# Drew Roach *American politician, member of the Minnesota House of Representatives from district 58B* Drew Roach (born January 28, 1985) is an American politician and a member of the [[Republican Party (United States)]].[^1] He has represented district 58B in the [[Minnesota House of Representatives]] since taking office on January 7, 2025.[^1][^2] The district lies in east central [[Minnesota]], largely in Dakota County, and takes in [[Farmington]], Hampton and Dennison.[^1] Roach won the seat in November 2024 with 59% of the vote against DFL nominee Ian English, and he succeeded Pat Garofalo.[^2] In January 2025 he challenged [[Steve Simon]], the [[Minnesota Secretary of State]], over Simon's role presiding over the House.[^2] In April 2026 he cast the lone vote against HF1606, a bill on AI tools that generate non-consensual nude images.[^3] ## Life and career Roach studied at Minnesota School of Business and left without a degree.[^2] In the November 2024 general election for district 58B, Roach received 59% of the vote and defeated the DFL nominee, Ian English.[^2] He followed Pat Garofalo in the seat. He took office on January 7, 2025.[^2] In January 2025, Simon adjourned a House session because no quorum was present. Roach then told Simon that his presiding over the House was "a sham" and that he "should not have the gavel".[^2] Under Minnesota law, the secretary of state convenes the House when it has no speaker.[^2] According to the source, a Supreme Court decision held that the House lacked a quorum and therefore could not elect a speaker.[^2] On April 25, 2026, the House passed HF1606. The bill is intended to restrict AI tools from producing non-consensual nude images, including child sexual abuse material (CSAM), and to allow legal action against the people who create such images.[^3] The vote was 132–1, and Roach cast the only vote against the bill.[^3] In a later post on X, Roach wrote that he "voted against HF1606 the bill aimed at banning access to 'nudification' AI tools that create non-consensual deepfake nudes, because it is an ineffective, messaging bill that does little to actually stop determined bad actors."[^3] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia contributors, *Drew Roach* (retrieved 2026-10-26) — date of birth, party, House district 58B and the district's geography. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drew_Roach [^2]: Wikipedia contributors, *Drew Roach* (retrieved 2026-10-26) — education, November 2024 election result, predecessor, date of taking office, and the January 2025 exchange with the secretary of state. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drew_Roach [^3]: Wikipedia contributors, *Drew Roach* (retrieved 2026-10-26) — April 25, 2026 House vote on HF1606 (132–1) and Roach's statement on X. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drew_Roach