# Bobby Joe Champion *Minnesota state senator and president of the Minnesota Senate (DFL)* Bobby Joe Champion, born December 17, 1963, is a lawyer and [[Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party]] (DFL) legislator who holds a seat in the [[Minnesota Senate]].[^1][^2] His district, the 59th, takes in parts of north and downtown [[Minneapolis]] in Hennepin County.[^2] He serves as president of the Senate.[^3][^2] Champion entered the Legislature through the [[Minnesota House of Representatives]], winning a seat in 2008. He moved to the Senate after the 2012 election.[^4][^2] His caucus selected him as Senate president in 2022.[^3][^2] ## Early life and education A native of Minneapolis, Champion finished high school at Minneapolis North High School. He went on to Macalester College, where he took a bachelor's degree in political science. He later received his law degree (J.D.) from the William Mitchell College of Law.[^2] ## Career Before holding elected office, Champion was an assistant attorney general in the office of the [[Minnesota Attorney General]], serving under Attorneys General [[Skip Humphrey]] and [[Mike Hatch]]. He also practiced as a lawyer for a legal rights center.[^2] His work outside law included time with Flyte Tyme Productions. He also co-founded the Excelsior Choir, which he directed and which received a Grammy nomination.[^2] He led the Midwest chapter of the National Association of Minority Contractors as executive director and was program director for Social Spaces with Stairstep Initiative.[^2] During the 2023 legislative session, he sought changes to [[Minnesota]]'s juvenile probation program.[^2] On January 27, 2026, at a town hall event with [[Ilhan Omar]], Champion was hit by liquid that a man sprayed.[^2] ### Minnesota House of Representatives Running for the House in 2008, Champion defeated Augustine Dominguez, who was then serving his first term. Voters returned Champion to the seat in 2010.[^2] ### Minnesota Senate Champion won election to the Senate in 2012 over Republican Jim Lilly, taking 82 percent of the vote to Lilly's 18 percent.[^1][^2] In 2016 he won reelection against Jennifer Carnahan, and he was elected again in 2020 and 2022.[^2] In 2022 his caucus chose him as president of the Senate.[^3][^2] He is chair of the Committee on Jobs and Economic Development.[^2] ## Awards Champion was given the [[Joan Growe]] Award at the 2023 Humphrey-Mondale Awards.[^2] ## In the Minnesota record ### Who - Bobby Joe Champion, DFL member of the Minnesota Senate representing the 59th district.[^1][^2] - Listed in the Legislative Reference Library's *Minnesota Legislators Past & Present*.[^4] ### What - President of the Minnesota Senate, chosen by his caucus in 2022.[^3][^2] ### When - Born December 17, 1963.[^2] - House: elected 2008, reelected 2010.[^2] - Senate: elected 2012; reelected 2016, 2020 and 2022.[^2] ### Where - 59th district: parts of downtown and north Minneapolis, Hennepin County.[^2] ### How many - 2012 Senate election: Champion 82%, Republican Jim Lilly 18%.[^2] ## Notes [^1]: Minnesota Senate, *Bobby Joe Champion Profile* (member biography) — establishes his membership in the Minnesota Senate. https://www.senate.mn/members/member_bio.html?mem_id=1212 [^2]: Wikipedia contributors, *Bobby Joe Champion* (retrieved 2026-10-26, revision 1381406299) — biographical summary of district, education, career, elections, Senate presidency and award. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobby_Joe_Champion [^3]: Minnesota Senate DFL, *Senate President Champion* (author page) — identifies him as Senate President. https://senatedfl.mn/author/senator-bobby-joe-champion/ [^4]: Minnesota Legislative Reference Library, *Minnesota Legislators Past & Present – Champion, Bobby Joe* — legislative service record. https://www.lrl.mn.gov/legdb/fulldetail?id=15317