Pat Garofalo
Pat Garofalo (Republican Party) was a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives, representing District 58B. He assumed office in 2005. He left office on January 14, 2025.
Garofalo (Republican Party) ran for re-election to the Minnesota House of Representatives to represent District 58B. He won in the general election on November 8, 2022.
Biography
Garofalo earned his B.S. in law enforcement from Minnesota State University - Mankato. His professional experience includes working as a network engineer with the Allianz Life Insurance Company.[1]
Committee assignments
2023-2024
Garofalo was assigned to the following committees:
- Climate and Energy Finance and Policy Committee
- Property Tax Division Committee (decommisioned)
- Ways and Means Committee
2021-2022
Garofalo was assigned to the following committees:
- House Redistricting Committee (decommissioned)
- House Taxes Committee
- Ways and Means Committee, Republican Lead
2019-2020
Garofalo was assigned to the following committees:
- Commerce Committee
- Rules and Legislative Administration Committee
- Ways and Means Committee, Republican Lead
2017 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:
| Minnesota committee assignments, 2017 |
|---|
| • Job Growth and Energy Affordability, Chair |
| • Taxes |
| • Ways and Means |
2015 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Garofalo served on the following committees:
| Minnesota committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| • Job Growth and Energy Affordability Policy and Finance, Chair |
| • Greater Minnesota Economic and Workforce Development Policy |
| • Rules and Legislative Administration |
| • Taxes |
| • Ways and Means |
2013-2014
At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Garofalo served on the following committees:
| Minnesota committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Energy Policy, Republican-Lead |
| • Property and Local Tax Division |
| • Taxes |
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
2024
Pat Garofalo did not file to run for re-election.
2022
See also: Minnesota House of Representatives elections, 2022
General election
General election for Minnesota House of Representatives District 58B
Incumbent Pat Garofalo defeated Steve Dungy in the general election for Minnesota House of Representatives District 58B on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Pat Garofalo (R) | 62.4 | 11,919 |
| Steve Dungy (D) | 37.5 | 7,155 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 19 | ||
| Total votes: 19,093 | |||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Steve Dungy advanced from the Democratic primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 58B.
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Pat Garofalo advanced from the Republican primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 58B.
2020
See also: Minnesota House of Representatives elections, 2020
General election
General election for Minnesota House of Representatives District 58B
Incumbent Pat Garofalo defeated Sara Wolf in the general election for Minnesota House of Representatives District 58B on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Pat Garofalo (R) | 62.0 | 15,220 |
| Sara Wolf (D) | 38.0 | 9,328 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 19 | ||
| Total votes: 24,567 | |||
| = 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. Sara Wolf advanced from the Democratic primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 58B.
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Pat Garofalo advanced from the Republican primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 58B.
Campaign finance
2018
General election
General election for Minnesota House of Representatives District 58B
Incumbent Pat Garofalo defeated Marla Vagts in the general election for Minnesota House of Representatives District 58B on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Pat Garofalo (R) | 58.8 | 11,549 |
 | Marla Vagts (D) | 41.1 | 8,060 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 20 | ||
| Total votes: 19,629 (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. | ||||
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 58B
Marla Vagts advanced from the Democratic primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 58B on August 14, 2018.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Marla Vagts |
| ||||
| = 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 58B
Incumbent Pat Garofalo advanced from the Republican primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 58B on August 14, 2018.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Pat Garofalo |
| ||||
| = 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
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 Pat Garofalo defeated Marla Vagts in the Minnesota House of Representatives District 58B general election.[2][3]
| Minnesota House of Representatives, District 58B General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  Pat Garofalo Incumbent |
64.87% | 13,926 | |
| Democratic | Marla Vagts | 35.13% | 7,542 | |
| Total Votes | 21,468 | |||
| Source: Minnesota Secretary of State | ||||
Marla Vagts ran unopposed in the Minnesota House of Representatives District 58B Democratic primary.[4][5]
| Minnesota House of Representatives, District 58B Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Democratic | Marla Vagts (unopposed) | |
Incumbent Pat Garofalo ran unopposed in the Minnesota House of Representatives District 58B Republican primary.[4][5]
| Minnesota House of Representatives, District 58B Republican Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Republican | Pat Garofalo Incumbent (unopposed) | |
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. Marla Vagts was unopposed in the Democratic primary. Incumbent Pat Garofalo was unopposed in the Republican primary. Garofalo defeated Vagts in the general election.[6][7][8]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Pat Garofalo Incumbent |
63.9% | 8,878 | |
| Democratic | Marla Vagts | 36% | 5,008 | |
| Write-in | Write-in | 0.1% | 18 | |
| Total Votes | 13,904 | |||
2012
Garofalo won re-election in the 2012 election for Minnesota House of Representatives District 58B. He was unopposed in the Republican primary on August 14 and defeated Jim Arlt (D) in the general election on November 6, 2012.[9]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Pat Garofalo Incumbent |
59.5% | 12,520 | |
| Democratic | Jim Arlt | 40.5% | 8,512 | |
| Total Votes | 21,032 | |||
2010
Garofalo won re-election to the District 36B seat in 2010. He had no primary opposition. He defeated Sigrid Iversen (DFL) in the general election on November 2, 2010.[10]
| Minnesota House of Representatives, District 36B (2010) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
| Sigrid Iversen (DFL) | 6,381 | 34.1% | ||
| Pat Garofalo (R)
|
12,317 | 65.81% | ||
| Write-In | 17 | 0.09% | ||
2008
On November 4, 2008, Garofalo won election to the District 36B Seat in the Minnesota House of Representatives, defeating Bev Topp.[11]
Garofalo raised $54,789 for his campaign.[12]
| Minnesota House of Representatives, District 36B (2008) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
| Pat Garofalo (R)
|
14,235 | 56.01% | ||
| Bev Topp (DFL) | 11,144 | 43.85% | ||
| Write-In | 36 | 0.14% | ||
Campaign themes
2022
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Pat Garofalo did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
2020
Pat Garofalo did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.
2012
Garofalo's website highlighted the following campaign themes:[13]
Education
- Excerpt: "Representative Garofalo supports local control of our schools and has worked to allow Minnesota to opt out of the No Child Left Behind mandate."
Energy
- Excerpt: "We must keep our energy affordable even as we work to protect the environment."
Environment
- Excerpt: "Representative Garofalo voted for Minnesota's nation leading renewable energy bill. Under this legislation, 25% of Minnesota's energy will come from renewable sources by 2025."
Abortion
- Excerpt: "A society is best judged by how it treats its most vulnerable. Representative Garofalo's voting record shows a commitment to protecting unborn children."
Protecting Our Heritage and Our Rights
- Excerpt: "Representative Garofalo has voted for and will continue to support legislation which protects our 2nd amendment rights."
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 Minnesota scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
2024
In 2024, the Minnesota State Legislature was in session from February 12 to May 20.
- 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.
2023
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2023, click [show]. |
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In 2023, the Minnesota State Legislature was in session from January 3 to May 22.
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2022
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2022, click [show]. |
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In 2022, the Minnesota State Legislature was in session from January 31 to May 23.
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2021
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2021, click [show]. |
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In 2021, the Minnesota State Legislature was in session from January 5 to May 17.
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2020
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2020, click [show]. |
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In 2020, the Minnesota State Legislature was in session from February 11 to May 17. Special sessions were convened: June 12 to June 19; July 13 to July 21; August 12; September 11; October 12 to October 15; and November 12.
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2019
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2019, click [show]. |
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In 2019, the Minnesota State Legislature was in session from January 8 through May 20.
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2018
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2018, click [show]. |
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In 2018, the Minnesota State Legislature was in session from February 20 through May 21.
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2017
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2017, click [show]. |
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In 2017, the Minnesota State Legislature was in session from January 3 through May 22. The legislature held a special session from May 23 to May 26.
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2016
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2016, click [show]. |
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In 2016, the Minnesota State Legislature was in session from March 8 through May 23.
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2015
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2015, click [show]. |
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In 2015, the Minnesota State Legislature was in session from January 6 through May 18.
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2014
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2014, click [show]. |
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In 2014, the Minnesota State Legislature was in session from February 25 to May 19.
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2013
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2013, click [show]. |
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In 2013, the Minnesota State Legislature was in session from January 8 to May 20.
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2012
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2012, click [show]. |
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In 2012, the Minnesota State Legislature was in session from January 24 to May 10.
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2011
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2011, click [show]. |
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In 2011, the Minnesota State Legislature was in session from January 4 to May 23.
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Noteworthy events
NBA tweet
On March 9, 2014, Garofalo posted the following on his Twitter account regarding the National Basketball Association:
| “ | Let's be honest, 70% of teams in NBA could fold tomorrow + nobody would notice a difference w/ possible exception of increase in streetcrime[14][15] | ” |
Public response to what quickly became a viral tweet was mostly negative, with many users calling Garofalo's statement racist. Garofalo responded to a query by the Star Tribune, saying that he was referring to what he called the "NBA's high arrest rate" and the league's drug-testing policy.[16] He then told Minneapolis TV station KARE that he was surprised by the backlash, arguing that his perception of a lawless "culture in all professional sports" was a criticism "that's been going on for decades."[17] The tweet garnered 600 retweets within two hours of its posting, increasing to more than 1,000 overnight.[18]
Shortly before noon the following day, Garofalo issued an apology through his office:
| “ | In the last 24 hours, I’ve had the opportunity to re-learn one of life’s lessons: whenever any of us are offering opinions, it is best to refer to people as individuals as opposed to groups. Last night, I publicly commented on the NBA and I sincerely apologize to those who I unfairly categorized. The NBA has many examples of players and owners who are role models for our communities and for our country. Those individuals did not deserve that criticism and I apologize. In addition, it’s been brought to my attention that I was mistaken and the NBA policy on drug enforcement is stronger than I previously believed. Again, I offer my sincere apologies for my comments.[19][15] | ” |
See also
2022 Elections
External links
|
Candidate Minnesota House of Representatives District 58B |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Project Vote Smart - Rep. Garofalo
- ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "Candidate Filing Search," accessed August 25, 2016
- ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "General election results, 2016," accessed December 19, 2016
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Minnesota Secretary of State, "Candidate Filings," accessed June 3, 2016
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Minnesota Secretary of State, "Minnesota State Primary: Tuesday, August 9, 2016," accessed August 9, 2016
- ↑ 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
- ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "2014 Election Results," accessed November 4, 2014
- ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "2012 State General Election Candidate Filings," accessed June 18, 2012
- ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "2010 Election Results," accessed March 9, 2014
- ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "All Races by Legislative District," accessed April 23, 2014
- ↑ Follow the Money, "Garofalo, Pat," accessed March 9, 2014
- ↑ "patgarofalo," Official Campaign Website
- ↑ Twitter, post by @PatGarofalo, March 9, 2014
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Star Tribune, "Farmington legislator's NBA tweet causes stir," March 9, 2014
- ↑ KARE, "Minn. lawmaker gets attention for controversial tweet," March 9, 2014
- ↑ Associated Press, "Minnesota legislator’s NBA tweet called racist, prompts responses," March 10, 2014
- ↑ Minnesota House of Representatives, "Press Release - Statement from Rep. Pat Garofalo," March 10, 2014
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
Minnesota House of Representatives District 58B 2005-2025 |
Succeeded by Drew Roach (R) |
