Bjorn Olson | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives from the 22A district | |
| Assumed office January 5, 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Bob Gunther |
| Personal details | |
| Born | January 13, 1991 Fairmont, Minnesota |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Hannah |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | Bethel University (BA) |
| Occupation | |
| Website | Government website Campaign website |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service |  United States Army |
| Unit | United States Army Reserve |
Bjorn Olson (born January 13, 1991) is an American politician serving in the Minnesota House of Representatives since 2021. A member of the Republican Party of Minnesota, Olson represents District 22A in south-central Minnesota, including the city of Fairmont and parts of Blue Earth, Faribault, Martin, and Watonwan Counties.[1][2]
Early life, education and career
Olson was born in Fairmont, Minnesota, and attended Blue Earth High School. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history and social studies education from Bethel University in 2013.[1]
Olson serves as a Major in the United States Army Reserve. He is a history teacher and farmer and served two terms as mayor of Elmore, Minnesota, before his election to the legislature.[3][4]
Minnesota House of Representatives
Olson was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2020 and reelected in 2022. He first ran after 13-term Republican incumbent Bob Gunther announced he would not seek reelection. Gunther endorsed Olson over his primary challenger.[5]
Olson has served as an assistant minority leader since his swearing-in, and also sits on the Taxes, Transportation Finance and Policy, and Veterans and Military Affairs Finance and Policy Committees.[1]
Olson has opposed school bike safety programs due to the rural nature of his district, and opposed efforts to study commuter rail, saying it was like "throwing taxpayer dollars in a pit and lighting them on fire".[6][7]
Electoral history
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Bjorn Olson | 2,484 | 57.34 | |
| Republican | Michael Sukalski | 1,848 | 42.66 | |
| Total votes | 4,332 | 100.0 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Bjorn Olson | 14,324 | 68.45 | |
| Democratic (DFL) | Patricia Fahey Bacon | 6,523 | 31.17 | |
| Write-in | 80 | 0.38 | ||
| Total votes | 20,927 | 100.0 | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Bjorn Olson (incumbent) | 12,238 | 69.04 | |
| Democratic (DFL) | Marisa Ulmen | 5,473 | 30.88 | |
| Write-in | 14 | 0.08 | ||
| Total votes | 17,770 | 100.0 | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
Personal life
Olson lives in Fairmont, Minnesota, with his wife, Hannah, and has three children. He previously resided in Elmore, Minnesota, and lived in former Vice President and U.S. Senator Walter Mondale's childhood home.[3][11] He moved to Fairmont following 2022 legislative redistricting.[12]
References
- ^ a b c "Olson, Bjorn - Legislator Record - Minnesota Legislators Past & Present". www.lrl.mn.gov. Retrieved 2023-02-18.
- ^ "Rep. Bjorn Olson (22A) - Minnesota House of Representatives". www.house.mn.gov. Retrieved 2023-03-02.
- ^ a b Condon, Patrick (April 24, 2021). "Minnesota Republican politician has unusual link to Walter Mondale". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
- ^ Pugmire, Tim (June 18, 2021). "As shutdown looms, Capitol action drags". MPR News. Retrieved 2022-02-16.
- ^ Smith, Lee (August 12, 2020). "Primary election: Olson defeats Sukalski". fairmontsentinel.com. Retrieved 2023-03-04.
- ^ Callaghan, Peter (2023-02-08). "Minnesota bill with 'Idaho Stop,' bike safety named for the late Bill Dooley". MinnPost. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
- ^ Moore, Janet (February 10, 2023). "Lawmakers seek to lift gag order on commuter rail between Minneapolis, Northfield". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
- ^ "2020 Results for State Representative District 23A Primary". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
- ^ "2020 Results for State Representative District 23A". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
- ^ "2022 Results for State Representative District 22A". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
- ^ Woodall, Hunter (April 23, 2021). "Walter Mondale remembered as 'legend in Minnesota politics' by colleagues across spectrum". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
- ^ Bakst, Brian (February 17, 2022). "Move or move on? New districts put some incumbents in tough spot". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
External links
- Bjorn Olson at Minnesota Legislators Past & Present
- Official House of Representatives website
- Official campaign website
This page was last edited on 20 April 2024, at 01:28