Kent Eken
Kent Eken (Democratic Party) was a member of the Minnesota State Senate, representing District 4. He assumed office on January 8, 2013. He left office on January 3, 2023.
Eken (Democratic Party) ran for re-election to the Minnesota State Senate to represent District 4. He won in the general election on November 3, 2020.
Eken served in the Minnesota House of Representatives, representing District 2A from 2003 to 2013.
Biography
Eken earned his B.A. in political science/education from Concordia College-Moorhead and M.A. in history from Saint Cloud State University. His professional experience includes working as a teacher.[1]
Committee assignments
2021-2022
Eken was assigned to the following committees:
- Aging and Long-Term Care Policy Committee, Ranking Minority Member
- Agriculture and Rural Development Finance and Policy Committee
2019-2020
Eken was assigned to the following committees:
- Family Care and Aging Committee, Ranking Minority Member
- Agriculture, Rural Development, and Housing Policy Committee
- Agriculture, Rural Development, and Housing Finance Committee
- Senate Capital Investment Committee
2017 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:
| Minnesota committee assignments, 2017 |
|---|
| • Aging and Long-Term Care |
| • Agriculture, Rural Development, and Housing Finance |
| • Agriculture, Rural Development, and Housing Policy |
| • Capital Investment |
2015 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Eken served on the following committees:
| Minnesota committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| • Capital Investment |
| • Higher Education and Workforce Development |
| • Jobs, Agriculture and Rural Development |
2013-2014
At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Eken served on the following committees:
| Minnesota committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Capital Investment |
| • Higher Education and Workforce Development |
| • Jobs, Agriculture and Rural Development |
2011-2012
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Eken served on the following committees:
| Minnesota committee assignments, 2011 |
|---|
| • Agriculture and Rural Development |
| • Transportation Policy and Finance |
| • Ways and Means |
2009-2010
In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Eken served on the following committees:
| Minnesota committee assignments, 2009 |
|---|
| • Environment Policy and Oversight, Chair |
| • Agriculture, Rural Economies and Veterans Affairs |
| • Ways and Means |
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
2022
- See also: Minnesota State Senate elections, 2022
Kent Eken did not file to run for re-election.
2020
See also: Minnesota State Senate elections, 2020
General election
General election for Minnesota State Senate District 4
Incumbent Kent Eken defeated Mark Larson in the general election for Minnesota State Senate District 4 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Kent Eken (D) | 54.5 | 23,333 |
 | Mark Larson (R) | 45.4 | 19,415 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 44 | ||
| Total votes: 42,792 | |||
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Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Incumbent Kent Eken advanced from the Democratic primary for Minnesota State Senate District 4.
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Mark Larson advanced from the Republican primary for Minnesota State Senate District 4.
Campaign finance
2016
- See also: Minnesota State Senate elections, 2016
Elections for the Minnesota State Senate 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 Kent Eken defeated James Leiman in the Minnesota State Senate District 4 general election.[2][3]
| Minnesota State Senate, District 4 General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic |  Kent Eken Incumbent |
55.20% | 21,420 | |
| Republican | James Leiman | 44.80% | 17,382 | |
| Total Votes | 38,802 | |||
| Source: Minnesota Secretary of State | ||||
Incumbent Kent Eken ran unopposed in the Minnesota State Senate District 4 Democratic primary.[4][5]
| Minnesota State Senate, District 4 Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Democratic | Kent Eken Incumbent (unopposed) | |
James Leiman ran unopposed in the Minnesota State Senate District 4 Republican primary.[4][5]
| Minnesota State Senate, District 4 Republican Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Republican | James Leiman (unopposed) | |
2012
- See also: Minnesota State Senate elections, 2012
Eken won election for the District 4 Senate seat in 2012. He ran unopposed in the August 14 Democratic primary and defeated Phil Hansen (R) in the November 6 general election.[6]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Kent Eken |
52.2% | 19,833 | |
| Republican | Phil Hansen | 47.8% | 18,132 | |
| Total Votes | 37,965 | |||
2010
Eken ran won re-election to the District 2A Seat in 2010. He had no primary opposition. He defeated Steve Green (R) in the general election on November 2, 2010.[7][8]
| Minnesota House of Representatives, District 2A (2010) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
| Kent Eken (DFL)
|
7,502 | 55.86% | ||
| Steve Green (R) | 5,915 | 44.04% | ||
| Write-In | 13 | 0.10% | ||
2008
On November 4, 2008, Eken won re-election to the District 2A Seat in the Minnesota House of Representatives, defeating Steve Green (R).[9]
| Minnesota House of Representatives, District 2A (2008) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
| Kent Eken (DFL)
|
11,411 | 63.54% | ||
| Steve Green (R) | 6,535 | 36.39% | ||
| Write-In | 14 | 0.08% | ||
Campaign themes
2020
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Kent Eken did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.
2016
Eken's campaign website highlighted the following issues:
| “ |
Kent Eken is working hard to:
|
” |
| —Kent Eken[11] | ||
2012
Eken's website highlighted the following campaign themes:[12]
- Excerpt: "He is very concerned about the increasing property taxes that hit Greater Minnesota much harder than other areas of the state."
- Excerpt: "Kent Eken fought to save the Homestead Credit, and voted against the elimination of this program which is so important to our citizens."
- Excerpt: "I will work to restore the Homestead Credit if elected to the State Senate."
- Excerpt: "Eken is also working to reduce tuition rates, protect our communities from floods, and to maintain and improve the quality of our education, health care, and transportation systems."
- Excerpt: "Eken is especially concerned about long-term care for our seniors who have given us so much."
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 [email protected].
2022
In 2022, the Minnesota State Legislature was in session from January 31 to May 23.
- 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 labor issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
2021
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2021, click [show]. |
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In 2021, the Minnesota State Legislature was in session from January 5 to May 17.
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2020
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2020, click [show]. |
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In 2020, the Minnesota State Legislature was in session from February 11 to May 17. Special sessions were convened: June 12 to June 19; July 13 to July 21; August 12; September 11; October 12 to October 15; and November 12.
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2019
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2019, click [show]. |
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In 2019, the Minnesota State Legislature was in session from January 8 through May 20.
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2018
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2018, click [show]. |
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In 2018, the Minnesota State Legislature was in session from February 20 through May 21.
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2017
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2017, click [show]. |
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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.
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2016
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2016, click [show]. |
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In 2016, the Minnesota State Legislature was in session from March 8 through May 23.
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2015
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2015, click [show]. |
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In 2015, the Minnesota State Legislature was in session from January 6 through May 18.
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2014
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2014, click [show]. |
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In 2014, the Minnesota State Legislature was in session from February 25 to May 19.
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2013
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2013, click [show]. |
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In 2013, the Minnesota State Legislature was in session from January 8 to May 20.
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2012
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2012, click [show]. |
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In 2012, the Minnesota State Legislature was in session from January 24 to May 10.
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2011
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2011, click [show]. |
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In 2011, the Minnesota State Legislature was in session from January 4 to May 23.
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Endorsements
2016
In 2016, Eken's endorsements included the following:[11]
- Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association
- Minnesota Nurses Association
- Education Minnesota
- Inter Faculty Organization (IFO)
- Minnesota Farmers Union PAC
- Minnesota Farm Bureau PAC
- IBEW Minnesota State Council
- United Transportation Union
- Minnesota AFL-CIO
- International Union of Operating Engineers
- Service Employees International Union (SEIU) MN State Council
See also
2020 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Project Vote Smart - Rep. Eken
- ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "Candidate Filing Search," accessed August 25, 2016
- ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "General election results, 2016," accessed December 19, 2016
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Minnesota Secretary of State, "Candidate Filings," accessed June 3, 2016
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Minnesota Secretary of State, "Minnesota State Primary: Tuesday, August 9, 2016," accessed August 9, 2016
- ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "Minnesota State Canvassing Report - State Primary - Tuesday, August 14, 2012," accessed April 23, 2014
- ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "Report of Votes Cast - Minnesota State Primary - Tuesday, August 10, 2010," accessed November 29, 2014
- ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "State of Minnesota Canvassing Report," accessed November 29, 2014
- ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State - District 2A 2008 General Election Results
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Vote Kent Eken, "Platform," accessed September 21, 2016
- ↑ "votekenteken," Official Campaign Website
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
Minnesota State Senate District 4 2013-2023 |
Succeeded by Rob Kupec (D) |
| Preceded by - |
Minnesota House of Representatives District 2A 2003-2013 |
Succeeded by - |
