# Jeff Backer
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{{Short description|American politician}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Jeff Backer
| image =
| state = Minnesota
| state_house = Minnesota
| district = 9A
| constituency = 9A (2023-present)
12A (2015-2022)
| term_start = January 6, 2015
| term_end =
| preceded = [Jay McNamar](/source/Jay_McNamar)
| succeeded =
| party = [Republican](/source/Republican_Party_(United_States))
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1967|01|03}}
| birth_place = [Browns Valley, Minnesota](/source/Browns_Valley%2C_Minnesota), U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| education = [St. Cloud State University](/source/St._Cloud_State_University) ([BS](/source/Bachelor_of_Science))
| occupation = {{hlist|[Small business owner](/source/Small_business_owner)|[Legislator](/source/Legislator)}}
| spouse = Judy
| children = 1
| website = {{URL|https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/members/profile/15428|Government website}} {{URL|https://www.jeffbacker.com/|Campaign website}}
}}
'''Jeff Backer Jr.''' (born January 3, 1967) is an American politician serving in the [Minnesota House of Representatives](/source/Minnesota_House_of_Representatives) since 2015. A member of the [Republican Party of Minnesota](/source/Republican_Party_of_Minnesota), Backer represents District 9A in western [Minnesota](/source/Minnesota), which includes the city of [Fergus Falls](/source/Fergus_Falls%2C_Minnesota), [Grant](/source/Grant_County%2C_Minnesota), [Traverse](/source/Traverse_County%2C_Minnesota), and [Wilkin](/source/Wilkin_County%2C_Minnesota) Counties, and parts of [Otter Tail County](/source/Otter_Tail_County%2C_Minnesota).[{{cite web|url=http://www.leg.state.mn.us/legdb/fulldetail.aspx?ID=15428|title=Minnesota Legislators Past & Present - Legislator Record - Backer, Jeff|publisher=leg.state.mn.us|access-date=February 17, 2015}}][{{Cite web |title=Rep. Jeff Backer (09A) - Minnesota House of Representatives |url=https://www.house.mn.gov/members/profile/15428 |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=www.house.mn.gov}}]
Backer was [Woodbury](/source/Woodbury%2C_Minnesota) Mayor [Mary Giuliani Stephens](/source/Mary_Giuliani_Stephens)' pick for lieutenant governor in the [Republican primary for the 2018 Minnesota gubernatorial election](/source/2018_Minnesota_gubernatorial_election); the pair withdrew from the race during the Republican party state convention.[{{Cite web |last=Golden |first=Erin |date=May 5, 2018 |title=Woodbury mayor running for governor taps rural state representative as GOP running mate |website=[Star Tribune](/source/Star_Tribune) |url=https://www.startribune.com/woodbury-mayor-running-for-governor-taps-rural-state-representative-as-running-mate/481529531/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180505065603/http://www.startribune.com/giuliani-stephens-names-backer-to-ticket-in-gop-governor-bid/481514221/ |archive-date=2018-05-05 |access-date=2023-02-12 }}][{{Cite web |last=Pugmire |first=Tim |date=May 2, 2018 |title=Giuliani Stephens picks rural lawmaker as running mate |url=https://www.mprnews.org/story/2018/05/02/giuliani-stephens-picks-rural-lawmaker-as-running-mate |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=MPR News |language=en}}]
==Early life, education, and career==
Backer was born and raised in [Browns Valley, Minnesota](/source/Browns_Valley%2C_Minnesota) and graduated from Browns Valley High School. He attended [St. Cloud State University](/source/St._Cloud_State_University), earning a [Bachelor of Science](/source/Bachelor_of_Science) degree in chemistry and public administration.[{{cite web |title=Meet Jeff |url=http://jeffbackerjr.com/index.php/meet-jeff |access-date=February 17, 2015 |publisher=jeffbackerjr.com |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304054210/http://jeffbackerjr.com/index.php/meet-jeff |url-status=dead }}] He served as a member of the Browns Valley school board, and was elected to Browns Valley City Council in 2000. Backer was elected mayor in 2004 and served until 2010.[{{Cite web |last=Gunderson |first=Dan |date=March 14, 2007 |title=Cleanup begins in flooded town |url=https://www.mprnews.org/story/2007/03/14/flooding |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=MPR News |language=en}}][{{Cite web |last=Pugmire |first=Tim |date=August 26, 2007 |title=State flood aid may be a long time coming |url=https://www.mprnews.org/story/2007/08/24/floodmoney |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=MPR News |language=en}}] Following the flood, Backer led efforts on a flood prevention and control project.[{{Cite web |last=Minnesota News Network |date=May 6, 2008 |title=Browns Valley purchases land to control flooding |url=https://www.mprnews.org/story/2008/05/06/highwater |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=MPR News |language=en}}][{{Cite web |last=MPR News |date=March 18, 2010 |title=Flood project holds up in Browns Valley |url=https://www.mprnews.org/story/2010/03/18/backer2 |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=MPR News |language=en}}]
==Minnesota House of Representatives==
Backer was elected to the [Minnesota House of Representatives](/source/Minnesota_House_of_Representatives) in [2014](/source/2014_Minnesota_House_of_Representatives_election) and has been reelected every two years since. He defeated one-term [DFL](/source/Minnesota_Democratic%E2%80%93Farmer%E2%80%93Labor_Party) incumbent [Jay McNamar](/source/Jay_McNamar).[{{Cite web |last=Pugmire |first=Tim |date=November 19, 2014 |title=New Republicans in the MN House vow to set the agenda |url=https://www.mprnews.org/story/2014/11/19/republicans-minnesota-house |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=MPR News |language=en}}] Backer dubbed his opponent "Metro Jay" and attacked him for his votes on taxes, increasing the minimum wage, and to legalize protections for [same-sex marriage](/source/Same-sex_marriage_in_Minnesota).[{{Cite web |last=Scheck |first=Tom |date=October 15, 2014 |title=Republicans try to portray DFL as ignoring rural MN |url=https://www.mprnews.org/story/2014/10/14/rural-minnesota-battleground |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=MPR News |language=en}}][{{Cite web |last=Condon |first=Patrick |date=January 25, 2015 |title=Urban-rural split in Minnesota grows deeper, wider |url=https://www.startribune.com/urban-rural-split-in-minnesota-grows-deeper-and-wider/289688071/ |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=Star Tribune}}][{{Cite web |last=Bierschbach |first=Briana |date=2014-11-11 |title=How the House GOP conquered rural Minnesota |url=https://www.minnpost.com/politics-policy/2014/11/how-house-gop-conquered-rural-minnesota/ |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=MinnPost |language=en-US}}]
Backer serves as the minority lead for the Legacy Finance Committee, and also sits on the Health Finance and Policy and Human Services Policy Committees.[{{Cite web |last=Van Berkel |first=Jessie |date=April 30, 2022 |title=Minnesota legislators clash over climate change, environmental spending |url=https://www.startribune.com/minnesota-legislators-clash-over-climate-change-environmental-spending/600169470/ |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=Star Tribune}}] He sponsored bills to limit the authority of Governor [Mark Dayton's](/source/Mark_Dayton) administration to make rules on farm fertilizers, and criticized Dayton's executive orders to protect pollinators.[{{Cite web |last=Marcotty |first=Josephine |date=April 25, 2018 |title=Overuse of farm fertilizer drives state's first effort to regulate it |url=https://www.startribune.com/overuse-of-farm-fertilizer-drives-state-s-first-effort-to-regulate-it/480757011/ |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=Star Tribune}}][{{Cite web |last=Lopez |first=Ricardo |date=September 13, 2016 |title=House GOP criticize Dayton's executive order on pollinator rules |url=https://www.startribune.com/house-gop-criticize-dayton-s-executive-order-on-pollinator-rules/393285491/ |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=Star Tribune}}] Backer advocated requiring departments get legislative approval before making new regulations and rules.[{{Cite web |last=Marohn |first=Kristi |date=April 16, 2018 |title=Bill would require legislative approval for fertilizer rules |url=https://www.mprnews.org/story/2018/04/16/bill-would-require-legislative-approval-for-fertilizer-rules |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=MPR News |language=en}}][{{Cite web |last=Marcotty |first=Josephine |date=April 19, 2018 |title=Minnesota Legislature on collision course with Gov. Dayton on water bills |url=https://www.startribune.com/legislature-on-collision-course-with-dayton-on-water-bills/480319163/ |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=Star Tribune}}]
=== Other political positions ===
Backer opposed measures to raise the minimum wage in Minnesota.[{{Cite web |last=Bakst |first=Brian |date=April 25, 2019 |title=Local min. wage hikes emerge as Capitol sticking points |url=https://www.mprnews.org/story/2019/04/25/local-minimum-wage-hikes-emerge-as-capitol-sticking-points |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=MPR News |language=en}}] He attacked Governor Dayton for his commitment to the Southwest light rail project.[{{Cite web |last1=Coolican |first1=J. Patrick |last2=Webster |first2=MaryJo |date=March 20, 2017 |title=Metro contributes roughly half of state transportation dollars, gets fewer in return |url=https://www.startribune.com/metro-contributes-half-of-transportation-dollars-gets-fewer-in-return/416565963/ |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=Star Tribune}}] Backer was a member of a task force to reform child protection laws, and supported a 2018 bill to extend funding for mental health care for children.[{{Cite web |last=Simons |first=Abby |date=January 21, 2015 |title=Task force members unveil child protection legislation, say it's just the beginning |url=https://www.startribune.com/task-force-unveils-sweeping-plan-to-reform-child-protection-laws/289345021/ |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=Star Tribune}}][{{Cite web |last=Star Tribune Editorial Board |title=EDITORIAL {{!}} Federal rule change threatens mental health care for Minnesota kids |url=https://www.startribune.com/federal-rule-change-threatens-mental-health-care-for-minnesota-kids/482334941/ |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=Star Tribune}}] He signed on to a letter calling on the [University of Minnesota](/source/University_of_Minnesota) to stop participating in research on "aborted human fetal organs," and signed on to a letter calling on Attorney General [Lori Swanson](/source/Lori_Swanson) to investigate [Planned Parenthood](/source/Planned_Parenthood) for allegedly selling fetal body parts.[{{Cite web |last=Multiple Authors |date=July 16, 2015 |title=Readers Write (July 17): Planned Parenthood, MNsure and the Affordable Care Act, Tennessee shooting |url=https://www.startribune.com/readers-write-july-17-planned-parenthood-mnsure-and-the-affordable-care-act-tennessee-shooting/316054391/ |access-date=2023-04-30 |website=Star Tribune}}][{{Cite web |last=Whelan |first=Abigail |date=January 15, 2016 |title=OPINION EXCHANGE {{!}} Fetal tissue research should cease at U |url=https://www.startribune.com/fetal-tissue-research-should-cease-at-u/365492261/ |access-date=2023-04-08 |website=Star Tribune}}] Backer praised a bill passed by the House in December 2020 providing aid to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.[{{Cite web |last=Star Tribune Editorial Board |date=December 15, 2020 |title=EDITORIAL {{!}} Compromise produced COVID aid deal |url=https://www.startribune.com/compromise-produced-covid-aid-deal/573402101/ |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=Star Tribune}}]
== Electoral history ==
{{Election box begin no change
| title = 2014 Republican Primary for Minnesota State House - District 12A[{{cite web|url=https://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/results/Index?ErsElectionId=19&scenario=StateRepresentative&DistrictId=377&show=Go|title=2014 Results for State Representative District 12A Primary|access-date=February 10, 2023|website=[Minnesota Secretary of State](/source/Minnesota_Secretary_of_State)}}]
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Jeff Backer
| party = Republican Party of Minnesota
| votes = 1,777
| percentage = 55.55
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Nancy A. Taffe
| party = Republican Party of Minnesota
| votes = 1,422
| percentage = 44.45
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 3,199
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change
| title = 2014 Minnesota State House - District 12A[{{cite web|url=https://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/results/Index?ErsElectionId=20&scenario=StateRepresentative&DistrictId=377&show=Go|title=2014 Results for State Representative District 12A|access-date=February 10, 2023|website=[Minnesota Secretary of State](/source/Minnesota_Secretary_of_State)}}]
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Jeff Backer
| party = Republican Party of Minnesota
| votes = 8,725
| percentage = 51.85
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = [Jay McNamar](/source/Jay_McNamar) (incumbent)
| party = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party
| votes = 8,065
| percentage = 47.93
}}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change
| votes = 38
| percentage = 0.23
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 16,828
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box gain with party link without swing
| winner = Republican Party of Minnesota
| loser = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change
| title = 2016 Minnesota State House - District 12A[{{cite web|url=https://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/results/Index?ErsElectionId=100&scenario=StateRepresentative&DistrictId=377&show=Go|title=2016 Results for State Representative District 12A|access-date=February 10, 2023|website=[Minnesota Secretary of State](/source/Minnesota_Secretary_of_State)}}]
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Jeff Backer (incumbent)
| party = Republican Party of Minnesota
| votes = 13,021
| percentage = 60.46
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Jay McNamar
| party = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party
| votes = 8,498
| percentage = 39.46
}}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change
| votes = 17
| percentage = 0.08
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 21,536
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change
| winner = Republican Party of Minnesota
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change
| title = 2018 Minnesota State House - District 12A[{{cite web|url=https://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/results/Index?ErsElectionId=115&scenario=StateRepresentative&DistrictId=377&show=Go|title=2018 Results for State Representative District 12A|access-date=February 10, 2023|website=[Minnesota Secretary of State](/source/Minnesota_Secretary_of_State)}}]
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Jeff Backer (incumbent)
| party = Republican Party of Minnesota
| votes = 11,382
| percentage = 62.02
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Murray Smart
| party = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party
| votes = 6,959
| percentage = 37.92
}}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change
| votes = 10
| percentage = 0.05
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 18,351
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change
| winner = Republican Party of Minnesota
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change
| title = 2020 Minnesota State House - District 12A[{{cite web|url=https://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/results/Index?ErsElectionId=136&scenario=StateRepresentative&DistrictId=377&show=Go|title=2020 Results for State Representative District 12A|access-date=February 10, 2023|website=[Minnesota Secretary of State](/source/Minnesota_Secretary_of_State)}}]
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Jeff Backer (incumbent)
| party = Republican Party of Minnesota
| votes = 14,769
| percentage = 66.87
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Murray Smart
| party = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party
| votes = 7,299
| percentage = 33.05
}}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change
| votes = 17
| percentage = 0.08
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 22,085
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change
| winner = Republican Party of Minnesota
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change
| title = 2022 Minnesota State House - District 9A[{{cite web|url=https://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/results/Index?ErsElectionId=149&scenario=StateRepresentative&DistrictId=371&show=Go|title=2022 Results for State Representative District 9A|access-date=February 10, 2023|website=[Minnesota Secretary of State](/source/Minnesota_Secretary_of_State)}}]
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Jeff Backer (incumbent)
| party = Republican Party of Minnesota
| votes = 12,248
| percentage = 66.30
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Nancy Jost
| party = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party
| votes = 6,172
| percentage = 33.41
}}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change
| votes = 54
| percentage = 0.29
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 18,474
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change
| winner = Republican Party of Minnesota
}}
{{Election box end}}
==Personal life==
Backer lives in [Browns Valley, Minnesota](/source/Browns_Valley%2C_Minnesota) with his wife, and has one child.