Tom Bakk

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Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Script error: No such module "infobox".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Script error: No such module "Check for conflicting parameters". Thomas M. Bakk (Template:IPAc-en Script error: No such module "Respell".;[1] born June 8, 1954) is a Minnesota politician. He served in the Minnesota Legislature from 1995 to 2023 and is a former majority leader and minority leader.[2]

Early life, education, and career

Bakk was born and raised in Cook, Minnesota, where he graduated from Cook High School in 1972.[3] He received an associate degree from Mesabi Community College and a bachelor's degree in business administration and labor relations from the University of Minnesota Duluth. He is a retired union carpenter and labor official.[4]

Political career

Minnesota House of Representatives

Bakk represented District 6A in the Minnesota House of Representatives from 1995 to 2003.[4]

Minnesota Senate

Bakk was first elected to the Minnesota Senate in 2002 and went on to win reelection five times.[4] After the 2010 election, in which Republicans gained control of the Senate for the first time since party designation, Bakk was elected by his caucus to serve as its first-ever minority leader.[5] After the DFL regained a majority in the 2012 election, Bakk was elected by his caucus to serve as majority leader, a position he assumed when the legislature convened on January 8, 2013.[6] Bakk was again elected by his caucus to serve as minority leader following the 2016 election, which saw Republicans regain control of the upper chamber.[7]

In late 2019, it was reported that Susan Kent, a state senator from Woodbury, intended to challenge Bakk for his caucus leadership post.[8] On February 1, 2020, in a caucus meeting that lasted more than six hours, Kent defeated Bakk, succeeding him as minority leader.[9]

Three weeks after the 2020 elections, when it was determined that the DFL did not win a majority in the Senate, Bakk and fellow DFL state senator David Tomassoni announced they would no longer caucus with Democrats and instead form their own “independent caucus.” Republican Majority Leader Paul Gazelka welcomed the move and gave Bakk the chairmanship to the Capital Investment in exchange for voting in line with the Republican Party on floor votes. This changed the composition of the Senate to 34 Republicans, 31 Democrats, and two independents.[10]

In March 2022, Bakk announced he was not seeking re-election to the State Senate and would retire from politics at the end of the year.[11] Bakk endorsed Babbitt mayor Andrea Zupancich (GOP) to succeed him in the state Senate later that year.[12]

2010 Minnesota gubernatorial campaign

File:Tom Bakk - DFL Gubernatorial Debate (4135227616).jpg
Bakk at a DFL gubernatorial debate in November 2009

Bakk campaigned in the 2010 Minnesota gubernatorial election. He led in early fundraising among the DFL candidates, raising $146,000 in 2008, and beginning 2009 with a little more than $131,000. He ended his campaign in March 2010.[13]

Electoral history

Minnesota Senate 3rd district election, 2012[14]
Party Candidate Votes % <templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" />±%Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Script error: No such module "Political party". Tom Bakk (incumbent) 28,427 64.59 Script error: No such module "String".
Script error: No such module "Political party". Jennifer Havlick 15,509 35.24 Script error: No such module "String".

Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

Minnesota Senate 6th district election, 2010[15]
Party Candidate Votes % <templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" />±%Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Script error: No such module "Political party". Tom Bakk (incumbent) 21,728 62.94 Script error: No such module "String".
Script error: No such module "Political party". Jennifer Havlick 12,742 36.91 Script error: No such module "String".

Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

Minnesota Senate 6th district election, 2006[16]
Party Candidate Votes % <templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" />±%Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Script error: No such module "Political party". Tom Bakk (incumbent) 25,275 71.33 Script error: No such module "String".
Script error: No such module "Political party". Jennifer Havlick 10,065 28.41

Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

Minnesota Senate 6th district election, 2002[17]
Party Candidate Votes % <templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" />±%Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Script error: No such module "Political party". Tom Bakk 24,934 72.26
Script error: No such module "Political party". Tom Norman 9,467 27.44

Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

Post-political career

Following his retirement from the Minnesota Legislature, Bakk began working as a lobbyist. He has represented clients including Twin Metals Minnesota[18]. Twin Metals Minnesota is seeking to develop a copper-nickel sulfide mine near Ely, Minnesota, on land within the Superior National Forest[19]. The proposed project has faced public opposition due to its proximity to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness as well as environmental impacts, such as acid mine drainage leaching heavy metals into the surrounding waters[20], air pollution, noise pollution, and increased industrial activity in the region[21][22]. Twin Metals is a subsidiary of the Chilean mining company Antofagasta PLC, owned by Chilean Billionaire Andrónico Luksic[23].

Bakk has also lobbied on behalf of Altria Client Services LLC[18], a subsidiary of Altria Group, formerly known as Philip Morris Companies Inc., which is one of the largest producers and marketers of tobacco products globally.

Personal life

Bakk and his wife, Laura, who works as a legislative assistant in the Minnesota Senate, have four children.[4] He is a Lutheran.[4]

See also

References

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  23. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

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External links

Template:MN-legdb

Template:Error
Preceded byTemplate:S-bef/check Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives
from the 6A district
1995–2003 Template:S-ttl/check 		Template:S-aft/check Succeeded by
Template:Error
Preceded byTemplate:S-bef/check Member of the Minnesota Senate
from the 3rd district
6th (2003–2013)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
2003–2023 Template:S-ttl/check 		Template:S-aft/check Succeeded by
Preceded byTemplate:S-bef/check Minority Leader of the Minnesota Senate
2011–2013 Template:S-ttl/check 		Template:S-aft/check Succeeded by
Majority Leader of the Minnesota Senate
2013–2017 Template:S-ttl/check 		Template:S-aft/check Succeeded by
Preceded byTemplate:S-bef/check Minority Leader of the Minnesota Senate
2017–2020 Template:S-ttl/check 		Template:S-aft/check Succeeded by

Template:MNMajorityLeaders Template:MNSenMinority

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