# Harry Niska *American politician, member of the Minnesota House of Representatives (2023–present)* Harry Niska is a [[Republican Party of Minnesota]] member of the [[Minnesota House of Representatives]]. He won his seat in the 2022 election and has held it since 2023.[^1] His district, 31A, lies in the north Twin Cities metropolitan area and takes in the cities of Ramsey and Andover in Anoka County, [[Minnesota]].[^1] Before entering the Legislature, Niska clerked for two judges of the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals and practised law. In 2015 he filed a complaint over false endorsement claims in a [[Minnesota Supreme Court]] race. He opposed Donald Trump in the 2016 Republican primary and sought the Republican nomination for [[Attorney General of Minnesota]] in 2018.[^1] In 2025 the House Republican caucus named him House Majority Leader, an appointment made while the DFL members contested whether the House had a quorum.[^1] ## Early life, education and career ### Birth and education Niska was raised in Andover, Minnesota, and is a graduate of Anoka High School. He earned a political science bachelor's degree at Concordia College in Moorhead and a law degree (J.D.) at the [[University of Minnesota Law School]].[^1] ### Legal experience At the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals, Niska clerked for Judge Roger Leland Wollman from 2005 to 2006 and for Judge [[David Stras]] in 2018.[^1] His other roles included a seat on the Ramsey County Charter Commission and practice at the firm Ross & Orenstein. He was a candidate for the Ramsey City Council in 2010 and did not win.[^1] In 2015 Niska filed a complaint alleging that a Republican activist had misled voters by falsely claiming endorsements in a judicial contest for the [[Minnesota Supreme Court]]. The complaint was upheld, and the activist received a $600 fine.[^1] Commenting on the case, Niska said that "fraud, meaning lies that are actually meant to induce people to do something, are not protected by the First Amendment in the same way [as] even innocent or even white lies".[^1] ### 2016 Trump presidential candidacy Niska opposed Trump's bid for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination, saying he "did everything I knew to prevent the party from making what I think is a historic mistake".[^1] He then registered as a volunteer for the independent presidential candidate Evan McMullin, stating his belief that Trump had "abused every lever of power that's been available to him".[^1] ### 2018 attorney general campaign In the 2018 Republican primary for attorney general, Niska named consumer protection as his priority. He faulted the incumbent, [[Lori Swanson]], for joining a lawsuit against Trump's travel ban affecting several Muslim-majority countries.[^1] Six years earlier, in 2012, he had called on the Minnesota attorney general to join a lawsuit challenging the Affordable Care Act.[^1] ## Minnesota House of Representatives Niska entered the 2022 House race after legislative redistricting and after [[Cal Bahr]], a three-term Republican incumbent, announced he would not seek reelection and would instead run for the [[Minnesota Senate]]. He won the seat that year.[^1] His committee assignments are Commerce Finance and Policy and Judiciary Finance and Civil Law.[^1] In 2025 the House Republican caucus appointed him House Majority Leader. The cited source describes control of the House and its leadership as disputed at that time: the chamber's DFL members boycotted the opening session and argued that the House did not have a quorum to conduct business.[^1] ### Political positions Niska has called many of the laws passed by the DFL majority in 2023 unconstitutional, and several of those laws have since been challenged in court.[^1] He opposed a measure barring post-secondary institutions that take part in PSEO from requiring faith statements, arguing that it infringed religious liberty.[^1] His 2023 bills included one to address water contamination in Andover and another to prohibit nonprofits from paying people's bail. He also backed a proposal to repeal the fees charged for copies of civil and criminal court documents.[^1] ### Abortion Niska opposes abortion. He described the abortion-rights legislation the DFL passed in 2023 as "the most extreme abortion policy possible".[^1] ### Voting rights Niska opposed restoring the vote to people on parole for felonies. He argued that voting is a sacred right that may be forfeited when people break certain laws.[^1] He has for years supported a requirement that voters show valid government-issued photo identification.[^1] ### LGBTQ+ legislation Niska opposed a ban on conversion therapy, citing what he called "free speech violations" in the bill.[^1] ## Personal life Niska and his wife, Jen, live in Ramsey, Minnesota. They have three children.[^1] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia contributors, *Harry Niska* (revision 1365580855, retrieved 2026-10-26; CC BY-SA 4.0) — biographical, electoral and legislative facts and quoted remarks as reported in the cached article. This is the only source in the evidence pack; no primary filings, statutes or agency records were available. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Niska