Senator Gruenhagen is serving his first term in the Minnesota Senate. He represents District 17, which includes communities in Carver, McLeod, Meeker, Sibley, and Wright counties. He serves on the Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate Committee and the Labor Committee.

Before being elected to the Senate, Gruenhagen served six terms in the Minnesota House of Representatives.

Gruenhagen grew up on a dairy farm near Glencoe, Minnesota, where he learned the value of hard work. He attended Dr. Martin Luther Academy in New Ulm with the goal of becoming a Lutheran pastor, but returned to Glencoe to help on the farm and graduated from Glencoe High School after his parents divorced. He later enrolled in Willmar Junior College and then enlisted in the Marine Corps, where he rose to the rank of Sergeant. After his honorable discharge, he attended North Hennepin Junior College and the University of Minnesota, where he studied business.

In 1975, Gruenhagen married his wife, Emily, a lifelong resident of Glencoe. The couple has three daughters and five grandchildren. Glenn owns Gruenhagen Insurance and Financial Services and has degrees in Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) and Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) from the American College. He has been a member of the Glencoe Rotary and has participated in jail ministry for 13 years. He served on the Glencoe Silver Lake school board for 16 years.

Glenn’s political philosophy is rooted in the Judeo-Christian worldview and the belief that rights come from God and not from government. He believes in the importance of private property and the free market system, and values the checks and balances in the representative republic form of government.

• Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate
• Labor