Jim Carlson
2023 - Present
2027
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Jim Carlson (Democratic Party) is a member of the Minnesota State Senate, representing District 52. He assumed office on January 3, 2023. His current term ends on January 5, 2027.
Carlson (Democratic Party) ran for re-election to the Minnesota State Senate to represent District 52. He won in the general election on November 8, 2022.
Carlson represented Minnesota State Senate District 38 from 2007 to 2011.
Biography
Jim Carlson lives in Eagan, Minnesota. Carlson earned a technical certificate from Dunwoody Institute in 1967 and a bachelor's degree in engineering from the University of Minnesota in 1973. His professional experience included working as a mechanical engineer.[1]
Committee assignments
2023-2024
Carlson was assigned to the following committees:
- State Government Finance and Policy and Elections Committee, Chair
- Judiciary and Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee
- Local Government Committee
- Senate Transportation Finance and Policy Committee
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2021-2022
Carlson was assigned to the following committees:
- Civil Law and Data Practices Policy Committee
- State Government Finance and Policy and Elections Committee, Ranking Minority Member
- Senate Transportation Finance and Policy Committee
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2019-2020
Carlson was assigned to the following committees:
- Environment and Natural Resources Policy and Legacy Finance Committee
- State Government Finance and Policy and Elections Committee, Ranking Minority Member
- Senate Transportation Finance and Policy Committee
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2017 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:
| Minnesota committee assignments, 2017 |
|---|
| • Environment and Natural Resources Policy |
| • State Government |
| • Transportation |
2015 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Carlson served on the following committees:
| Minnesota committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| • Commerce |
| • Transportation and Public Safety |
2013-2014
At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Carlson served on the following committees:
| Minnesota committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Commerce |
| • 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
General election
General election for Minnesota State Senate District 52
Incumbent Jim Carlson defeated Stephen Lowell in the general election for Minnesota State Senate District 52 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Jim Carlson (D) | 63.2 | 26,004 |
 | Stephen Lowell (R)  | 36.6 | 15,068 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 61 | ||
| Total votes: 41,133 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Incumbent Jim Carlson advanced from the Democratic primary for Minnesota State Senate District 52.
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Stephen Lowell advanced from the Republican primary for Minnesota State Senate District 52.
Campaign finance
2020
See also: Minnesota State Senate elections, 2020
General election
General election for Minnesota State Senate District 51
Incumbent Jim Carlson defeated Douglas Willetts in the general election for Minnesota State Senate District 51 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Jim Carlson (D) | 61.2 | 30,719 |
 | Douglas Willetts (R) | 38.6 | 19,389 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 60 | ||
| Total votes: 50,168 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Incumbent Jim Carlson advanced from the Democratic primary for Minnesota State Senate District 51.
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Douglas Willetts advanced from the Republican primary for Minnesota State Senate District 51.
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 Jim Carlson defeated Victor Lake in the Minnesota State Senate District 51 general election.[2][3]
| Minnesota State Senate, District 51 General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic |  Jim Carlson Incumbent |
54.10% | 24,358 | |
| Republican | Victor Lake | 45.90% | 20,662 | |
| Total Votes | 45,020 | |||
| Source: Minnesota Secretary of State | ||||
Incumbent Jim Carlson ran unopposed in the Minnesota State Senate District 51 Democratic primary.[4][5]
| Minnesota State Senate, District 51 Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Democratic | Jim Carlson Incumbent (unopposed) | |
Victor Lake ran unopposed in the Minnesota State Senate District 51 Republican primary.[4][5]
| Minnesota State Senate, District 51 Republican Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Republican | Victor Lake (unopposed) | |
Endorsements
In 2016, Carlson's endorsements included the following:[6]
- Education Minnesota
- Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party
- United Transportation Union
- Service Employees International Union
- Minnesota Nurses Association
2012
- See also: Minnesota State Senate elections, 2012
Carlson won election for State Senate in district 51. He was unopposed in the Democratic primary on August 14 and defeated Ted Daley (R) in the general election on November 6.[7]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Jim Carlson |
53.2% | 23,969 | |
| Republican | Ted Daley Incumbent | 46.8% | 21,096 | |
| Total Votes | 45,065 | |||
2010
- See also: Minnesota State Senate elections, 2010
Carlson lost re-election to the 38th District seat in 2010. He had no primary opposition. Ted Daley ran for the seat on the Republican ticket. The general election took place on November 2, 2010.[8]
2006
- See also: Minnesota State Senate elections, 2006
On November 7, 2006, Carlson won election to the 38th District Seat in the Minnesota State Senate, defeating Mike McGinn (R).[9]
| Minnesota State Senate, District 38 (2006) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
| Jim Carlson (DFL)
|
16,916 | 53.59% | ||
| Mike McGinn (R) | 14,622 | 46.32% | ||
| Write-In | 28 | 0.09% | ||
Campaign themes
2022
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Jim Carlson did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
2020
Jim Carlson did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.
2012
Carlson's website highlighted the following campaign themes:[10]
Education
- Excerpt: "If our children are to compete in the global marketplace, we need to continue our state’s legacy of having the best education system in the nation. Jim will make it a top priority to relieve skyrocketing college tuition costs."
Honest, Active Leadership
- Excerpt: "Jim stands for honest, active leadership. He understands that doing the people’s business requires a full-time commitment. Minnesotans deserve a strong voice in the State Senate. "
Jobs and Economic Growth
- Excerpt: "He believes that a rising tide must lift all boats, and a growing economy must create family-supporting jobs to expand the middle class."
Transportation and Infrastructure
- Excerpt: "Citizens and businesses are demanding a real commitment to our district’s infrastructure. Jim will be a strong voice for innovative solutions to reduce congestion and adequately fund roads."
Fiscal Responsibility
- Excerpt: "Honest government means honest accounting of real needs and resources. Jim supports pay as you go government, not gimmicks, not smoke-and-mirrors accounting. Our children cannot succeed carrying a mountain of debt."
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].
2023
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2023, click [show]. |
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In 2023, the Minnesota State Legislature was in session from January 3 to May 22.
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2022
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2022, click [show]. |
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In 2022, the Minnesota State Legislature was in session from January 31 to May 23.
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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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Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Carlson and his wife, Gayle, have two children.
See also
2022 Elections
External links
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Candidate Minnesota State Senate District 52 |
Officeholder Minnesota State Senate District 52 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Minnesota State Senate, "Senator Jim Carlson," accessed March 30, 2023
- ↑ 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
- ↑ Carlson for Senate, "Endorsements," accessed September 21, 2016
- ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "Minnesota State Canvassing Report - State Primary - Tuesday, August 14, 2012," accessed April 23, 2014
- ↑ Secretary of State Official general election results
- ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "Official Results General Election - Nov. 7, 2006," accessed May 15, 2014
- ↑ "carlsonforsenate," Official Campaign Website
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Matt Klein (D) |
Minnesota State Senate District 52 2023-Present |
Succeeded by - |
| Preceded by - |
Minnesota State Senate District 51 2013-2023 |
Succeeded by Melissa Halvorson Wiklund (D) |
| Preceded by - |
Minnesota State Senate District 38 2007-2011 |
Succeeded by - |
