# Jeff Dotseth > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Jeff_Dotseth > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Jeff_Dotseth.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Dotseth > Source revision: 1353203810 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|American politician}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Jeff Dotseth | image = | image_size = | alt = | caption = | state_house = Minnesota | district = 11A | predecessor = [Mike Sundin](/source/Mike_Sundin) | term_start = January 3, 2023 | constituency = 11A (2023-present) | birth_date = | birth_place = | education = | party = [Republican](/source/Republican_Party_of_Minnesota) | occupation = {{hlist|[Real estate](/source/Real_estate)|[Small business owner](/source/Small_business_owner)|[Farmer](/source/Farmer)|[Consultant](/source/Consultant)|[Legislator](/source/Legislator)}} | spouse = Melissa | children = 3 | website = {{URL|https://www.house.mn.gov/members/profile/15598|Government website}} {{URL|https://www.dotsethmn.com/|Campaign website}} }} '''Jeff Dotseth''' is an American politician serving in the [Minnesota House of Representatives](/source/Minnesota_House_of_Representatives) since 2023. A member of the [Republican Party of Minnesota](/source/Republican_Party_of_Minnesota), Dotseth represents District 11A in northeastern [Minnesota](/source/Minnesota), which includes the city of [Cloquet](/source/Cloquet%2C_Minnesota), [Thomson Township](/source/Thomson_Township%2C_Carlton_County%2C_Minnesota), and parts of [Carlton](/source/Carlton_County%2C_Minnesota), [Pine](/source/Pine_County%2C_Minnesota) and [St. Louis](/source/St._Louis_County%2C_Minnesota) Counties.{{Cite web |title=Dotseth, Jeff - Legislator Record - Minnesota Legislators Past & Present |url=https://www.lrl.mn.gov/legdb/fulldetail?ID=15598 |access-date=2023-02-25 |website=www.lrl.mn.gov}}{{Cite web |title=Rep. Jeff Dotseth (11A) - Minnesota House of Representatives |url=https://www.house.mn.gov/members/profile/15598 |access-date=2023-02-25 |website=www.house.mn.gov}} == Minnesota House of Representatives == Dotseth was elected to the [Minnesota House of Representatives](/source/Minnesota_House_of_Representatives) in [2022](/source/2022_Minnesota_House_of_Representatives_election). He first ran unsuccessfully in [2018](/source/2018_Minnesota_House_of_Representatives_election) against [DFL](/source/Minnesota_Democratic%E2%80%93Farmer%E2%80%93Labor_Party) incumbent [Mike Sundin](/source/Mike_Sundin), then lost to him again in [2020](/source/2020_Minnesota_House_of_Representatives_election). Dotseth defeated DFL nominee Pete Radosevich in 2022 after Sundin retired. Dotseth serves on the Commerce Finance and Policy and Housing Finance and Policy Committees. In 2025, Dotseth co-sponsored a bill to designate [messenger RNA](/source/messenger_RNA) (mRNA) treatments, which include several [COVID-19](/source/COVID-19) vaccines, “weapons of mass destruction". The bill would make possessing or administering them a crime punishable by up to 20 years in prison. The bill was drafted by a Florida-based [hypnotist](/source/hypnotist) and [conspiracy theorist](/source/conspiracy_theorist) who believes that mRNA treatments are "nanoparticle injections" that amount to "biological and technological weapons of mass destruction".https://minnesotareformer.com/2025/04/22/mn-republicans-introduce-vaccine-criminalization-bill-drafted-by-florida-hypnotist/https://josephsansone.substack.com/p/breaking-mrna-mrna-bioweapons-prohibition == Electoral history == {{Election box begin no change | title = 2018 Minnesota State House - District 11A{{cite web|url=https://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/results/Index?ErsElectionId=115&scenario=StateRepresentative&DistrictId=375&show=Go|title=2018 Results for State Representative District 11A|access-date=February 25, 2023|website=[Minnesota Secretary of State](/source/Minnesota_Secretary_of_State)}} }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | candidate = [Mike Sundin](/source/Mike_Sundin) (incumbent) | party = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party | votes = 10,532 | percentage = 58.30 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = Jeff Dotseth | party = Republican Party of Minnesota | votes = 7,518 | percentage = 41.62 }} {{Election box write-in with party link no change | votes = 14 | percentage = 0.08 }} {{Election box total no change | votes = 18,064 | percentage = 100.0 }} {{Election box hold with party link no change | winner = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party }} {{Election box end}} {{Election box begin no change | title = 2020 Minnesota State House - District 11A{{cite web|url=https://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/results/Index?ErsElectionId=136&scenario=StateRepresentative&DistrictId=375&show=Go|title=2020 Results for State Representative District 11A|access-date=February 25, 2023|website=[Minnesota Secretary of State](/source/Minnesota_Secretary_of_State)}} }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | candidate = [Mike Sundin](/source/Mike_Sundin) (incumbent) | party = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party | votes = 11,452 | percentage = 51.41 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = Jeff Dotseth | party = Republican Party of Minnesota | votes = 10,798 | percentage = 48.48 }} {{Election box write-in with party link no change | votes = 25 | percentage = 0.11 }} {{Election box total no change | votes = 22,275 | percentage = 100.0 }} {{Election box hold with party link no change | winner = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party }} {{Election box end}} {{Election box begin no change | title = 2022 Minnesota State House - District 11A{{cite web|url=https://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/results/Index?ErsElectionId=149&scenario=StateRepresentative&DistrictId=375&show=Go|title=2022 Results for State Representative District 11A|access-date=February 25, 2023|website=[Minnesota Secretary of State](/source/Minnesota_Secretary_of_State)}} }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | candidate = Jeff Dotseth | party = Republican Party of Minnesota | votes = 9,510 | percentage = 51.16 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = Pete Radosevich | party = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party | votes = 9,056 | percentage = 48.71 }} {{Election box write-in with party link no change | votes = 24 | percentage = 0.13 }} {{Election box total no change | votes = 18,590 | 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 = 2024 Minnesota State House - District 11A {{cite web|url=https://electionresults.sos.mn.gov/results/Index?ErsElectionId=170&scenario=StateFedMNHouse&DistrictId=375&show=Go=|title = 2024 Results for State Representative District 11A|access-date=May 8, 2026|website=[Minnesota Secretary of State](/source/Minnesota_Secretary_of_State)}} }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | candidate = Jeff Dotseth | party = Republican Party of Minnesota | votes = 12,252 | percentage = 51.19 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = Pete Radosevich | party = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party | votes = 11,588 | percentage = 48.41 }} {{Election box write-in with party link no change | votes = 96 | percentage = 0.40 }} {{Election box total no change | votes = 23,936 | percentage = 100.0 }} {{Election box hold with party link without swing | winner = Republican Party of Minnesota | loser = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party }} {{Election box end}} == Personal life == Dotseth lives in [Kettle River, Minnesota](/source/Kettle_River%2C_Minnesota), with his wife, Melissa, and three children. In 2008, Dotseth was charged with abuse of his then wife, Penny Kowal. He denied the allegations and pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of disorderly conduct.{{cite news |last1=Faircloth |first1=Ryan |last2=Bierschbach |first2=Briana |title=Minnesota Rep. Jeff Dotseth charged in 2008 with abuse of then-wife, court filings show |url=https://www.startribune.com/minnesota-rep-jeff-dotseth-charged-in-2008-with-abuse-of-then-wife-court-filings-show/601145747 |access-date=September 18, 2024 |work=[Minnesota Star Tribune](/source/Minnesota_Star_Tribune) |date=September 16, 2024}} Kowal said in an affidavit that Dotseth had choked, kicked, and hit her on several occasions over a decade, and also abused their dog.{{Cite web |last=Griffith |first=Michelle |date=2024-09-18 |title=Rep. Jeff Dotseth kicked dog, called stepson 'Kunta Kinte,' according to affidavits • Minnesota Reformer |url=https://minnesotareformer.com/2024/09/18/rep-jeff-dotseth-kicked-dog-called-stepson-kunta-kinte-according-to-affidavits/ |access-date=2024-09-19 |website=Minnesota Reformer |language=en-US}} Dotseth's stepson also alleged that Dotseth had punched, choked, and hit him in violent outbursts. After a September 2024 [Minnesota Star Tribune](/source/Minnesota_Star_Tribune) report on the matter, [DFL](/source/Minnesota_Democratic-Farmer-Labor_Party) leadership called for Dotseth to end [his reelection campaign](/source/2024_Minnesota_House_of_Representatives_election).{{cite news |last1=Caroline |first1=Cummings |title=Democrats call for GOP legislator to end re-election campaign following domestic abuse allegations |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/minnesota-rep-jeff-dotseth-abuse-allegations/ |access-date=September 17, 2024 |work=WCCO News |date=September 17, 2024}} == References == {{reflist}} == External links == {{MN-legdb|15598}} * [https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/members/profile/15598 Official House of Representatives website] * [https://www.dotsethmn.com/ Official campaign website] {{Minnesota House of Representatives}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Dotseth, Jeff}} Category:Members of the Minnesota House of Representatives Category:Living people Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:21st-century members of the Minnesota Legislature Category:People from Carlton County, Minnesota --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Jeff Dotseth](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Dotseth) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Dotseth?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.