# Andrew Lang (Minnesota politician) *American politician and Republican member of the Minnesota Senate representing District 16* Andrew R. Lang is a Republican who sits in the [[Minnesota Senate]] for District 16. The district is in west-central [[Minnesota]] and takes in parts of Chippewa, Kandiyohi, Renville and Swift Counties.[^1] He holds the rank of major in the Minnesota Army National Guard.[^1] These descriptions are as of the Wikipedia revision retrieved on 26 October 2026, the only source in the record for this article.[^1] Lang won his Senate seat in 2016, the first time he sought public office. He unseated the DFL incumbent, Lyle Koenen.[^2] He holds the vice chairmanship of the Senate Veterans and Military Affairs Finance and Policy Committee.[^2] ## Early life, education, and career Lang was raised in Kandiyohi, Minnesota, and finished Willmar High School in 1997.[^3] He began at Ridgewater College, then transferred to [[St. Cloud State University]], where he earned a bachelor's degree in aviation science and management.[^3] Lang entered the Minnesota Army National Guard in 2002 and received his officer's commission in 2003.[^3] He served at Balad, Iraq, from April 2007 to August 2008.[^3] His service in Operation Enduring Freedom dates to June 2014, and he afterward served in Operation Inherent Resolve.[^3] In the 34th Aviation Brigade he serves as a logistics officer with the rank of major, and he flies Black Hawk helicopters for the Guard.[^3] Outside the Guard he works as a pilot for Life Link III. He formerly supervised parks for Renville County.[^3] ## Minnesota Senate Lang's 2016 victory over the DFL incumbent, Lyle Koenen, came in his first campaign for any public office.[^2] He is vice chair of the Senate's Veterans and Military Affairs Finance and Policy Committee.[^2] ## Personal life Lang lives in Olivia with his wife, Susan, and their two children. The family belongs to Cross of Calvary Lutheran Church in the same town.[^4] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia contributors, *Andrew Lang (Minnesota politician)* (revision 1378300733, retrieved 26 October 2026) — lead section: Senate membership and party, District 16 counties, Army National Guard rank. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Lang_(Minnesota_politician)> [^2]: Wikipedia contributors, *Andrew Lang (Minnesota politician)* (revision 1378300733, retrieved 26 October 2026) — "Minnesota Senate" section: 2016 election as first run for office, defeat of DFL incumbent Lyle Koenen, committee vice chair. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Lang_(Minnesota_politician)> [^3]: Wikipedia contributors, *Andrew Lang (Minnesota politician)* (revision 1378300733, retrieved 26 October 2026) — "Early life, education, and career" section: schooling, National Guard enlistment and commission, deployments, aviation and county roles. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Lang_(Minnesota_politician)> [^4]: Wikipedia contributors, *Andrew Lang (Minnesota politician)* (revision 1378300733, retrieved 26 October 2026) — "Personal life" section: family, residence, church membership. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Lang_(Minnesota_politician)>