# Ron Latz *Minnesota state senator (DFL), District 46* Ronald Steven Latz (born August 9, 1963) is a [[Minnesota]] lawyer and a [[Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party]] (DFL) member of the [[Minnesota Senate]]. He holds the seat for District 46, which takes in part of Hennepin County on the western side of the Twin Cities metropolitan area.[^1] Before he entered the [[Minnesota Legislature]], Latz was an assistant attorney general in the office of the [[Minnesota Attorney General]] from 1989 to 1995. He sat on the St. Louis Park City Council from 1994 to 2003.[^2] He won a seat in the [[Minnesota House of Representatives]] in 2002 and moved to the Senate after the 2006 election. He was majority whip from 2007 to 2011, and he is listed as chair of the Judiciary and Public Safety Committee for the 2025–26 biennium.[^3] ## Early life and education Latz went to two high schools, Golden Valley High School in Golden Valley and Lindberg High School in Hopkins, and finished in 1981.[^4] He studied political science at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and received a Bachelor of Arts in 1985. He then completed a Juris Doctor at Harvard Law School in 1988.[^4] ## Political career From 1989 to 1995 Latz worked in the attorney general's Public Safety and Human Services Division, during the tenure of Attorney General Hubert Humphrey III.[^2] After leaving that office he became a partner at Latz and Latz, a law firm in St. Louis Park.[^2] His St. Louis Park City Council service ran from 1994 to 2003. From 1999 to 2003 he was also the council's mayor pro tem.[^2] He is reported to have held several other past roles. He sat on the Minnesota Attorney General's task forces on Health Care and on Privacy. He was state advocacy chair for the American Cancer Society. He sat on the Anti-Defamation League's Civil Rights and Education committees, and he was a member of the Metropolitan Interfaith Council on Affordable Housing.[^5] ### Minnesota legislature Latz was elected to the House in 2002 and re-elected in 2004, representing District 44B. Before the 2002 legislative redistricting, the same area had been numbered District 44A.[^6] His House committee assignments were Capital Investment, Civil Law, Education Policy and Reform, and Higher Education Finance.[^6] He won election to the Senate in 2006. Voters returned him in 2010, 2012, 2016, 2020 and 2022.[^7] He held the post of majority whip from 2007 to 2011.[^7] For the 2025–26 legislative biennium, his listed assignments are chair of the Judiciary and Public Safety Committee and a seat on the Commerce and Consumer Protection committee.[^8] ### Political positions His listed legislative interests include criminal and civil justice, public safety, and consumer protection.[^8] ## Personal life Latz's father, Bob (Robert) Latz, was a member of the Minnesota House from 1959 to 1967, representing the former districts 35 and 39. In 1966 he was the DFL-endorsed candidate for attorney general.[^9] His grandfather, Rubin Latz, came out of the Laundry and Dry Cleaners Union. He served as president of the Minneapolis Council of Business Agents during the 1930s and 1940s.[^9] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia contributors, *Ron Latz* (revision 1365777084, retrieved 2026-10-26), lead section — name, birth date, DFL membership, Senate District 46 in part of Hennepin County. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Latz [^2]: Wikipedia contributors, *Ron Latz* (revision 1365777084, retrieved 2026-10-26), "Political career" — assistant attorney general 1989–1995 under Hubert Humphrey III; partner at Latz and Latz; St. Louis Park City Council 1994–2003; mayor pro tem 1999–2003. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Latz [^3]: Wikipedia contributors, *Ron Latz* (revision 1365777084, retrieved 2026-10-26), "Minnesota legislature" — House election 2002, Senate election 2006, majority whip 2007–2011, 2025–26 committee chair. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Latz [^4]: Wikipedia contributors, *Ron Latz* (revision 1365777084, retrieved 2026-10-26), "Early life and education" — high schools, 1981 graduation, B.A. (1985) and J.D. (1988). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Latz [^5]: Wikipedia contributors, *Ron Latz* (revision 1365777084, retrieved 2026-10-26), "Political career" — former task force, American Cancer Society, Anti-Defamation League and housing council roles. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Latz [^6]: Wikipedia contributors, *Ron Latz* (revision 1365777084, retrieved 2026-10-26), "Minnesota legislature" — House elections 2002 and 2004, District 44B (formerly 44A), House committees. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Latz [^7]: Wikipedia contributors, *Ron Latz* (revision 1365777084, retrieved 2026-10-26), "Minnesota legislature" — Senate elections 2006–2022 and majority whip 2007–2011. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Latz [^8]: Wikipedia contributors, *Ron Latz* (revision 1365777084, retrieved 2026-10-26), "Minnesota legislature" and "Political positions" — 2025–26 committee assignments and listed legislative concerns. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Latz [^9]: Wikipedia contributors, *Ron Latz* (revision 1365777084, retrieved 2026-10-26), "Minnesota legislature" and "Personal life" — father's House service 1959–1967, districts 35 and 39, and 1966 endorsement; grandfather's union and council roles. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Latz