# Governor of Minnesota *The chief executive of Minnesota's state government, and the appointing authority for several bodies whose instruments are at issue in this record.* The governor of [[Minnesota]] leads the state's executive branch. Governors of the state are chosen by popular vote, whereas the three governors of [[Minnesota Territory]] held office by appointment of the president of the United States. As of its October 2026 revision, the Wikipedia article on the office counts forty state governors and names [[Tim Walz]] of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL) as the incumbent.[^1] The office's appointing power runs through the record's oldest instruments. On May 25, 1967, Governor LeVander approved Laws 1967 ch. 896, which created the [[Metropolitan Council (Minnesota)]] as a regional government with a tax levy and governor-appointed members. On the same day he approved ch. 897, which created the [[Department of Human Rights]]. Under ch. 897 the department's commissioner serves "at the pleasure of the governor for a four-year term, which shall coincide with the term of the governor."[^2] The at-issue record states that under [[Minn. Stat. § 473.123]] the governor appoints all sixteen Council members and the chair.[^3] The federal action against the State is pending. Release No. 26-21 of the [[United States Department of Justice]] (January 14, 2026) is titled *United States Department of Justice Files Lawsuit Against Minnesota's 'Affirmative Action' Regime*. "Minnesota's 'Affirmative Action' Regime" is the United States' own term for the State's apparatus. The release states that Attorney General Pamela Bondi certified the case as a matter of general public importance.[^4] The project's catalogue of U.S.-government "regime" usages finds no other U.S. state so described; that is the project's catalogue finding, not an independently established fact. This record ties the action to the equity statutes §43A.19 and [[§43A.191]]. It also records that a 2023 enactment, 2023 c 62, added a governor-escalation sentence to §43A.191.[^5] The case's docket number and current status are not carried in this record. ## Powers and qualifications The governor may veto bills passed by the Minnesota [[Legislature]]. As in most states, the governor may also strike individual provisions by line-item veto while signing the remainder of a bill, a power the U.S. president lacks.[^1] A governor must be at least 25 on taking office and must have lived in Minnesota for the year before the election. Since a 1958 constitutional amendment, governors have served four-year terms with no term limit.[^1] ## Cabinet The governor names the heads of state departments, most of whom carry the title commissioner. The exceptions are the head of the Department of Military Affairs and the chairs of the Metropolitan Council and the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission.[^1] ## Residence The official residence stands at 1006 Summit Avenue in Saint Paul.[^1] ## Succession Article V, Section 5 of the Minnesota Constitution and Minn. Stat. § 4.06 set the order of succession.[^1] ## Traditions Since 1948 the governor has opened the fishing season at a chosen lake. The event began as a promotion for the state's recreation industry.[^1] ## Who - [[Alexander Ramsey]] was the first territorial governor and later served as governor of the state.[^1] - [[Floyd B. Olson]] was hired as an assistant county attorney in 1919. He became [[Hennepin County Attorney]] in 1920 after [[William Nash]] was removed, was re-elected in 1922 and 1926, and served to 1930. He was governor from January 6, 1931, until he died in office on August 22, 1936.[^6] - [[Orville Freeman]] (DFL) was elected on November 2, 1954, as the first DFL governor. He was re-elected in November 1956 and won a third term in 1958.[^7] - [[Elmer L. Andersen]] (R) was elected on November 8, 1960.[^8] - Governor LeVander approved the 1967 Metropolitan Council and Department of Human Rights chapters on May 25, 1967.[^2] - Wendell Anderson (DFL) was elected on November 3, 1970, at age 38.[^9] - [[Al Quie]] (R) was inaugurated on January 4, 1979.[^10] - [[Rudy Perpich]] served as governor. A Duluth News Tribune retrospective credits him with renaming "Outstate" as "Greater Minnesota."[^11] - [[Arne Carlson]] (R) was governor from 1991 to 1999.[^12] He was re-elected on November 8, 1994.[^13] - Mark Dayton was governor on July 7, 2016, when the [[Star Tribune]] reported protests and arrests at the governor's residence in St. Paul.[^14] - Tim Walz (DFL) is the incumbent as of October 2026.[^1] - The Star Tribune reports that House Speaker Lisa Demuth is a candidate for governor in 2026.[^15] ## What The office acts through executive orders, which the Office of the Governor publishes in an online index.[^16][^17] The orders in this record include: - EO 19-01, from a file dated January 9, 2019;[^18] - EO 20-01[^19] and EO 20-20;[^20] - EO 20-65[^21] and EO 20-69;[^22] - EO 20-75, whose filed title marks it as an extension of the PTE;[^23] - EO 20-78;[^24] - EO 20-92, filed as the seventh extension of the PTE;[^25] - EO 23-12.[^26] The 2020 orders appear alongside the office's COVID-19 news pages.[^27] [[Executive Order 26-05]], signed March 25, 2026, created a Governor's "Truth" Council on two federal immigration operations.[^28] The office announced the council in a press release.[^29] The project's reading of the order, checked against the primary PDF, sets the title beside the order's text: - The order prints its verdict in its own preamble. - It contains no recusal rule, no conflicts provision, no evidentiary-record requirement and no appeal. - Its paragraph 8 excludes by name the three matters in live litigation: the Good, Sosa-Celis and Pretti matters. - Its reports are due October 31 and December 1, 2026, and it dissolves on January 4, 2027, under Minn. Stat. §4.035.[^30] In 2020, a Governor's Blue Ribbon Committee on the Metropolitan Council issued recommendations.[^31] The Office of the Legislative Auditor made governance recommendations on the Council in its report OLA 85-03 (1985) and in a 2011 report on transit governance. The record states that the 2011 recommendation was not adopted.[^32] ## When - **1958**: A constitutional amendment set four-year terms.[^1] - **May 25, 1967**: The governor approved Laws 1967 ch. 896 and ch. 897.[^2] - **1973**: Under Anderson, the first amendment entered the history line of §201.091 (voter lists).[^5] - **1981 and 1985**: The equity machinery of §43A.19/.191 was enacted under Quie in 1981 and extended by a Perpich rider in 1985.[^5] - **1Sp2019 and 2023**: The enactments 1Sp2019 c 10 and 2023 c 62 each amended both federal-defendant instruments in a single bill.[^5] - **January 14, 2026**: The Department of Justice announced its lawsuit.[^4] - **March 4, 2026**: The governor testified before [[House Oversight]], according to the at-issue record.[^33] - **March 25, 2026**: The governor signed Executive Order 26-05.[^28] ## How The 1967 chapter placed the human-rights commissioner at the governor's pleasure and tied the commissioner's term to the governor's term.[^2] The record states that the 1994 Reorganization Act later applied the same design to the whole Metropolitan Council.[^34] Under § 473.123, Council members' terms end when the governor's term ends.[^32][^35] The record treats maintenance by governors of both parties as a single finding. The history line of §43A.19/.191 begins with a Quie (R) enactment in 1981 and a Perpich rider in 1985. Thirteen amendments followed, seven of them under Republican governors, and none repealed the sections. The record also states that §43A.191 drew no internal constitutional challenge from 1985 until the Department of Justice filed suit.[^5][^36] The history line of §201.091 runs from Anderson (DFL) in 1973 to five amendments under Walz (DFL), with no repeal.[^5] The record's stated finding is not that these statutes were amended, which every state does, but that they were amended without repeal by every party.[^5] ## How many - **Governors:** Forty people have served as state governor and three as territorial governor, as of the October 2026 Wikipedia revision.[^1] - **Metropolitan Council:** Sixteen members plus a chair, all appointed by the governor, according to the at-issue record.[^3] The project's history row gives the same structure as 17 members, all appointed.[^32] - **§43A.19/.191:** Thirteen amendments after 1985, seven under Republican governors, and zero repeals.[^5] - **Hennepin County:** 1.28 million residents elect seven county commissioners and none of the seven Council members whose districts include Hennepin territory, according to the at-issue record.[^3] - **July 2016 protests:** The Star Tribune reported about 2,000 demonstrators camped on the residence lawn and 102 arrests during an I-94 blockade, as of its July 7, 2016 account.[^14] ## In the at-issue record **Commission on a county attorney.** The record's Scott County package states that a commission appointed by the governor found that a sitting [[county attorney]] committed "two acts of malfeasance in office." The two acts were intentionally suppressing exculpatory evidence and violating a trial sequestration order. The package states that the commission nonetheless recommended against removal, that the governor agreed, and that the county attorney kept the office. The record does not carry the commission's report itself.[^37] **Removal of William Nash.** [[At issue 017 - Hennepin County Attorney William Nash was acquitted by|At issue 017]] states that a federal jury acquitted Hennepin County Attorney William Nash on July 3, 1920. The governor removed him from office twenty-eight days later, and the [[Minnesota Supreme Court]] upheld the removal.[^38] **From county attorney to governor.** [[At issue 018 - Nash's assistant took the chair in 1920, held|At issue 018]] traces Nash's assistant, Olson, from the county attorney's chair in 1920 to the governorship in 1931. It notes that [[Michael Freeman]] ran for governor from the same chair in 1998.[^38][^6] **Metropolitan Council appointments and terms.** [[At issue 046 - Five Metropolitan Council districts lie entirely inside Hennepin|At issue 046]] states that five Council districts lie entirely inside Hennepin County and two more contain Hennepin territory, all filled by gubernatorial appointment.[^3] [[At issue 050 - Metropolitan Council members' terms expire with the governor's|At issue 050]] states that members' terms expire with the governor's term.[^35] **House Oversight hearing.** [[At issue 090 - House Oversight held its Minnesota fraud hearing on|At issue 090]] states that House Oversight held its Minnesota fraud hearing on March 4, 2026, with the governor and the attorney general as witnesses, and called no county attorney.[^33] **Federal anchors.** The record sets these items beside two White House documents: a March 2025 presidential action on eliminating information silos[^39] and a March 2026 action establishing a task force to eliminate fraud.[^40] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia contributors, *Governor of Minnesota* (revision 1379963069, retrieved 2026-10-27) — office, powers, qualifications, cabinet, residence, succession, traditions; count of governors as of revision. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Governor_of_Minnesota [^2]: Minnesota wiki project, *How Minnesota Got Here* (merged master, validated) — Laws 1967 ch. 896 and ch. 897, both "Approved May 25, 1967" by Governor LeVander; ch. 897 commissioner clause verbatim; marked primary-confirmed against the session-law PDFs (session-law URL not carried in this pack). [^3]: Minnesota wiki project, at-issue pair AI-046 (Freeman Apex Dossier §V.c; listed sources metrocouncil.org and revisor.mn.gov, not carried in this pack) — § 473.123 appointment of all sixteen members and chair; Hennepin districts; 1.28 million residents; zero elected Council members. [^4]: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Public Affairs, *United States Department of Justice Files Lawsuit Against Minnesota's 'Affirmative Action' Regime*, release No. 26-21 (Jan. 14, 2026) — release title; certification by Attorney General Pamela Bondi. https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/united-states-department-justice-files-lawsuit-against-minnesotas-affirmative-action-regime [^5]: Minnesota wiki project, *How Minnesota Got Here* (merged master, validated), notes 17–19 — history lines of §201.091 and §43A.19/.191; 1Sp2019 c 10 and 2023 c 62 shared vehicles; 2023 governor-escalation sentence; marked primary-confirmed. [^6]: Wikipedia contributors, *Floyd B. Olson* (via dossier note 58, Freeman Apex Dossier) — assistant county attorney 1919; county attorney 1920–1930; governor Jan. 6, 1931–Aug. 22, 1936. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Floyd_B._Olson [^7]: Wikipedia contributors, *Orville Freeman* — elected Nov. 2, 1954, first DFL governor; re-elected 1956; third term 1958. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orville_Freeman [^8]: Wikipedia contributors, *Elmer L. Andersen* — elected Nov. 8, 1960. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elmer_L._Andersen [^9]: Wikipedia contributors, *Wendell R. Anderson* — elected Nov. 3, 1970, age 38. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wendell_R._Anderson [^10]: Wikipedia contributors, *Al Quie* — inaugurated Jan. 4, 1979. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Quie [^11]: Duluth News Tribune, *Remembering Rudy Perpich, the governor who turned 'Outstate' into 'Greater Minnesota'* — Perpich as governor. https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/local/remembering-rudy-perpich-the-governor-who-turned-outstate-into-greater-minnesota [^12]: Minnesota Legislative Reference Library, *Arne Carlson, Governor of Minnesota (1991–1999)* — term of office. https://www.lrl.mn.gov/mngov/govbio?govid=5 [^13]: Minnesota Secretary of State, *Historical Election Data* — Carlson re-elected Nov. 8, 1994. https://www.sos.state.mn.us/election-administration-campaigns/data-maps/historical-election-data/ [^14]: Star Tribune, *Dozens arrested outside governor's residence in St. Paul* (July 7, 2016) — protest at the residence; about 2,000 demonstrators; 102 arrests. https://www.startribune.com/dozens-arrested-outside-governor-s-residence-in-st-paul/388261202 [^15]: Star Tribune, *Olson: Demuth brings Trump into the governor's race* — Demuth's 2026 candidacy. https://www.startribune.com/house-speaker-lisa-demuth-2026-bid-mn-governor/601515185 [^16]: Office of the Governor, *Executive Orders* (index) — publication of executive orders. https://mn.gov/governor/executive-orders/ [^17]: Office of the Governor, *Executive Orders* (news index) — publication of executive orders. https://mn.gov/governor/news/executiveorders.jsp [^18]: Office of the Governor, *Executive Order 19-01* (file dated 2019-01-09). https://mn.gov/governor/assets/2019_01_09_EO-19-01_%28FINAL%29_tcm1055-364605.pdf [^19]: Office of the Governor, *Executive Order 20-01*. https://mn.gov/governor/assets/EO%2020-01_tcm1055-422957.pdf [^20]: Office of the Governor, *Executive Order 20-20* (signed, filed). https://mn.gov/governor/assets/3a.%20EO%2020-20%20FINAL%20SIGNED%20Filed_tcm1055-425020.pdf [^21]: Office of the Governor, *Executive Order 20-65*. https://mn.gov/governor/assets/EO%2020-65%20Final_tcm1055-434635.pdf [^22]: Office of the Governor, *Executive Order 20-69*. https://mn.gov/governor/assets/EO%2020-69%20Final_tcm1055-434605.pdf [^23]: Office of the Governor, *Executive Order 20-75* (Extension of PTE). https://mn.gov/governor/assets/EO%2020-75%20Extension%20of%20PTE_tcm1055-435771.pdf [^24]: Office of the Governor, *Executive Order 20-78*. https://mn.gov/governor/assets/EO%2020-78%20Final_tcm1055-440367.pdf [^25]: Office of the Governor, *Executive Order 20-92* (Seventh Extension of PTE, filed). https://mn.gov/governor/assets/EO%2020-92%20Seventh%20Extension%20of%20PTE%20Filed%20(002 [^26]: Office of the Governor, *Executive Order 23-12*. https://mn.gov/governor/assets/EO%2023-12_tcm1055-593807.pdf [^27]: Office of the Governor, *COVID-19 news* (index) — the office's COVID-19 news pages. https://mn.gov/governor/covid-19/news/ [^28]: Office of the Governor, *Executive Order 26-05* (Mar. 25, 2026) — Governor's "Truth" Council on two federal immigration operations. https://mn.gov/governor/assets/Executive%20Order%2026-05_tcm1055-735580.pdf [^29]: Office of the Governor, press release on the Truth Council (2026). https://mn.gov/governor/newsroom/press-releases/?id=1055-735583 [^30]: Minnesota wiki project, *The Instrument No One Will Name* (densified, 2026-06-18, validated), note 43 — contents of EO 26-05 (preamble verdict; absent recusal, conflicts, evidentiary-record and appeal provisions; paragraph 8 carve-out; report and dissolution dates); marked verified against the primary PDF. [^31]: Metropolitan Council, *Report of the Governor's Blue Ribbon Committee on the Metropolitan Council* (2020) — committee recommendations. https://metrocouncil.org/News-Events/Council-News/Newsletters/Blue-Ribbon-Panel-recommendations-2020.aspx [^32]: Minnesota wiki project, history row HE-0190 — § 473.123 (17 members, all appointed, terms ending with the governor's); OLA 85-03 (1985); OLA transit governance (2011), recommendation not adopted. [^33]: Minnesota wiki project, at-issue pair AI-090 (Freeman Apex Dossier §III.e; listed source oversight.house.gov, not carried in this pack) — Mar. 4, 2026 hearing witnesses. [^34]: Minnesota wiki project, *How Minnesota Got Here* (merged master, validated), "Characteristic 2" — 1994 Reorganization Act applied the at-pleasure design to the whole Metropolitan Council. [^35]: Minnesota wiki project, at-issue pair AI-050 (Freeman Apex Dossier §V.c) — Council members' terms expire with the governor's term. [^36]: Minnesota wiki project, *The Instrument No One Will Name* (densified, 2026-06-18, validated), note 48 — §43A.191 in force since 1985 with no internal constitutional challenge before the DOJ filing. [^37]: Minnesota wiki project, at-issue pair AI-Scott-001 (Scott County Apex Dossier §III.2; listed sources law.justia.com and lrl.mn.gov, not carried in this pack) — commission findings, recommendation and governor's concurrence. [^38]: Minnesota wiki project, at-issue pairs AI-017 and AI-018 (Freeman Apex Dossier §VII) — Nash acquittal July 3, 1920; removal twenty-eight days later; Supreme Court affirmance; succession to the governorship in 1931; Freeman's 1998 run. [^39]: The White House, *Stopping Waste, Fraud, and Abuse by Eliminating Information Silos* (March 2025) — at-issue anchor document. https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/03/stopping-waste-fraud-and-abuse-by-eliminating-information-silos/ [^40]: The White House, *Establishing the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud* (March 2026) — at-issue anchor document. https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/03/establishing-the-task-force-to-eliminate-fraud/