Roger Moe
Encyclopedia
Roger Moe is an American politician and a former member and majority leader
of the Minnesota Senate
. He was also the state Democratic Party's
endorsed candidate for governor
in 2002.
, Moe graduated from Crookston Central High School and received his college degree from Mayville State College in North Dakota
. His graduate studies were completed at Moorhead State University (Moorhead, MN) and North Dakota State University
in Fargo
. In 2005 he received an Honorary LL.D (Doctor of Laws Degree) from the University of Minnesota
. Before running for office, he taught math and coached wrestling at Ada High School in Ada
.
, District 2 for the remainder of his time in office. Through the years, he represented all or parts of Becker
, Beltrami
, Clay
, Clearwater
, Mahnomen
, Norman, Polk
and Red Lake counties in the northwestern part of the state.
Moe became the Senate's majority leader
in 1981, a position he held for 22 years. He is the longest-serving state majority leader, and the longest-serving leader of either of Minnesota's legislative bodies. His brother, Donald Moe, was also a member of the legislature, serving in both the House and Senate.
Among Moe's many legislative accomplishments was an initiative to transfer lottery
proceeds to Minnesota environmental projects (Legislative Commission on Minnesota Resources – LCMR), the creation of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities governance system, the Midwest Higher Education Commission, and the Environmental Trust Fund.
during Humphrey's 1998 gubernatorial bid, Moe ran for governor against Tim Pawlenty
, Tim Penny
and Ken Pentel in 2002. Pawlenty won that election. Moe and his running mate, Julie Sabo, received 36% of the vote in the general election to Pawlenty's 44%.
.
Majority leader
In U.S. politics, the majority floor leader is a partisan position in a legislative body.In the federal Congress, the role differs slightly in the two houses. In the House of Representatives, which chooses its own presiding officer, the leader of the majority party is elected the Speaker of the...
of the Minnesota Senate
Minnesota Senate
The Minnesota Senate is the upper house in the Minnesota Legislature. There are 67 members, half as many as are in the Minnesota House of Representatives. In terms of membership, it is the largest upper house of any state legislature. Each Senate district in the state includes an A and B House...
. He was also the state Democratic Party's
Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party
The Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party is a major political party in the state of Minnesota and the state affiliate of the Democratic Party. It was created on April 15, 1944, with the merger of the Minnesota Democratic Party and the Farmer–Labor Party...
endorsed candidate for governor
Governor of Minnesota
The Governor of Minnesota is the chief executive of the U.S. state of Minnesota, leading the state's executive branch. Forty different people have been governors of the state, though historically there were also three governors of Minnesota Territory. Alexander Ramsey, the first territorial...
in 2002.
Education and early career
Born in CrookstonCrookston, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 8,192 people, 3,078 households, and 1,819 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,658.8 people per square mile . There were 3,382 housing units at an average density of 684.8 per square mile...
, Moe graduated from Crookston Central High School and received his college degree from Mayville State College in North Dakota
North Dakota
North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
. His graduate studies were completed at Moorhead State University (Moorhead, MN) and North Dakota State University
North Dakota State University
North Dakota State University of Agriculture and Applied Sciences, more commonly known as North Dakota State University , is a public university in Fargo, North Dakota. NDSU has about 14,000 students and it is the largest university in North Dakota based on full time students and land size...
in Fargo
Fargo, North Dakota
Fargo is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Dakota and the county seat of Cass County. In 2010, its population was 105,549, and it had an estimated metropolitan population of 208,777...
. In 2005 he received an Honorary LL.D (Doctor of Laws Degree) from the University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
. Before running for office, he taught math and coached wrestling at Ada High School in Ada
Ada, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,657 people, 749 households, and 432 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,234.4 people per square mile . There were 835 housing units at an average density of 622.1 per square mile...
.
Senate leadership and accomplishments
Moe was first elected to the Senate in 1970, and was the second youngest senator in state history up to that time. He represented the old District 66 during the 1971–72 biennium and, after the 1972 legislative redistrictingRedistricting
Redistricting is the process of drawing United States electoral district boundaries, often in response to population changes determined by the results of the decennial census. In 36 states, the state legislature has primary responsibility for creating a redistricting plan, in many cases subject to...
, District 2 for the remainder of his time in office. Through the years, he represented all or parts of Becker
Becker County, Minnesota
Becker County is a county located in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of 2010, the population was 32,504. Its county seat is Detroit Lakes. A portion of the White Earth Indian Reservation extends into the county.-History:...
, Beltrami
Beltrami County, Minnesota
Beltrami County is a county located in the northern part of the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of 2010, the population was 44,442. Its county seat is Bemidji. Portions of the Leech Lake and Red Lake Indian reservations are in the county. The northernmost portion of the Mississippi River flows...
, Clay
Clay County, Minnesota
Clay County is a county located in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of 2010, the population was 58,999. Its name is in honor of American statesman Henry Clay, member of the United States Senate from Kentucky and United States Secretary of State in the 19th century. Its county seat is Moorhead...
, Clearwater
Clearwater County, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 8,423 people, 3,330 households, and 2,287 families residing in the county. The population density was 8 people per square mile . There were 4,114 housing units at an average density of 4 per square mile...
, Mahnomen
Mahnomen County, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 5,190 people, 1,969 households, and 1,366 families residing in the county. The population density was 9 people per square mile . There were 2,700 housing units at an average density of 5 per square mile...
, Norman, Polk
Polk County, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 31,369 people, 12,070 households, and 8,050 families residing in the county. The population density was 16 people per square mile . There were 14,008 housing units at an average density of 7 per square mile...
and Red Lake counties in the northwestern part of the state.
Moe became the Senate's majority leader
Majority leader
In U.S. politics, the majority floor leader is a partisan position in a legislative body.In the federal Congress, the role differs slightly in the two houses. In the House of Representatives, which chooses its own presiding officer, the leader of the majority party is elected the Speaker of the...
in 1981, a position he held for 22 years. He is the longest-serving state majority leader, and the longest-serving leader of either of Minnesota's legislative bodies. His brother, Donald Moe, was also a member of the legislature, serving in both the House and Senate.
Among Moe's many legislative accomplishments was an initiative to transfer lottery
Minnesota State Lottery
The Minnesota Lottery is the official lottery association in Minnesota. The minimum age to purchase Minnesota Lottery tickets is 18.As a result of the 2011 Minnesota state government shutdown, sales of Minnesota Lottery tickets were suspended on July 1, 2011...
proceeds to Minnesota environmental projects (Legislative Commission on Minnesota Resources – LCMR), the creation of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities governance system, the Midwest Higher Education Commission, and the Environmental Trust Fund.
Run for lieutenant governor and governor
After running as the lieutenant governor candidate with Skip HumphreySkip Humphrey
Hubert Horatio "Skip" Humphrey III is a former Minnesota politician who served as attorney general of the state from 1983 to 1999. Prior to that, he was a state senator from 1973 to 1983...
during Humphrey's 1998 gubernatorial bid, Moe ran for governor against Tim Pawlenty
Tim Pawlenty
Timothy James "Tim" Pawlenty , also known affectionately among supporters as T-Paw, is an American politician who served as the 39th Governor of Minnesota . He was a Republican candidate for President of the United States in the 2012 election from May to August 2011...
, Tim Penny
Tim Penny
Timothy Joe "Tim" Penny , is an American politician from Minnesota. Penny was a Democratic-Farmer-Labor member of the United States House of Representatives, 1983–1995, representing Minnesota's 1st congressional district in the 98th, 99th, 100th, 101st, 102nd and 103rd congresses.-Early life:Penny...
and Ken Pentel in 2002. Pawlenty won that election. Moe and his running mate, Julie Sabo, received 36% of the vote in the general election to Pawlenty's 44%.
Post-legislative public service
Moe has retired from public office. He is a business consultant and lobbyist, and serves on several state and national nonprofit boards, and on the Minnesota Job Skills Partnership Board. He and his wife reside in ErskineErskine, Minnesota
Erskine is a city in Polk County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 503 at the 2010 census. It is part of the 'Grand Forks- ND-MN Metropolitan Statistical Area'.-Geography:...
.
Electoral history
- 2002 Race for Governor
- Tim PawlentyTim PawlentyTimothy James "Tim" Pawlenty , also known affectionately among supporters as T-Paw, is an American politician who served as the 39th Governor of Minnesota . He was a Republican candidate for President of the United States in the 2012 election from May to August 2011...
(R), 44% - Roger Moe (DFL), 36%
- Tim PennyTim PennyTimothy Joe "Tim" Penny , is an American politician from Minnesota. Penny was a Democratic-Farmer-Labor member of the United States House of Representatives, 1983–1995, representing Minnesota's 1st congressional district in the 98th, 99th, 100th, 101st, 102nd and 103rd congresses.-Early life:Penny...
(IPM), 16% - Ken PentelKen PentelKen Pentel is an American politician, and a candidate for Governor of Minnesota for the Ecology Democracy Party. Pentel was the gubernatorial candidate for the Green party three previous times, in 1998, 2002, and 2006.-Biography:...
(Grn), 2%
- Tim Pawlenty