnesota State Senate District 31 on November 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Michelle Benson
Michelle Benson (R)
 
70.6
 
35,980
Image of Kate Luthner
Kate Luthner (D) Candidate Connection
 
29.3
 
14,962
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.1
 
45

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 50,987
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. Kate Luthner advanced from the Democratic primary for Minnesota State Senate District 31.

Republican primary election

The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Michelle Benson advanced from the Republican primary for Minnesota State Senate District 31.

Campaign finance

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 Michelle Benson defeated Ricky Englund in the Minnesota State Senate District 31 general election.[1][2]

Minnesota State Senate, District 31 General Election, 2016
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.png Michelle Benson Incumbent 68.05% 29,650
     Democratic Ricky Englund 31.95% 13,919
Total Votes 43,569
Source: Minnesota Secretary of State


Ricky Englund ran unopposed in the Minnesota State Senate District 31 Democratic primary.[3][4]

Minnesota State Senate, District 31 Democratic Primary, 2016
Party Candidate
    Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Ricky Englund  (unopposed)


Incumbent Michelle Benson ran unopposed in the Minnesota State Senate District 31 Republican primary.[3][4]

Minnesota State Senate, District 31 Republican Primary, 2016
Party Candidate
    Republican Green check mark transparent.png Michelle Benson Incumbent (unopposed)

2012

See also: Minnesota State Senate elections, 2012

Benson won election in District 31 in 2012 due to redistricting. She was unopposed in the August 14 Republican primary and defeated Mike Starr (D) in the general election on November 6.[5]

Minnesota State Senate, District 31, General Election, 2012
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngMichelle Benson Incumbent 58.7% 24,774
     Democratic Mike Starr 41.3% 17,423
Total Votes 42,197

2010

See also: Minnesota State Senate elections, 2010

Benson had no opponent in the primary. She defeated Paul Meunier (DFL) in the general election.[6]

Minnesota State Senate, District 49 (2010)
Candidates Votes Percent
Green check mark transparent.png Michelle Benson (R) 19979 60.33%
Paul Meunier (DFL) 13102 39.56%
Write-In 37 0.11%

Campaign themes

2022

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Michelle Benson did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

2020

Michelle Benson did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.

2012

Benson's website highlighted the following campaign themes:[7]

Jobs and the Economy

  • Excerpt: "Job stability, unemployment, and under-employment are the biggest concerns for the people I meet. No politician can provide the answer to our employment challenge. It is my belief that entrepreneurs and innovators in the private sector will be our best source of new jobs. When we encourage the private sector, jobs will follow. "

Budget

  • Excerpt: "There is plenty of money to run the State of Minnesota. Instead of a tax increase, we need to lower and simplify taxes so we can get out of the way of entrepreneurs and get our economy rolling again! "

Education

  • Excerpt: "Though we have the highest SAT scores in the country, we also rank among the top regarding minority disparity. Our funding formula for education was built based on politics that has created these funding disparities. As a nation, our math and science scores keep slipping. We cannot continue to support the status quo. "

Voter ID

  • Excerpt: "When Georgia and Indiana implemented Voter ID, minority participation in voting actually increased over prior elections."

Pro-Life

  • Excerpt: "Unborn children are the most innocent and helpless people. We must be their voice and protect their right to be born."

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.

Michelle Benson campaign contribution history
YearOfficeStatusContributionsExpenditures
2020Minnesota State Senate District 31Won general$62,825 N/A**
2016Minnesota State Senate, District 31Won $38,104 N/A**
2012Minnesota Senate, District 31Won $32,798 N/A**
2010Minnesota Senate, District 49Won $52,707 N/A**
Grand total$186,434 N/A**
Sources: OpenSecrets,  Federal Elections Commission ***This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
** 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.




2022

In 2022, the Minnesota State Legislature was in session from January 31 to May 23.

Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to labor issues.
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."
Legislators are scored on their votes on labor issues.
Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.


2021


2020


2019


2018


2017


2016


2015


2014


2013


2012


2011

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External links

Candidate

Governor of Minnesota
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    		•

    Personal

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    Footnotes

    1. ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "Candidate Filing Search," accessed August 25, 2016
    2. ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "General election results, 2016," accessed December 19, 2016
    3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Minnesota Secretary of State, "Candidate Filings," accessed June 3, 2016
    4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Minnesota Secretary of State, "Minnesota State Primary: Tuesday, August 9, 2016," accessed August 9, 2016
    5. ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "2012 State General Election Candidate Filings," accessed June 12, 2012
    6. ↑ Secretary of State Official general election results
    7. ↑ "michellebensonforsenate," Official Campaign Website

    Political offices
    Preceded by
    -     		Minnesota State Senate District 31
    2011-2023    		 Succeeded by
    Calvin Bahr (R)
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