# David Minge *American former judge and politician (born 1942)* David Raymond Minge (born March 19, 1942) is an American former politician and judge. He is a [[Minnesota]] Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party member. He held Minnesota's 2nd congressional district seat in the [[United States House of Representatives]] for four Congresses, the 103rd through the 106th, from 1993 to 2001.[^1] Governor [[Jesse Ventura]] named him to the [[Minnesota Court of Appeals]] in 2002. He left active status on that court at the end of March 2012.[^2] ## Early life and education Minge was born in Clarkfield, Minnesota, and grew up in Worthington. He holds a bachelor's degree from St. Olaf College and a law degree (J.D.) from the [[University of Chicago Law School]].[^3] ## Legal career After law school he spent several years practicing in [[Minneapolis]]. He then joined the faculty of the University of Wyoming Law School for seven years.[^4] He next settled in Montevideo, Minnesota. There he joined a country law practice, sat on the school board and took part in community affairs. In the same period he worked as a consultant to the House Judiciary Committee.[^4] ## Political career Minge was a member of the Montevideo School Board from 1989 through 1992.[^5] He entered the House in 1993 and joined the Blue Dog Coalition, a caucus of moderate and conservative Democrats in Congress.[^5] He advocated for the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP), a federal–state partnership aimed at water quality and environmental protection.[^5] After he first won the seat, Minge opened a congressional field office in Windom, Minnesota. The Windom City Council then designated March 20, 1993, as "Congressman David Minge Day".[^6] He sought a fifth term in 2000 and was defeated by a narrow margin by Mark Kennedy.[^6] ## State judicial service Ventura's 2002 appointment placed Minge on the Court of Appeals from the second congressional district, the area he had represented in Congress.[^7] He retired from active status in 2012.[^7] ## Post political career As of October 2026, Minge was listed as a member of the board of directors of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget.[^8] ## Personal life Minge and his wife, Karen Aaker Minge, who comes from Gaylord, Minnesota, have two sons.[^9] ## Electoral history Write-in votes in Minge's district races numbered 414 in 1992, 80 in 1994, 180 in 1996 and 385 in 1998. In 2000, Constitution Party candidate Dennis A. Burda drew 1,337 votes.[^10] ## Papers Minge's congressional files are open to researchers. The collection holds correspondence and subject, legislative, campaign and press office files, along with photographs and video and sound recordings.[^11] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia contributors, *David Minge* (rev. 1364743654, retrieved 26 October 2026) — birth date, party, House service 1993–2001, 103rd–106th Congresses, Minnesota's 2nd district. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Minge [^2]: Wikipedia contributors, *David Minge* (rev. 1364743654, retrieved 26 October 2026) — 2002 appointment by Governor Ventura; Court of Appeals service to end of March 2012. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Minge [^3]: Wikipedia contributors, *David Minge* (rev. 1364743654, retrieved 26 October 2026) — birthplace, upbringing, St. Olaf College and University of Chicago Law School degrees. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Minge [^4]: Wikipedia contributors, *David Minge* (rev. 1364743654, retrieved 26 October 2026) — Minneapolis practice, seven years at University of Wyoming Law School, Montevideo practice and House Judiciary Committee consultancy. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Minge [^5]: Wikipedia contributors, *David Minge* (rev. 1364743654, retrieved 26 October 2026) — Montevideo School Board 1989–1992, 1993 swearing-in, Blue Dog Coalition, CREP. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Minge [^6]: Wikipedia contributors, *David Minge* (rev. 1364743654, retrieved 26 October 2026) — Windom field office and March 20, 1993 council declaration; 2000 defeat by Mark Kennedy. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Minge [^7]: Wikipedia contributors, *David Minge* (rev. 1364743654, retrieved 26 October 2026) — 2002 appointment from the second congressional district; 2012 retirement from active status. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Minge [^8]: Wikipedia contributors, *David Minge* (rev. 1364743654, retrieved 26 October 2026) — board membership, Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Minge [^9]: Wikipedia contributors, *David Minge* (rev. 1364743654, retrieved 26 October 2026) — spouse and children. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Minge [^10]: Wikipedia contributors, *David Minge* (rev. 1364743654, retrieved 26 October 2026) — write-in totals 1992–1998 and 2000 Constitution Party result. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Minge [^11]: Wikipedia contributors, *David Minge* (rev. 1364743654, retrieved 26 October 2026) — availability and contents of congressional papers. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Minge