Senator David Senjem was first elected to the Minnesota State Senate in 2002 and represents Senate District 25, which includes portions of Dodge County, as well as the northern and western portions of Olmsted County, including half of the city of Rochester.

David Senjem graduated from Hayfield High School and went on to receive a bachelor’s of arts degree from Luther College in Decorah, IA. After graduation, in 1964, Senjem joined Mayo Clinic, where he worked for over four decades. As an institutional biosafety officer at Mayo, Senjem was responsible for all aspects of environmental regulatory compliance.

Shortly after beginning his career, Senjem also began his call to public service – instilled in him by his father, who served as mayor of Hayfield, along with being actively involved in the Rochester Jaycees. Senjem served 11 years on the Rochester City Council, four years on the Rochester Parks Board, and six years as a member of the Olmsted County Environmental Commission.

In addition, Senjem served on the Minnesota Emergency Response Commission for 16 years, four years on the Minnesota OSHA Advisory Committee, and as vice chair of the Community and Economic Development Committee of the National League of Cities.

Finally, as a state senator, Senjem serves as chairman of the Senate Capital Investment Committee. In November 2006, Senjem was elected by the Republican caucus to serve as minority leader. In 2011, following an election that saw Republicans gain control of the Senate for the first time since party designation, Senjem was elected by his Senate peers as the Senate’s majority leader.

David Senjem resides in Rochester with his wife, Marlys. They have two grown children.

• Chair, Energy and Utilities Finance and Policy Committee
• Vice Chair, Capital Investment Committee
• Environment and Natural Resources Policy and Legacy Finance