# Paul Torkelson > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Paul_Torkelson > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Paul_Torkelson.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Torkelson > Source revision: 1354912426 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|American politician}} {{Use mdy dates|date=October 2016}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Paul Torkelson | image = | state_house = Minnesota | district = 15B | prior_term = ''21B (2009–2012), 16B (2013-2022)'' | term_start = January 6, 2009 | term_end = | preceded = [Brad Finstad](/source/Brad_Finstad) | succeeded = | party = [Republican](/source/Republican_Party_of_Minnesota) | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1952|7|12}} | birth_place = | death_date = | death_place = | education = [Gustavus Adolphus College](/source/Gustavus_Adolphus_College) ([BA](/source/Bachelor_of_Arts)) | spouse = Cindy | children = 2 }} '''Paul M. Torkelson''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|t|ɔːr|k|əl|s|ən}} {{respell|TOR|kəl|sən}};{{cite AV media |date=February 5, 2024|title=Informational interview with Rep. Paul Torkelson (R-Hanska). |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4U3cQaYYIM&list=PL215WnxBOAeyXWJ0vxGNTE73L4CL6PU7i&index=7|publisher=MNHouseInfo|via=[YouTube](/source/YouTube)|access-date=August 23, 2024 |time= 10:50}} born July 12, 1952) is an American politician serving as a member of the [Minnesota House of Representatives](/source/Minnesota_House_of_Representatives) since 2009. A member of the [Republican Party of Minnesota](/source/Republican_Party_of_Minnesota), Torkelson represents District 15B in southwestern [Minnesota](/source/Minnesota), which includes the city of [New Ulm](/source/New_Ulm%2C_Minnesota) and all or parts of [Blue Earth](/source/Blue_Earth_County%2C_Minnesota), [Brown](/source/Brown_County%2C_Minnesota), and [Redwood](/source/Redwood_County%2C_Minnesota) Counties.{{Cite web |title=Torkelson, Paul - Legislator Record - Minnesota Legislators Past & Present |url=http://www.leg.state.mn.us/legdb/fulldetail.asp?ID=15304}} ==Early life, education and career== Torkelson earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in instrumental music education from [Gustavus Adolphus College](/source/Gustavus_Adolphus_College) in 1974. In 2006, Governor [Tim Pawlenty](/source/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](/source/Farm_Bureau), and a former chair of St. James Health Services.{{Cite web |title=The Voter's Self Defense System |url=http://www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=109197}} Torkelson is a fourth-generation Watonwan County corn, soybean and pork farmer, with family roots in the area since 1878, and a former music teacher.{{Cite web |title=About Paul Torkelson MN State Representative 21B |url=http://paultorkelson.com/about.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090106183740/http://paultorkelson.com/about.html |archive-date=January 6, 2009 |access-date=November 8, 2009}} He is a [Lutheran](/source/Lutheran). == Minnesota House of Representatives == Torkelson was elected to the [Minnesota House of Representatives](/source/Minnesota_House_of_Representatives) in 2008, succeeding incumbent Representative [Brad Finstad](/source/Brad_Finstad), who decided not to seek reelection, and has been reelected every two years since. 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](/source/Lisa_Demuth).{{Cite web |last=News Desk |date=2022-11-15 |title=Rep. Torkelson of Hanska appointed Deputy Minority Leader for MN House Republican Caucus |url=https://www.southernminnesotanews.com/rep-torkelson-of-hanska-appointed-deputy-minority-leader-for-mn-house-republican-caucus/ |access-date=2023-02-17 |website=Southern Minnesota News |language=en-US}} After the 2024 election, he was appointed Assistant Republican Floor Leader. Torkelson is also the co-chair on the Ways and Means committee.{{cite web |title=Torkelson, Paul - Legislator Record - Minnesota Legislators Past & Present |url=https://www.lrl.mn.gov/legdb/fulldetail?id=15304 |website=www.lrl.mn.gov}} On January 30, 2026, Torkelson announced he was not running for re-election in 2026.{{cite web |title=Rep. Paul Torkelson - RELEASE: REP. TORKELSON ANNOUNCES HE WILL NOT SEEK RE-ELECTION |url=https://www.house.mn.gov/members/profile/news/15304/51538 |website=www.house.mn.gov |language=en}} == Electoral history == {{Election box begin no change | title = 2008 Minnesota State House - District 21B{{cite web|url=https://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/results/Index?ErsElectionId=63&scenario=StateRepresentative&DistrictId=396&show=Go|title=2008 Results for State Representative District 21B|access-date=February 17, 2023|website=[Minnesota Secretary of State](/source/Minnesota_Secretary_of_State)}} }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | candidate = Paul Torkelson | party = Republican Party of Minnesota | votes = 9,111 | percentage = 51.43 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = Robert Skillings | party = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party | votes = 8,586 | percentage = 48.47 }} {{Election box write-in with party link no change | votes = 17 | percentage = 0.10 }} {{Election box total no change | votes = 17,714 | 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 = 2010 Minnesota State House - District 21B{{cite web|url=https://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/results/Index?ErsElectionId=69&scenario=StateRepresentative&DistrictId=396&show=Go|title=2010 Results for State Representative District 21B|access-date=February 17, 2023|website=[Minnesota Secretary of State](/source/Minnesota_Secretary_of_State)}} }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | candidate = Paul Torkelson | party = Republican Party of Minnesota | votes = 11,774 | percentage = 98.31 }} {{Election box write-in with party link no change | votes = 203 | percentage = 1.69 }} {{Election box total no change | votes = 11,977 | 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 = 2012 Minnesota State House - District 16B{{cite web|url=https://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/results/Index?ErsElectionId=1&scenario=StateRepresentative&DistrictId=386&show=Go|title=2012 Results for State Representative District 16B|access-date=February 17, 2023|website=[Minnesota Secretary of State](/source/Minnesota_Secretary_of_State)}} }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | candidate = Paul Torkelson | party = Republican Party of Minnesota | votes = 11,243 | percentage = 56.14 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = James Kanne | party = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party | votes = 6,466 | percentage = 32.29 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = Jerry "Pike" Pagel | party = Independent | votes = 2,303 | percentage = 11.50 }} {{Election box write-in with party link no change | votes = 13 | percentage = 0.06 }} {{Election box total no change | votes = 20,025 | 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 = 2014 Minnesota State House - District 16B{{cite web|url=https://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/results/Index?ErsElectionId=20&scenario=StateRepresentative&DistrictId=386&show=Go|title=2014 Results for State Representative District 16B|access-date=February 17, 2023|website=[Minnesota Secretary of State](/source/Minnesota_Secretary_of_State)}} }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | candidate = Paul Torkelson | party = Republican Party of Minnesota | votes = 9,053 | percentage = 64.94 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = James Kanne | party = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party | votes = 4,872 | percentage = 34.95 }} {{Election box write-in with party link no change | votes = 16 | percentage = 0.11 }} {{Election box total no change | votes = 13,941 | 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 = 2016 Minnesota State House - District 16B{{cite web|url=https://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/results/Index?ErsElectionId=100&scenario=StateRepresentative&DistrictId=386&show=Go|title=2016 Results for State Representative District 16B|access-date=February 17, 2023|website=[Minnesota Secretary of State](/source/Minnesota_Secretary_of_State)}} }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | candidate = Paul Torkelson | party = Republican Party of Minnesota | votes = 14,529 | percentage = 73.06 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = Austin Grossenburg | party = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party | votes = 5,333 | percentage = 26.82 }} {{Election box write-in with party link no change | votes = 25 | percentage = 0.11 }} {{Election box total no change | votes = 19,887 | 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 16B{{cite web|url=https://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/results/Index?ErsElectionId=115&scenario=StateRepresentative&DistrictId=386&show=Go|title=2018 Results for State Representative District 16B|access-date=February 17, 2023|website=[Minnesota Secretary of State](/source/Minnesota_Secretary_of_State)}} }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | candidate = Paul Torkelson | party = Republican Party of Minnesota | votes = 10,772 | percentage = 63.20 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = Marinda "Mindy" Kimmel | party = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party | votes = 6,268 | percentage = 36.77 }} {{Election box write-in with party link no change | votes = 5 | percentage = 0.03 }} {{Election box total no change | votes = 17,045 | 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 16B{{cite web|url=https://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/results/Index?ErsElectionId=136&scenario=StateRepresentative&DistrictId=386&show=Go|title=2020 Results for State Representative District 16B|access-date=February 17, 2023|website=[Minnesota Secretary of State](/source/Minnesota_Secretary_of_State)}} }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | candidate = Paul Torkelson | party = Republican Party of Minnesota | votes = 14,476 | percentage = 67.61 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = Marinda "Mindy" Kimmel | party = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party | votes = 6,908 | percentage = 32.26 }} {{Election box write-in with party link no change | votes = 28 | percentage = 0.13 }} {{Election box total no change | votes = 21,412 | 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 15B{{cite web|url=https://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/results/Index?ErsElectionId=149&scenario=StateRepresentative&DistrictId=384&show=Go|title=2022 Results for State Representative District 15B|access-date=February 17, 2023|website=[Minnesota Secretary of State](/source/Minnesota_Secretary_of_State)}} }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | candidate = Paul Torkelson | party = Republican Party of Minnesota | votes = 13,444 | percentage = 72.39 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = Tom Kuster | party = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party | votes = 5,075 | percentage = 27.39 }} {{Election box write-in with party link no change | votes = 10 | percentage = 0.05 }} {{Election box total no change | votes = 18,529 | 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 = 2024 Minnesota State House - District 15B{{cite web|url=https://electionresults.sos.mn.gov/results/Index?ErsElectionId=170&scenario=StateRepresentative&DistrictId=384&show=Go|access-date=April 29, 2025|website=[Minnesota Secretary of State](/source/Minnesota_Secretary_of_State)}} }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | candidate = Paul Torkelson | party = Republican Party of Minnesota | votes = 16,814 | percentage = 72.65 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = Tom Kuster | party = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party | votes = 6,315 | percentage = 27.29 }} {{Election box write-in with party link no change | votes = 14 | percentage = 0.06 }} {{Election box total no change | votes = 23,143 | percentage = 100.0 }} {{Election box hold with party link no change | winner = Republican Party of Minnesota }} {{Election box end}} ==References== {{reflist}} == External links == {{MN-legdb|15304}} * [http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/members/members.asp?id=15304 Rep. Torkelson Web Page] * [http://www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=109197 Project Votesmart – Rep. Paul Torkelson Profile] * [http://ptorkelson.com/ Paul Torkelson Campaign Web Site] {{Current members of the Minnesota House of Representatives}} {{authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Torkelson, Paul}} Category:1952 births Category:Living people Category:People from Brown County, Minnesota Category:Gustavus Adolphus College alumni Category:Republican Party members of the Minnesota House of Representatives Category:Lutherans from Minnesota Category:21st-century members of the Minnesota Legislature --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Paul Torkelson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Torkelson) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Torkelson?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.