# Jeff Backer *Minnesota state legislator (Republican), member of the Minnesota House of Representatives since 2015* Jeff Backer Jr. (born January 3, 1967) has represented District 9A in the [[Minnesota House of Representatives]] since 2015 as a member of the [[Republican Party of Minnesota]].[^1] The district lies in western Minnesota. It takes in Grant, Traverse and Wilkin counties, the city of Fergus Falls, and part of Otter Tail County.[^1] In the 2018 gubernatorial race, [[Woodbury]] Mayor Mary Giuliani Stephens chose Backer as her lieutenant-governor candidate for the Republican primary. The two left the race at the Republican state convention.[^1] Before entering the House, Backer held local office in Browns Valley as a city council member and as mayor. He also served on the state's Board of Peace Officer Standards and Training.[^2] This account rests on a single secondary source, the Wikipedia article on Backer. No primary legislative, election or campaign records were available to check it against, so his positions are attributed to that article.[^1] ## Early life, education, and career Backer grew up in Browns Valley, Minnesota, and finished at Browns Valley High School.[^2] He holds a Bachelor of Science in chemistry and public administration from [[St. Cloud State University]].[^2] Since 1995 he has volunteered as an EMT with Browns Valley Ambulance.[^2] From 2007 to 2010 he sat on the Minnesota Board of Peace Officer Standards and Training.[^2] He served on the Browns Valley school board and won a seat on the Browns Valley City Council in 2000. He was elected mayor in 2004 and held the office until 2010.[^2] Browns Valley flooded in 2007, while Backer was mayor. He pursued federal and state disaster aid, and the state legislature ultimately provided $2 million in flood relief.[^3] He afterward led work on a flood prevention and control project.[^3] ## Minnesota House of Representatives Backer won his House seat in 2014 by unseating Jay McNamar, a DFL member who had served one term. He has been reelected in each two-year cycle since.[^4] According to the Wikipedia account, during that campaign he called McNamar "Metro Jay." He criticized McNamar's votes on taxes, on a minimum-wage increase and on legal protections for same-sex marriage.[^4] As of the article's October 2026 retrieval, Backer is minority lead on the Legacy Finance Committee. He is also a member of the Health Finance and Policy Committee and the Human Services Policy Committee.[^5] ### Agriculture and the environment The Wikipedia article describes Backer as an opponent of environmental protections and agricultural regulations. It reports that he called such measures "reckless" and "irresponsible".[^6] He sponsored legislation to restrict the rulemaking authority of Governor [[Mark Dayton]]'s administration over farm fertilizers. He also criticized Dayton's executive orders on pollinator protection.[^6] He advocated a requirement that state departments obtain legislative approval before adopting new rules and regulations.[^6] ### Other political positions Backer opposed proposals to increase Minnesota's minimum wage. He criticized Governor Dayton's commitment to the [[Southwest Light Rail]] project.[^7] He sat on a task force on reforming child-protection law, and in 2018 he backed a bill extending funding for children's mental health care.[^7] Backer signed a letter urging the [[University of Minnesota]] to end its participation in research on "aborted human fetal organs." He also signed a letter asking Attorney General [[Lori Swanson]] to investigate allegations that Planned Parenthood sold fetal body parts.[^7] In December 2020 he praised a House-passed bill providing aid to address the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].[^7] ## Personal life Backer lives in Browns Valley with his wife, and they have one child.[^8] He is an active member of Zion Lutheran Church in Browns Valley, where he taught fifth- and sixth-grade release time. He also belongs to the Browns Valley Lions Club.[^8] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia contributors, *Jeff Backer* (revision 1370449701, retrieved 2026-10-26) — lead: birth date, House service since 2015, party, District 9A and its counties, 2018 lieutenant-governor pairing and withdrawal. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Backer [^2]: Wikipedia contributors, *Jeff Backer* (revision 1370449701, retrieved 2026-10-26) — early life, education, EMT service since 1995, POST Board 2007–2010, school board, council 2000, mayor 2004–2010. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Backer [^3]: Wikipedia contributors, *Jeff Backer* (revision 1370449701, retrieved 2026-10-26) — 2007 Browns Valley flood, $2 million state flood relief, flood-control project. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Backer [^4]: Wikipedia contributors, *Jeff Backer* (revision 1370449701, retrieved 2026-10-26) — 2014 election over DFL incumbent Jay McNamar, reelections, campaign statements. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Backer [^5]: Wikipedia contributors, *Jeff Backer* (revision 1370449701, retrieved 2026-10-26) — committee assignments. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Backer [^6]: Wikipedia contributors, *Jeff Backer* (revision 1370449701, retrieved 2026-10-26) — agriculture and environment positions, fertilizer-rule bills, pollinator orders, legislative-approval proposal. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Backer [^7]: Wikipedia contributors, *Jeff Backer* (revision 1370449701, retrieved 2026-10-26) — minimum wage, Southwest light rail, child-protection task force, 2018 mental-health bill, letters, December 2020 COVID-19 aid bill. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Backer [^8]: Wikipedia contributors, *Jeff Backer* (revision 1370449701, retrieved 2026-10-26) — personal life. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Backer