Representative Paul Torkelson

Representative Paul Torkelson Contact information

Here you will find contact information for Representative Paul Torkelson, including email address, phone number, and mailing address.

NamePaul Torkelson
PositionRepresentative
Statestate representatives     Minnesota     
PartyRepublican
emailEmail Form
Website
Contact Representative Paul Torkelson
Born on July 12, 1952, Paul M. Torkelson is an American politician who has been serving as a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives since 2009. He is a member of the Republican Party of Minnesota and represents District 15B in southwestern Minnesota.

Representative Paul Torkelson



Paul M. Torkelson

Born on July 12, 1952, Paul M. Torkelson is an American politician who has been serving as a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives since 2009. He is a member of the Republican Party of Minnesota and represents District 15B in southwestern Minnesota. This district includes the city of New Ulm and all or parts of Blue Earth, Brown, and Redwood Counties.

Early Life and Education

Torkelson earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in instrumental music education from Gustavus Adolphus College in 1974.

Career

Before his political career, Torkelson was a fourth-generation Watonwan County corn, soybean, and pork farmer, with family roots in the area since 1878. He was also a former music teacher. In 2006, Governor Tim Pawlenty appointed Torkelson to the Minnesota Governor’s Clean Water Council, a position he held until his election to the House. He is a member of the Minnesota’s Deer Hunters Association, a former vice president of the Minnesota Farm Bureau, and a former chair of St. James Health Services.

Minnesota House of Representatives

Torkelson was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2008, succeeding incumbent Representative Brad Finstad, who decided not to seek reelection. He has been reelected every two years since then. Torkelson was an assistant majority leader during the 2011-12 legislative session and an assistant minority leader from 2013-14. He chaired the Capital Investment Committee in 2015-16, and the Transportation Finance Committee in 2017-18. During the 2021-22 legislative session, Torkelson again served as an assistant majority leader. After the 2022 election, he was appointed to serve as deputy minority leader by incoming Minority Leader Lisa Demuth. Torkelson is also the minority lead on the Elections Finance and Policy Committee and Ethics Committees and sits on the Rules and Legislative Administration Committee.

Personal Life

Torkelson is married to Cindy and they have two children. They reside in Hanska, Minnesota, U.S. He is a Lutheran.

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