# Joanne Benson *American politician and educator; 44th lieutenant governor of Minnesota (1995–1999)* Joanne E. Benson (born January 4, 1943) is a Minnesota educator and Republican politician. She was the 44th person to hold the office of [[Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota|lieutenant governor of Minnesota]], serving from January 3, 1995, until January 4, 1999, after election on the ticket headed by [[Arne Carlson]]. Before that she sat in the [[Minnesota Senate]] from 1991 to 1995.[^1] In 1998 she sought the Republican nomination for [[Governor of Minnesota|governor]]. The party's convention endorsement went to St. Paul Mayor Norm Coleman, and Benson did not challenge him in the primary. After leaving office in 1999 she became the first chief education officer of the Minnesota Business Academy.[^1] ## Early life and education Benson is a native of Le Sueur, Minnesota. Her undergraduate degree is a Bachelor of Science in elementary education from [[St. Cloud State University]].[^1] ## Career Benson served in the Minnesota Senate for the 1991–1995 period. In the 1994 gubernatorial election she ran with Carlson, and their ticket won by a landslide, which made her lieutenant governor.[^1] Benson entered the contest for the 1998 Republican gubernatorial nomination as the front-runner. Norm Coleman, then mayor of St. Paul, joined the race late and gathered enough delegates to secure the party's endorsement at the state convention. Benson finished third in the delegate count, behind Coleman and Allen Quist, and agreed not to contest the primary against Coleman.[^1] Coleman went on to take the Republican nomination. In the general election he was defeated by [[Jesse Ventura]], who ran as the Reform Party nominee.[^1] After her term ended in 1999, Benson was named the first chief education officer of the Minnesota Business Academy. In that role she raised money for the school alongside civic and state leaders.[^1] She also served on the Governor's State Capitol 2005 Commission, a body of Minnesota citizens that advised then-Governor [[Tim Pawlenty]] on the 2005 centennial of the [[Minnesota State Capitol]].[^1] ## Personal life Benson's husband is Robert R. Benson. She has two children, six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.[^1] ## In the Minnesota record ### Who - Joanne E. Benson, born January 4, 1943; Republican; lieutenant governor.[^1] - Ran as the lieutenant-governor candidate on Arne Carlson's ticket.[^1] ### What - Member of the Minnesota Senate, 1991–1995.[^1] - Lieutenant governor, the 44th holder of the office.[^1] ### When - Born January 4, 1943.[^1] - Lieutenant governor from January 3, 1995, to January 4, 1999.[^1] - Left office in 1999. She then became the first chief education officer of the Minnesota Business Academy.[^1] ### Where - Born in Le Sueur, Minnesota.[^1] ### How - Elected with Arne Carlson in the 1994 gubernatorial election, which the ticket won by a landslide.[^1] ## See also - [[Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota]] - [[Minnesota Senate]] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia contributors, *Joanne Benson* (retrieved 2026-10-25, revision 1365612476) — biographical facts on birth, offices, 1994 election, 1998 nomination contest, post-office roles and family. CC BY-SA 4.0. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joanne_Benson