Head of government of the U.S. state of Minnesota
Thegovernor of Minnesota is thehead of government of theU.S. state ofMinnesota , leading the state'sexecutive branch . Forty people have been governor of Minnesota, though historically there were also three governors ofMinnesota Territory .Alexander Ramsey , the first territorial governor, also served as state governor several years later. State governors are elected to office by popular vote, but territorial governors were appointed to the office by theUnited States president . The current governor of Minnesota isTim Walz of theDemocratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL), affiliated with the nationalDemocratic Party .
Powers and qualifications [ edit ] Similar to theU.S. president , the governor hasveto power over bills passed by theMinnesota State Legislature . As in most states, but unlike the U.S. president, the governor can also makeline-item vetoes , where specific provisions in bills can be stripped out while allowing the overall bill to be signed into law.
The governor of Minnesota must be 25 years old upon assuming office, and must have been a Minnesota resident for one year before the election.
Since a 1958 amendment[ a] Minnesota Constitution , governors are elected to four-year terms, withno limits on the number of terms they may serve.[ 3]
The governor has acabinet consisting of the leaders of various state departments. The governor appoints these department heads, who, other than the head of the Department of Military Affairs and the chairs of the Metropolitan Council and the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission, are calledcommissioners . Cabinet members include:[ 4]
Cabinet Office Incumbent Term began Commissioner of Administration Tamar Gronvall Oct. 9, 2023[ 5] Commissioner of Agriculture Thom Petersen Jan. 7, 2019 Commissioner of Children, Youth and Families Tikki Brown July 1, 2024[ 6] Commissioner of Commerce Grace Arnold Sept. 11, 2020[ 7] Commissioner of Corrections Paul Schnell Jan. 7, 2019[ 8] Commissioner of Education Willie Jett Jan. 2, 2023 Commissioner of Employment and Economic Development Matt Varilek June 20, 2023[ 9] Commissioner of Health Brooke Cunningham Jan. 2, 2023[ 10] Commissioner of the Minnesota Office of Higher Education Dennis Olsen Jan. 7, 2019[ 11] Commissioner of Minnesota Housing Finance Agency Jennifer Lemaile Ho Jan. 7, 2019 Commissioner of Human Rights Rebecca Lucero Jan. 7, 2019[ 12] Commissioner of Human Services Shireen Gandhi (interim) Feb. 2, 2025[ 13] Commissioner of the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board Ida Rukavina Jan. 2, 2023 Commissioner and Chief Information Officer of MN.IT Services Tarek Tomes April 16, 2019 Commissioner of Labor and Industry Nicole Blissenbach Jan. 2, 2023 Commissioner of Management and Budget Erin Campbell Aug.15, 2023[ 14] Commissioner of Minnesota Bureau of Mediation Services Johnny Villareal Dec. 22, 2021[ 15] Chairperson of the Metropolitan Council Charlie Zelle Jan. 6, 2020[ 16] Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Shawn Manke Aug. 12, 2020[ 17] Commissioner of Natural Resources Sarah Strommen Jan. 7, 2019 Commissioner of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Katrina Kessler Nov. 1, 2021[ 18] Commissioner of Public Safety Bob Jacobson Jan. 2, 2023 Commissioner of Revenue Paul Marquart Jan. 2, 2023 Commissioner of Transportation Nancy Daubenberger Jan. 7, 2019[ 19] Commissioner of Veterans Affairs Brad Lindsay Sept. 23, 2023[ 20]
The Minnesota Governor's Residence is located inSaint Paul , at 1006Summit Avenue .
The line of succession for the Governor is established by Article V, Section 5 of theMinnesota Constitution [ 21] [ 22]
[ edit ] The Minnesota Governor's Fishing Opener is a tradition that dates back to 1948.[ 23] [ 24] [ 25] [ 26]
Timeline of Minnesota governors
^ "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries" . The Council of State Governments. RetrievedAugust 7, 2024 .^ "1957 Session Laws" .Office of the Revisor of Statutes . Retrieved24 July 2024 .^ "The Green Papers: Minnesota 2006 Midterm Election" . Richard E. Berg-Andersson, Research and Commentary. Retrieved2008-09-05 .^ "Governor's Cabinet" . Retrieved2023-04-06 .^ Governor Walz Selects Tamar Gronvall to Serve as Commissioner of Administration , 18 Sept, 2023 press release. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024^ Alex Perez,Minnesota Names Tikki Brown its First Commissioner for Children, Youth and Families , 1 May 2024, The Imprint. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024 ^ Minnesota Commerce Department, Leadership Team Accessed 8 Nov. 2024^ DOC Executive Leadership Team Accessed 8 Nov. 2024^ Minnesota Dept. of Emplopyment and Economic Development, Matt Varilek. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024^ "Commissioner Brooke Cunningham - MN Dept. of Health" .www.health.state.mn.us . Retrieved2024-11-13 .^ "Commissioner's Office" .Minnesota Office of Higher Education . Retrieved2024-10-20 .^ "commissioner" .Minnesota.gov . Archived fromthe original on 2020-04-12. Retrieved2020-03-17 .^ "Governor Walz Appoints Shireen Gandhi as Temporary Commissioner for the Department of Human Services" . February 3, 2025. Retrieved2025-04-18 .^ Governor Walz Congratulates Departing Commissioner Jim Schowalter, Selects Deputy Commissioner Erin Campbell to Serve as Commissioner of Management and Budget , July 12, 2023 press release^ Governor Walz Appoints Johnny Villarreal to be Commissioner of the Bureau of Mediation Services , Dec. 20, 2021 press release. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024^ Charlie Zelle named Metropolitan Council Chair . 23 Dec. 2019 press release. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024^ Cambridge native named new leader of the Minnesota National Guard , 12 Aug. 2020. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024.^ Minnesota Pollution Control agency — Katrina Kessler, Commissioner. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024^ Alex Chhith,Gov. Tim Walz appoints Nancy Daubenberger new MnDOT commissioner , 23 May 2022,Minnesota Star Tribune ^ Governor Walz Thanks Retiring Commissioner Herke, Opens Selection Process for Cabinet Vacancy , 12 Sept. 2023 press release. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024^ "Constitution of the State of Minnesota: Article V" .Office of the Revisor of Statutes . RetrievedAugust 22, 2019 .^ "Constitutional Offices and Duties, Chapter 4: 4.06" .Office of the Revisor of Statutes . RetrievedAugust 22, 2019 .^ 2023 Minnesota Governor’s Fishing Opener May 12-13, 2023 Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, viewed June 21, 2023^ Marshall, Brandon -Mankato to host 2023 Minnesota Governor’s Fishing Opener . Rochester KAAL ABC 6, August 8, 2022 ^ Mankato and Madison Lake hosting Governor’s 2023 Fishing Opener, without Gov. Walz . KARE 11, May 9, 2023^ Fishing in Minnesota Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Viewed June 21, 2023
Minnesota statewide elected officials
Executive Executive Legislative Judicial Regional Public Related
