Melisa Franzen
Melisa Franzen (Democratic Party) was a member of the Minnesota State Senate, representing District 49. She assumed office on January 8, 2013. She left office on January 3, 2023.
Franzen (Democratic Party) ran for re-election to the Minnesota State Senate to represent District 49. She won in the general election on November 3, 2020.
Franzen was elected state Senate minority leader in September 2021, to replace Susan Kent (D), who had stepped down earlier that month.[1] She served in this role until January 2023.
Committee assignments
2021-2022
Franzen was assigned to the following committees:
- Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Finance and Policy Committee, Ranking Minority Member
- Finance Committee
- Human Services Reform Finance and Policy Committee
- MNsure Legislative Oversight Committee
2019-2020
Franzen was assigned to the following committees:
- Health and Human Services Finance and Policy Committee
- Senate Transportation Finance and Policy Committee
- Senate Taxes Committee
2017 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:
| Minnesota committee assignments, 2017 |
|---|
| • Taxes |
| • Transportation |
2015 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Franzen served on the following committees:
| Minnesota committee assignments, 2015 |
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| • Higher Education and Workforce Development |
| • Transportation and Public Safety |
2013-2014
At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Franzen served on the following committees:
| Minnesota committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Education |
| • Transportation and Public Safety |
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
Melisa Franzen 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 49
Incumbent Melisa Franzen defeated Julie Dupré in the general election for Minnesota State Senate District 49 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Melisa Franzen (D) | 62.8 | 36,149 |
 | Julie Dupré (R) | 37.2 | 21,403 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 41 | ||
| Total votes: 57,593 | |||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Minnesota State Senate District 49
Incumbent Melisa Franzen advanced from the Democratic primary for Minnesota State Senate District 49 on August 11, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Melisa Franzen | 100.0 | 14,895 |
| Total votes: 14,895 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for Minnesota State Senate District 49
Julie Dupré defeated Jenny Rhoades in the Republican primary for Minnesota State Senate District 49 on August 11, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Julie Dupré | 62.8 | 2,581 |
 | Jenny Rhoades | 37.2 | 1,530 | |
| Total votes: 4,111 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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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 Melisa Franzen defeated Mike Lehmann in the Minnesota State Senate District 49 general election.[2][3]
| Minnesota State Senate, District 49 General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic |  Melisa Franzen Incumbent |
54.55% | 28,273 | |
| Republican | Mike Lehmann | 45.45% | 23,557 | |
| Total Votes | 51,830 | |||
| Source: Minnesota Secretary of State | ||||
Incumbent Melisa Franzen ran unopposed in the Minnesota State Senate District 49 Democratic primary.[4][5]
| Minnesota State Senate, District 49 Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Democratic | Melisa Franzen Incumbent (unopposed) | |
Mike Lehmann ran unopposed in the Minnesota State Senate District 49 Republican primary.[4][5]
| Minnesota State Senate, District 49 Republican Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Republican | Mike Lehmann (unopposed) | |
2012
- See also: Minnesota State Senate elections, 2012
Franzen won election in the 2012 election for Minnesota State Senate District 49. She ran unopposed in the Democratic primary on August 14 and defeated Keith Downey (R) in the general election on November 6, 2012.[6][7]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Melisa Franzen |
52.8% | 26,893 | |
| Republican | Keith Downey | 47.2% | 24,045 | |
| Total Votes | 50,938 | |||
Campaign themes
2020
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Melisa Franzen did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.
2016
Franzen's campaign website highlighted the following issues:
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2012
Franzen's website highlighted the following campaign themes:[10]
Education
- Excerpt: "I will work to stop the erosion of our education system by promoting innovation, strengthening science and technology education, and working together with teachers and the community so that every child can achieve his or her full potential."
Jobs and the Economy
- Excerpt: "I will support start-ups and entrepreneurs so they thrive in Minnesota. We must implement a simplified, transparent tax code and streamline the regulatory environment so that business can invest in Minnesota with confidence and predictability. "
Budget and Taxes
- Excerpt: "I will work for a budget that is balanced and sustainable over the long-term. I will also work to repair our complicated tax system."
Southwest Light Rail Transit
- Excerpt: "I support the development of the Southwest Light Rail Transit corridor. Light Rail is projected to create 60,000 new jobs along the corridor. The project has a broad base of support in the business community and by five local chambers of commerce."
Healthcare
- Excerpt: "I will work to move forward an implementation that puts the health and well-being of Minnesotans first. Access to affordable and quality health care, and cost-containment will be my focus."
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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See also
2020 Elections
External links
|
Candidate Minnesota State Senate District 49 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Kare 11, "State Sen. Melisa López Franzen to be next Senate minority leader," September 13, 2021
- ↑ 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, "2012 State General Election Candidate Filings," accessed June 25, 2012
- ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "Minnesota State Canvassing Report - State Primary - Tuesday, August 14, 2012," accessed April 23, 2014
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Melisa Franzen, "Issues," accessed September 21, 2016
- ↑ "melisafranzen," Official Campaign Website
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
Minnesota State Senate District 49 2013-2023 |
Succeeded by Steve Cwodzinski (D) |
