Sandy Pappas | |
|---|---|
 | |
| President of the Minnesota Senate | |
| In office January 8, 2013 – January 2, 2017 | |
| Preceded by | Michelle Fischbach |
| Succeeded by | Michelle Fischbach |
| Member of theMinnesota Senate from the 65th district | |
| Assumed office January 8, 1991 | |
| Preceded by | Donald Moe |
| Member of theMinnesota House of Representatives from the 65B district | |
| In office January 8, 1985 – January 7, 1991 | |
| Preceded by | Frank J. Rodriguez Sr. |
| Succeeded by | Carlos Mariani |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1949-06-15)June 15, 1949 (age 76) Hibbing, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic (DFL) |
| Spouse | Neal Gosman |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | Metropolitan State University Harvard University |
Sandra L. "Sandy" Pappas (born June 15, 1949) is an American politician who has been serving in theMinnesota Senate since 1991. A member of theMinnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL), she represents District 65, which includes parts ofSaint Paul inRamsey County. Pappas served asPresident of the Minnesota Senate from 2013 to 2019.[1]
In 1997, Pappas ran as the DFL-endorsed candidate formayor of Saint Paul, losing to incumbentNorm Coleman. Before her election to the Senate, she served three terms in theMinnesota House of Representatives.[1]
Pappas was born inHibbing, Minnesota, and attended Robbinsdale High School inRobbinsdale, Minnesota.[1]
Pappas attended theUniversity of Minnesota andMetropolitan State University, from which she earned aB.A. inpublic policy in 1986. She later attended theJohn F. Kennedy School of Government atHarvard University, earning anMPA.[1]
Pappas was first elected to theMinnesota House of Representatives in 1984 for District 65B. Her margin of victory in theDemocratic-Farmer-Labor Party primary election was so small that a recount occurred.[1]
Pappas served three terms in the House before running forMinnesota Senate in 1990.[1]
Pappas was first elected to theMinnesota Senate in 1990, defeating incumbent Donald Moe in a DFL primary.[1][2]
Pappas has been reelected in every election since, serving a total of 10 terms. She has served on the Capital Investment, Commerce, Finance, Rules and Administration, and State and Local Government Committees. She chaired the Higher Education Committee from 2007 to 2011 and the Education Committee from 2001 to 2003. She served aspresident pro tempore from 2003 to 2007.
After the DFL regained a majority in the2012 election, Pappas was elected by hercaucus to serve asPresident of the Minnesota Senate, starting in January 2013.[3] Pappas was reelected to the Senate in 2016, 2020, and 2022. She chairs the Capital Investment Committee and sits on the committees on Finance, Judiciary and Public Safety, and Labor.[1][4]
Pappas ran for mayor of Saint Paul in 1997 and lost to incumbentNorm Coleman.[5]
Pappas is married to Neal Gosman. They have three children and 31 grandchildren. She is Jewish.[5]
| Minnesota House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of theMinnesota House of Representatives from the 65B district 1985–1990 | Succeeded by |
| Minnesota Senate | ||
| Preceded by Donald Moe | Member of theMinnesota Senate from the 65th district 1991–present | Incumbent |
| Preceded by | President of the Minnesota Senate 2013–2017 | Succeeded by |
| Lt. Governor (1858–1973) |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Senate-elected (1973–present) | ||