{{short description|American politician}} {{Infobox officeholder | image = Senator_Dick_Cohen_2016.jpg | name = Dick Cohen | state_senate = Minnesota | district = 64th | term_start = January 6, 1987 | term_end = January 5, 2021 | preceded = Ron Sieloff | succeeded = Erin Murphy | state_house2 = Minnesota | district2 = 64B | term_start2 = January 4, 1983 | term_end2 = January 5, 1987 | preceded2 = ''redrawn district'' | succeeded2 = Howard Orenstein | state_house3 = Minnesota | district3 = 63B | term_start3 = January 4, 1977 | term_end3 = January 2, 1979 | preceded3 = Ron Sieloff | succeeded3 = John Drew | party = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1949|12|10|mf=y}} | birth_place = Saint Paul, Minnesota | alma_mater = Northwestern University<br />William Mitchell College of Law | occupation = attorney, legislator | spouse = }}
'''Richard J. Cohen''' (born December 10, 1949) is a Minnesota politician and a former member of the Minnesota Senate. A member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL), he represented District 64, which includes portions of the city of Saint Paul in Ramsey County.<ref name="cohen">{{cite web | url=http://www.leg.state.mn.us/legdb/fulldetail.aspx?ID=10106 | title=Cohen, Richard J. | publisher=Minnesota Legislative Reference Library | work=Legislators Past & Present | accessdate=February 27, 2013}}</ref>
==Early life and education== Cohen was born in Saint Paul and graduated from Highland Park High School. He earned his B.A. from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, and his J.D. from William Mitchell College of Law in Saint Paul.
==Minnesota Legislature== Cohen was first elected to the Minnesota Legislature in 1976. He served as a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives for District 63B and, after redistricting in 1982, for District 64B. He was elected senator for District 64 in 1986, gaining the lone Republican-held Senate seat within the Twin Cities.<ref>Gregor W. Pinney, (August 13, 1986), "DFL hopes to win the seat in lone IR district in Cities", ''Star Tribune''</ref> He was reelected in the 1990, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2012, and 2016 elections.
Cohen was chair of the Senate Finance Committee from 2003 to 2011 and chair of the Senate State Government Finance Committee from 1997 to 2001.<ref name="cohen" />
On November 3, 2009, President Barack Obama announced Cohen's appointment to the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities. Cohen is considered by many to be the leading champion for the arts in the Minnesota Legislature. He led the campaign to include funding for the arts in the Clean Water, Land and Legacy constitutional amendment that Minnesota voters approved in 2008.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.startribune.com/politics/statelocal/68919417.html | archive-url=https://archive.today/20130411220200/http://www.startribune.com/politics/statelocal/68919417.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=April 11, 2013 | title=Longtime state arts advocate is named to Obama's panel on arts, humanities | publisher=Star Tribune | date=November 3, 2009 | accessdate=February 26, 2013 }}</ref>
In 2019, Erin Murphy announced that she would be running to unseat Cohen in the DFL primary.
On November 17, Cohen announced that he would not be running for re-election in 2020.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://kstp.com/politics/dfl-state-sen-dick-cohen-announces-he-will-not-run-for-reelection-november-17-2019/5555623/ | title=DFL state Sen. Dick Cohen announces he will not run for reelection | accessdate=November 18, 2019 | archive-date=November 18, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191118180027/https://kstp.com/politics/dfl-state-sen-dick-cohen-announces-he-will-not-run-for-reelection-november-17-2019/5555623/ | url-status=dead }}</ref>
==Personal life== Cohen serves on the board of the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra. He previously served on the Guthrie Theater board.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://reelectdickcohen.com/bio | title=About Dick Cohen | publisher=Cohen Volunteer Committee | accessdate=February 26, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161024215537/http://reelectdickcohen.com/bio | archive-date=October 24, 2016 | url-status=dead }}</ref>
==Electoral history== {{Election box begin | title=Minnesota Senate 64th district election, 2012<ref>{{cite web |url=http://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/ENR/Results/AllStateSenate/1 |title=Results for All State Senate Races, 2012 |publisher=Minnesota Secretary of State |accessdate=February 26, 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110025144/http://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/ENR/Results/AllStateSenate/1 |archivedate=November 10, 2012 }}</ref>}} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party |candidate = '''Dick Cohen''' (incumbent) |votes = 33,008 |percentage = 69.67 |change = }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Republican Party of Minnesota |candidate = Sharon Anderson |votes = 9,069 |percentage = 19.14 |change = }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Independent (politician) |candidate = Scott Larson |votes = 5,196 |percentage = 10.97 |change = }} {{Election box end}} {{Election box begin | title=Minnesota Senate 64th district election, 2010<ref>{{cite web|url=http://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/20101102/ElecRslts.asp?M=LG&LD=A&R=ALLSENS |title=Results for All State Senate Races, 2010 |publisher=Minnesota Secretary of State |accessdate=February 26, 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130426211845/http://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/20101102/ElecRslts.asp?M=LG&LD=A&R=ALLSENS |archivedate=April 26, 2013 }}</ref>}} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party |candidate = '''Dick Cohen''' (incumbent) |votes = 23,854 |percentage = 70.74 |change = -5.74pp }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Republican Party of Minnesota |candidate = Tony Hernandez |votes = 9,817 |percentage = 29.11 |change = +5.77pp }} {{Election box end}} {{Election box begin | title=Minnesota Senate 64th district election, 2006<ref>{{cite web |url=http://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/20061107/ElecRslts.asp?M=LG&LD=A&R=ALLSENS |title=Results for All State Senate Races, 2006 |publisher=Minnesota Secretary of State |accessdate=February 26, 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110153750/http://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/20061107/ElecRslts.asp?M=LG&LD=A&R=ALLSENS |archivedate=November 10, 2012 }}</ref>}} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party |candidate = '''Dick Cohen''' (incumbent) |votes = 27,427 |percentage = 76.48 |change = +4.65pp }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Republican Party of Minnesota |candidate = Christine Van Tassel |votes = 8,369 |percentage = 23.34 |change = -4.61pp }} {{Election box end}} {{Election box begin | title=Minnesota Senate 64th district election, 2002<ref>{{cite web |url=http://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/20021105/ElecRslts.asp?M=LG&LD=A&R=ALLSENS |title=Results for All State Senate Races, 2002 |publisher=Minnesota Secretary of State |accessdate=February 26, 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110174030/http://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/20021105/ElecRslts.asp?M=LG&LD=A&R=ALLSENS |archivedate=November 10, 2012 }}</ref>}} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party |candidate = '''Dick Cohen''' (incumbent) |votes = 27,408 |percentage = 71.83 |change = }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Republican Party of Minnesota |candidate = Christopher Johnston |votes = 10,664 |percentage = 27.95 |change = }} {{Election box end}} {{Election box begin | title=Minnesota Senate 64th district election, 2000<ref>{{cite web |url=http://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/20001107/ElecRslts.asp?M=LG&R=ALLSENS&LD=ALL |title=Results for All State Senate Races, 2000 |publisher=Minnesota Secretary of State |accessdate=February 26, 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110153155/http://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/20001107/ElecRslts.asp?M=LG&R=ALLSENS&LD=ALL |archivedate=November 10, 2012 }}</ref>}} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party |candidate = '''Dick Cohen''' (incumbent) |votes = 26,215 |percentage = 72.31 |change = +11.27pp }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Republican Party of Minnesota |candidate = Chris Berg |votes = 10,039 |percentage = 27.69 |change = -6.48pp }} {{Election box end}} {{Election box begin | title=Minnesota Senate 64th district election, 1996<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.leg.state.mn.us/archive/sessions/electionresults/1996-11-05-g-sec.pdf | title=Minnesota Election Results 1996 | publisher=Minnesota Legislative Reference Library | accessdate=February 26, 2013}}</ref>}} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party |candidate = '''Dick Cohen''' (incumbent) |votes = 22,539 |percentage = 61.04 |change = -1.40pp }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Republican Party of Minnesota |candidate = Joe Zappa |votes = 12,618 |percentage = 34.17 |change = +3.52pp }} {{Election box end}} {{Election box begin | title=Minnesota Senate 64th district election, 1992<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.leg.state.mn.us/archive/sessions/electionresults/1992-11-03-g-sec.pdf | title=Minnesota Election Results 1992 | publisher=Minnesota Legislative Reference Library | accessdate=February 26, 2013}}</ref>}} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party |candidate = '''Dick Cohen''' (incumbent) |votes = 25,025 |percentage = 62.44 |change = }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Independent-Republicans of Minnesota |candidate = Joseph P. McCabe |votes = 12,285 |percentage = 30.65 |change = }} {{Election box end}} {{Election box begin | title=Minnesota Senate 64th district election, 1990<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.leg.state.mn.us/archive/sessions/electionresults/1990-11-06-g-sec.pdf | title=Minnesota Election Results 1990 | publisher=Minnesota Legislative Reference Library | accessdate=February 26, 2013}}</ref>}} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party |candidate = '''Dick Cohen''' (incumbent) |votes = 10,841 |percentage = 69.33 |change = +21.73pp }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Independent-Republicans of Minnesota |candidate = G. Hess |votes = 3,702 |percentage = 23.68 |change = -19.22pp }} {{Election box end}} {{Election box begin | title=Minnesota Senate 64th district election, 1986<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.leg.state.mn.us/archive/sessions/electionresults/1986-11-04-g-sec.pdf | title=Minnesota Election Results 1986 | publisher=Minnesota Legislative Reference Library | accessdate=February 26, 2013}}</ref>}} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party |candidate = '''Dick Cohen''' |votes = 11,499 |percentage = 47.6 |change = }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Independent-Republicans of Minnesota |candidate = Bill Ridley |votes = 10,408 |percentage = 42.9 |change = }} {{Election box end}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{MN-legdb|10106}} *[http://www.senate.leg.state.mn.us/members/member_bio.php?mem_id=1008 Senator Dick Cohen] ''official Minnesota Senate website'' *[http://reelectdickcohen.com/ Senator Dick Cohen] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140526234946/http://reelectdickcohen.com/ |date=2014-05-26 }} ''official campaign website'' *[http://minnesota.publicradio.org/projects/ongoing/votetracker/legislator_view.php?id=75 Minnesota Public Radio - Votetracker: Richard J. Cohen Voting Record] *[http://votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=3886 Project Vote Smart - Senator Richard J. 'Dick' Cohen Profile] *''Follow the Money'' - Richard Cohen Campaign Contributions **[http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=82345 2006] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=75127 2004] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=11148 2002] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=59048 2000] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=36234 1996] *{{C-SPAN|66861}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cohen, Dick}} Category:Living people Category:1949 births Category:Democratic Party Minnesota state senators Category:Democratic Party members of the Minnesota House of Representatives Category:Jewish state legislators in Minnesota Category:People from Ramsey County, Minnesota Category:Politicians from Saint Paul, Minnesota Category:Northwestern University alumni Category:William Mitchell College of Law alumni Category:Minnesota lawyers Category:21st-century American Jews Category:21st-century members of the Minnesota Legislature