Become part of the movement for unbiased, accessible election information. Donate today.
Tony Cornish
Tony Cornish (b. May 3, 1951) is a former Republican member of the Minnesota House of Representatives, representing District 23B from 2003 to 2017. He officially resigned his seat on November 30, 2017.[1]
On November 21, 2017, Cornish announced that he would resign from office on December 1, 2017, due to sexual misconduct allegations levied against him by state Rep. Erin Maye Quade (D) and lobbyist Sarah Walker. In a statement announcing his resignation, he apologized for his behavior.[2] To read more about the Cornish allegations and other instances of sexual misconduct at state capitols in 2017, click here.
Biography
Cornish's professional experience includes serving as deputy sheriff of Blue Earth County from 1977 to 1980, working as a police officer for the City of Amboy from 1975-1977, and working as a conservation officer and chief of police of the Lake Crystal Police Department.[3]
Committee assignments
2017 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:
| Minnesota committee assignments, 2017 |
|---|
| • Environment and Natural Resources |
| • Public Safety and Security, Chair |
| • Ways and Means |
2015 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Cornish served on the following committees:
| Minnesota committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| • Public Safety and Crime Prevention Policy and Finance, Chair |
| • Environment and Natural Resources Policy and Finance |
| • Mining and Outdoor Recreation Policy |
| • Ways and Means |
2013-2014
At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Cornish served on the following committees:
| Minnesota committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Environment and Natural Resources Policy |
| • Judiciary Finance and Policy |
| • Public Safety Finance and Policy |
2011-2012
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Cornish served on the following committees:
| Minnesota committee assignments, 2011 |
|---|
| • Judiciary Policy and Finance |
| • Ways and Means |
2009-2010
In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Cornish served on the following committees:
| Minnesota committee assignments, 2009 |
|---|
| • Environment Policy and Oversight |
| • Public Safety Policy and Oversight |
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
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 Tony Cornish defeated Josh Haseman in the Minnesota House of Representatives District 23B general election.[4][5]
| Minnesota House of Representatives, District 23B General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  Tony Cornish Incumbent |
66.97% | 13,332 | |
| Democratic | Josh Haseman | 33.03% | 6,574 | |
| Total Votes | 19,906 | |||
| Source: Minnesota Secretary of State | ||||
Josh Haseman ran unopposed in the Minnesota House of Representatives District 23B Democratic primary.[6][7]
| Minnesota House of Representatives, District 23B Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Democratic | Josh Haseman (unopposed) | |
Incumbent Tony Cornish ran unopposed in the Minnesota House of Representatives District 23B Republican primary.[6][7]
| Minnesota House of Representatives, District 23B Republican Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Republican | Tony Cornish 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. Incumbent Tony Cornish was unopposed in both the Republican primary and the general election.[8][9][10]
2012
Cornish won re-election in the 2012 election for Minnesota House of Representatives District 23B. He was unopposed in the Republican primary on August 14 and was unopposed in the general election on November 6, 2012.[11][12]
2010
Cornish won re-election to the District 24B seat in 2010. He had no primary opposition. He defeated Joan Muth-Milks (DFL) and Mark Meyer (Independence Party of Minnesota) in the general election on November 2, 2010.[13]
| Minnesota House of Representatives, District 24B (2010) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
| Joan Muth-Milks (DFL) | 3,417 | 22.35% | ||
| Tony Cornish (R)
|
9,621 | 62.93% | ||
| Mark Meyer | 2,242 | 14.66% | ||
| Write-In | 9 | 0.06% | ||
2008
On November 4, 2008, Cornish won election to the District 24B Seat in the Minnesota House of Representatives, defeating John Branstad. [14]
Cornish raised $62,653 for his campaign.[15]
| Minnesota House of Representatives, District 24B (2008) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
| Tony Cornish (R)
|
10,275 | 51.18% | ||
| John Branstad (DFL) | 9,781 | 48.72% | ||
| Write-In | 21 | 0.10% | ||
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.
2017
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.
- 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 bills related to education.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on labor issues.
- Legislators are scored on bills related to reproductive health issues.
- Legislators are scored on how they voted on tax and fiscal legislation.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
2016
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2016, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2016, the Minnesota State Legislature was in session from March 8 through May 23.
|
2015
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2015, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2015, the Minnesota State Legislature was in session from January 6 through May 18.
|
2014
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2014, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2014, the Minnesota State Legislature was in session from February 25 to May 19.
|
2013
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2013, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2013, the Minnesota State Legislature was in session from January 8 to May 20.
|
Noteworthy events
Resignation following sexual harassment settlement (2017)
On November 21, 2017, Cornish announced his resignation from the state House after reaching an agreement with a state capitol lobbyist to resign, apologize, and pay her legal fees.[16] On November 9, MPR News reported on sexual harassment allegations against Cornish by the lobbyist and state Rep. Maye Quade (D).[17] Cornish's resignation took effect November 30.
Cornish denied that he harassed the lobbyist, saying he wanted to pursue a relationship with her. He said his comments to Quade were intended as humor.[18]
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Cornish has three children.[3]
Recent news
This section links to a Google news search for the term Tony + Cornish + Minnesota + Legislature
External links
- Cornish's website
- Profile from Open States
- Legislative Profile from Project Vote Smart
- Biography from Project Vote Smart
- Campaign Contributions: 2008, 2004, 2002
Footnotes
- ↑ TwinCities.com, "Minnesota Rep. Tony Cornish submits letter of resignation to Dayton," November 28, 2017
- ↑ MINNPOST, "Amid sexual harassment allegations, Sen. Dan Schoen and Rep. Tony Cornish to resign from the Legislature," November 21, 2017
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Project Vote Smart - Rep. Cornish
- ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "Candidate Filing Search," accessed August 25, 2016
- ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "General election results, 2016," accessed December 19, 2016
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Minnesota Secretary of State, "Candidate Filings," accessed June 3, 2016
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 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, "Minnesota State Canvassing Report - State Primary - Tuesday, August 14, 2012," accessed April 23, 2014
- ↑ 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's report on Cornish's 2008 campaign contributions
- ↑ Twin Cities, "Sen. Dan Schoen, Rep. Tony Cornish to resign amid sexual harassment allegations," November 21, 2017
- ↑ MPR News, "Rep. Cornish suspended as sex harassment investigation begins," November 9, 2017
- ↑ Twincities.com, "Outside firm will investigate sex harassment claims against MN lawmaker," November 11, 2017
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Kathy Brynaert (DFL) |
Minnesota State House District 23B 2013- 2017 |
Succeeded by Jeremy Munson (R) |
| Preceded by - |
Minnesota State House District 24B 2003–2013 |
Succeeded by Patti Fritz (DFL) |
