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Paulsen, Erik

House 1995-2008 (District 42B)

Party when first elected:  Independent Republican

Counties Served:  Hennepin

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Date of Birth: 5/14/1965
Birth Place: Bakersfield, California
Birth County: Kern
Birth Country: United States
Date of Death:
Gender: Male
Religion: Lutheran
Reported Minority: None Reported
Other Names:
City of Residence (when first elected): Eden Prairie
Occupation (when first elected): None Listed

EDUCATION

Chaska High School; Secondary; Graduate, 1983
St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minnesota; B.A.; Mathematics, 1987

OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

U.S. Legislative Staff/Council/Commission: United States House of Representatives (Staff Member for United States Representative Jim Ramstad in Washington D.C.; Then State Director for United States Representative Jim Ramstad in Minnesota); 19?? to 199?
U.S. Legislative Staff/Council/Commission: United States Senate (Intern for United States Senator Rudy Boschwitz); 1989 to 19??
U.S. Representative: 3rd Congressional District, Minnesota; 01/06/2009 to 2019

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

Spouse: Kelly
Children: Four children: Cassie, Briana, Tayler, and Liesl (daughters)
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

GENERAL NOTES

He grew up in Chanhassen, Minnesota.

He was a member of Victory Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod in Eden Prairie, Minnesota.

Religion provided by the Minnesota Legislative Manual, 1999-2000 and a newspaper article.

Total Days Served: 5117

SESSIONS SERVED

85th Legislative Session (2007-2008)

  Session Details
Body: House
District: 42B
Elected: 11/7/2006
Residence: Eden Prairie
Term of Office: 1/3/2007 to 1/5/2009
Counties Represented: Hennepin
Occupation: Business Analyst, Target Corporation
Party: Republican
Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
Committees:

84th Legislative Session (2005-2006)

  Session Details
Body: House
District: 42B
Elected: 11/2/2004
Residence: Eden Prairie
Term of Office: 1/4/2005 to 1/2/2007
Counties Represented: Hennepin
Occupation: Business
Party: Republican
Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
Special Session Bills Authored:  2005 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author    2005 1st Sp.S. - Author
Committees:
  • Rules and Legislative Administration (Chair) Minutes
Leadership Position: Majority Leader

83rd Legislative Session (2003-2004)

  Session Details
Body: House
District: 42B
Elected: 11/5/2002
Residence: Eden Prairie
Term of Office: 1/7/2003 to 1/3/2005
Counties Represented: Hennepin
Occupation: Business
Party: Republican
Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
Committees:
  • Rules and Legislative Administration (Chair) Minutes
Leadership Position: Majority Leader

82nd Legislative Session (2001-2002)

  Session Details
Body: House
District: 42B
Elected: 11/7/2000
Residence: Eden Prairie
Term of Office: 1/3/2001 to 1/6/2003
Counties Represented: Hennepin
Occupation: Business
Party: Republican
Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
Special Session Bills Authored:     2002 1st Sp.S. - Author
Committees:

81st Legislative Session (1999-2000)

  Session Details
Body: House
District: 42B
Elected: 11/3/1998
Residence: Eden Prairie
Term of Office: 1/5/1999 to 1/2/2001
Counties Represented: Hennepin
Occupation: Business
Party: Republican
Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
Committees:

80th Legislative Session (1997-1998)

  Session Details
Body: House
District: 42B
Elected: 11/5/1996
Residence: Eden Prairie
Term of Office: 1/7/1997 to 1/4/1999
Counties Represented: Hennepin
Occupation: Business
Party: Republican
Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
Committees:
  • Education Minutes
  • Education: Facilities Minutes
  • Education: Higher Education Finance Division Minutes
  • Local Government and Metropolitan Affairs

79th Legislative Session (1995-1996)

  Session Details
Body: House
District: 42B
Elected: 11/8/1994
Residence: Eden Prairie
Term of Office: 1/3/1995 to 1/6/1997
Counties Represented: Hennepin
Occupation: None Listed
Party: Independent Republican
Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
Committees:
  • Education
  • Education: Higher Education Finance Division
  • Financial Institutions and Insurance
  • Labor-Management Relations
Session Interviews
Session Interview (Video) 2006 House Interview

Session Interview (Video) 2005 House Interview


Articles & Books About
Hogenson, Brian. "Seizing an Unexpected Opportunity." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, May 2, 2008, p. 20.

Wetzel, Matt. "More or Less: Republicans, DFL Take Different Paths When Establishing Leadership Structure." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, January 7, 2005, p. 7.

Bryant, Miranda. "Up to the Challenge: Paulsen Ready to Fill Some Big Shoes as Majority Leader by Making Strides of His Own." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, January 24, 2003, p. 14.

Specktor, Mordecai. "Paulsen Applies Market Principles to Government." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, February 17, 1995, p. 14.

Paulsen, Erik. Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.


District Files

District File - 2000 District 42B
District File - 2002 District 42B
District File - 2003 District 42B
District File - 2004 District 42B
District File - 2005 District 42B
District File - 2006 District 42B
District File - 2007 District 42B
District File - 2008 District 42B
These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.

The Minnesota Legislative Reference Library has collected newspaper articles on legislators since 1973. They are available in the Library.