# Steve Simon *American politician; 22nd Minnesota Secretary of State* Stephen Frederick Simon (born December 12, 1969) is a Minnesota politician of the [[Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party]] (DFL) who holds office as the state's 22nd [[Minnesota Secretary of State]].[^1][^2] Before that he represented District 46B in the [[Minnesota House of Representatives]], winning the seat first in 2004.[^1] On September 25, 2025, the United States sued Simon and the State of Minnesota in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota, No. 0:25-cv-03761. The complaint seeks the statewide voter registration list under the [[Civil Rights Act of 1960]] and the [[Help America Vote Act]] (HAVA).[^3][^4] Simon has withheld the unredacted Statewide Voter Registration List and defends the refusal on state law, Minn. Stat. §201.091. The case was recorded as ongoing as of June 18, 2026.[^5] The record documents the filing, docket, assignment and each side's stated legal basis. It does not resolve the merits. The statute Simon relies on was enacted in 1973 under DFL Governor Anderson. According to the project's merged master, it was then amended in every era since, by every party, including five times under Governor Walz, and has never been repealed.[^6] The voter-roll suit is one of several federal actions against the State. In a separate matter, the [[United States Department of Justice]] issued release No. 26-21 on January 14, 2026, titled "United States Department of Justice Files Lawsuit Against Minnesota's 'Affirmative Action' Regime."[^7] ## Early life, education, and career Simon is a graduate of Hopkins High School in Minnetonka. He completed a bachelor's degree in political science at Tufts University in 1992 and a law degree at the [[University of Minnesota Law School]] in 1996.[^1][^8] From 1996 to 2001 he served as an assistant attorney general under Attorneys General [[Hubert H. Humphrey III]] and [[Mike Hatch]]. From 2001 to 2014 he practiced as an associate at Robins, Kaplan, Miller, and Ciresi.[^1] ## Minnesota House of Representatives District 46B voters elected Simon in 2004 and returned him to the House in 2006, 2008, 2010 and 2012.[^1] He sat on the Elections Committee and chaired it during his last term, 2013–14. Wikipedia credits him with the 2013 provision allowing no-excuse absentee voting.[^1] On May 2, 2011, Simon testified against a proposed state constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. He asked, "How many more gay people does God have to create before we ask ourselves whether or not God actually wants them around?" Wikipedia reports that the remark drew national attention.[^1] ## Minnesota Secretary of State ### Campaigns Simon entered the 2014 secretary of state race on August 6, 2013, and won it by a narrow margin over the Republican nominee, Dan Severson.[^1] The University of Minnesota Law School reported his election in November 2014.[^8] The Star Tribune editorial board endorsed him for the office.[^9] [[Education Minnesota]] endorsed him on a slate with Blaha and Ellison.[^10] He won a second term in 2018 against Republican John Howe. He won a third in 2022 against Republican Kim Crockett, by a wider margin than in 2018.[^1][^11][^12] In July 2022, Simon and Governor Walz opted out of the state's campaign public funds program; Ellison opted in.[^13] On December 8, 2025, Simon announced that he would run for a fourth term.[^1][^14] In 2026 he received the [[Joan Growe]] Award at the Humphrey-Mondale Awards.[^1] ### Office actions and statements Simon formally rejected a request from the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity.[^15] NASS named him its president.[^16] His office announced that his elections director had been chosen to lead a national effort to improve state voter rolls.[^17] On September 19, 2024, the Washington Times reported that Simon said an AVR "glitch" had been fixed.[^18] On January 14, 2025, Simon said that no quorum was present in the House and adjourned it. Republican members overrode the adjournment and elected Demuth speaker.[^19][^20] On May 1, 2026, he outlined his goals and concerns for the 2026 elections.[^21] ### Federal voter-roll litigation [[United States v. Steve Simon and State of Minnesota (voter rolls)]], No. 0:25-cv-03761 (D. Minn.), was filed September 25, 2025.[^3][^4] The complaint seeks the statewide voter list under the Civil Rights Act of 1960 and HAVA §303. HAVA §303 is the list-maintenance and disclosure provision codified at 52 U.S.C. §21083. The complaint's contents are allegations, not adjudicated facts.[^3] The instrument on the State's side is Minn. Stat. §201.091, which governs voter-list data and which the State has invoked to withhold the unredacted list.[^5][^6] The case is assigned to Judge [[Katherine M. Menendez]], with Magistrate Judge Elsa M. Bullard. The [[League of Women Voters]] and [[Common Cause]] moved to intervene.[^5][^4] A September 30, 2025 interview described Simon as the official "the Trump administration is suing over voter rolls."[^22] On December 23, 2025, MPR News reported that Simon had moved to end the lawsuit.[^23] The case record pairs the complaint with a statement from Simon's office and with KSTP's report on the suit over his refusal to turn over voter rolls.[^24][^25] Democracy Docket and the ACLU also track the case.[^26][^27] As of the record's date its status is active.[^5] ### Office statements beside the record On August 12, 2026, Simon's office announced that more than 1,103,000 Minnesotans had cast ballots in the primary. That was about 25 percent of eligible voters and a Minnesota primary record. In the same release Simon said Minnesotans "value democracy and they've proved it once again by showing up" and would "once again lead the nation in voter turnout."[^28] On that date, the same office's unredacted voter list remained withheld from the United States and in litigation in No. 0:25-cv-03761.[^3][^5] ### Bipartisan record of §201.091 The project's merged master records the history line of §201.091 as running from 1973 c 676 s 7, under Governor Anderson (DFL), through 2025 c 39. It lists five Walz-era amendments and amendments from every party, with no repeal.[^6] The same source records two enactments, 1Sp2019 c 10 and 2023 c 62, that each amended both §201.091 and [[§43A.191]]. §43A.191 is the equity statute at issue in *United States v. Minnesota*. The record's finding is amendment without repeal of instruments now in federal court, not amendment as such.[^6] ### Related federal actions The Justice Department's release No. 26-21 (January 14, 2026) announced a separate lawsuit. Its title calls the State's apparatus "Minnesota's 'Affirmative Action' Regime." Attorney General Pamela Bondi certified that case as a matter of general public importance.[^7] The project's catalogue of U.S.-government "regime" usages finds no other U.S. state so described. Other federal complaints naming the State include *United States v. Minnesota*, No. 0:26-cv-00273, and *United States v. Minnesota* ([[Title IX]]), No. 0:26-cv-02078.[^29][^30] ## In the Minnesota record ### Who - Simon is the Secretary of State who refused to provide the unredacted Statewide Voter Registration List to the United States.[^5] ### What - Simon is the named defendant in *United States v. Simon*, No. 0:25-cv-03761.[^3][^4] ### When - The case was filed on September 25, 2025.[^3][^4] ### Where - The case is pending in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota.[^3][^4] ### Why - Simon defends the refusal on state law, citing Minn. Stat. §201.091.[^5] ### How - The challenge is brought under the Civil Rights Act of 1960 and the Help America Vote Act.[^3][^5] ## See also - [[United States v. Steve Simon and State of Minnesota (voter rolls)]] - [[Civil Rights Act of 1960]] - [[Help America Vote Act]] - [[Minnesota Secretary of State]] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia, *Steve Simon* (rev. 1380906247, retrieved 2026-10-25) — birth date, education, career, House service, campaigns, 2011 testimony, Growe Award. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Simon [^2]: Minnesota Secretary of State, *About Steve Simon* — office biography of the Secretary. https://www.sos.mn.gov/about-the-office/about-the-office/about-steve-simon/ [^3]: U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, *Complaint, United States v. Steve Simon and State of Minnesota*, No. 0:25-cv-03761 (D. Minn., filed Sept. 25, 2025) — the federal complaint seeking the statewide voter list under the Civil Rights Act of 1960 and HAVA §303; allegations, not adjudicated facts. https://www.justice.gov/crt/media/1415121/dl [^4]: CourtListener, *United States v. Simon* docket, No. 0:25-cv-03761 (D. Minn.) — docket record of the case. https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71453336/united-states-v-simon/ [^5]: Civil Rights Litigation Clearinghouse, *United States v. Simon* (case 47000) — refusal to provide the unredacted list, §201.091 defense, judge assignment, intervention motion, ongoing status. https://clearinghouse.net/case/47000/ [^6]: *How Minnesota Got Here* (merged master, footnoted), nn. 17–19 — §201.091 history line, 1973 c 676 s 7 → 2025 c 39, no repeal; shared vehicles 1Sp2019 c 10 and 2023 c 62; marked primary-confirmed against the Revisor's statute page (not among this pack's allowed URLs). [^7]: 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; Attorney General Bondi's certification. https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/united-states-department-justice-files-lawsuit-against-minnesotas-affirmative-action-regime [^8]: University of Minnesota Law School, *Steve Simon ('96) Elected Minnesota Secretary of State* (Nov. 24, 2014) — 1996 law graduate; 2014 election. https://law.umn.edu/news/2014-11-24-steve-simon-96-elected-minnesota-secretary-state [^9]: Star Tribune, *Endorsement: Steve Simon for secretary of state* — editorial endorsement. https://www.startribune.com/endorsement-steve-simon-for-secretary-of-state/279626282 [^10]: Education Minnesota, *Education Minnesota endorses Blaha, Ellison and Simon* — union endorsement. https://educationminnesota.org/news/press-release/education-minnesota-endorses-blaha-ellison-and-simon/ [^11]: Star Tribune, *Democrat Steve Simon wins third term as Minnesota secretary of state* (2022) — 2022 result over Kim Crockett. https://www.startribune.com/minnesota-secretary-of-state-election-results-steve-simon-kim-crockett-2022/600222728 [^12]: MinnPost, *Ellison, Blaha win narrowly for AG and auditor; Simon headed to 3rd term* (Nov. 2022) — 2022 result. https://www.minnpost.com/elections/2022/11/ellison-blaha-hold-narrow-leads-for-ag-and-auditor-simon-headed-to-3rd-term/ [^13]: MinnPost, *Walz and Simon opt out of campaign public funds program; Ellison opts in* (July 2022) — public-funds opt-out. https://www.minnpost.com/elections/2022/07/walz-and-simon-opt-out-of-campaign-public-funds-program-ellison-opts-in/ [^14]: Minnesota DFL Party, *DFL Party Statement: Secretary of State Steve Simon Announces Reelection Bid* — fourth-term announcement. https://dfl.org/dfl-party-statement-secretary-of-state-steve-simon-announces-reelection-bid/ [^15]: Minnesota Secretary of State, *Secretary Simon formally rejects request from Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity* — rejection of the commission's request. https://sos.mn.gov/about-the-office/news-room/secretary-simon-formally-rejects-request-from-presidential-advisory-commission-on-election-integrity/ [^16]: NASS, *NASS Names Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon as President* — presidency of the association. https://www.nass.org/node/2598 [^17]: Minnesota Secretary of State, *Minnesota Secretary of State Simon's Elections Director chosen to lead national effort to improve state voter rolls* — elections director's national role. https://sos.mn.gov/about-the-office/news-room/minnesota-secretary-of-state-simon-s-elections-director-chosen-to-lead-national-effort-to-improve-state-voter-rolls [^18]: Washington Times, *Simon says AVR "glitch" is fixed* (Sept. 19, 2024) — Simon's statement on the AVR glitch. https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2024/sep/19/steve-simon-minnesota-secretary-of-state-glitch-in/ [^19]: Minnesota House of Representatives, *Session Daily*, Story 18429 (Jan. 14, 2025) — Simon says no quorum; Republicans elect Demuth speaker. https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18429 [^20]: KAAL-TV, *Republicans override Simon's adjournment of House, elect Demuth as speaker* (Jan. 14, 2025) — override of the adjournment. https://www.kaaltv.com/news/republicans-override-simons-adjournment-of-house-elect-demuth-as-speaker/ [^21]: KTTC, *Secretary of State Steve Simon outlines goals, concerns for 2026 elections* (May 1, 2026). https://www.kttc.com/2026/05/01/secretary-state-steve-simon-outlines-goals-concerns-2026-elections/ [^22]: KAXE, *Q&A with Secretary of State Steve Simon, who the Trump administration is suing over voter rolls* (Sept. 30, 2025). https://www.kaxe.org/minnesota-news/2025-09-30/secretary-of-state-steve-simon-trump-administration-lawsuit-voter-rolls [^23]: MPR News, *Minnesota Secretary of State Simon moves to spike federal lawsuit over state voter data* (Dec. 23, 2025). https://www.mprnews.org/story/2025/12/23/minnesota-secretary-of-state-simon-moves-to-spike-federal-lawsuit-over-state-voter-data [^24]: Minnesota Secretary of State, *Statement from Secretary Simon on federal Minnesota voter integrity act* — office statement listed in the case record. https://www.sos.mn.gov/about-the-office/news-room/statement-from-secretary-simon-on-federal-minnesota-voter-integrity-act [^25]: KSTP, *DOJ sues Minnesota Secretary of State Simon over refusal to turn over voter rolls* — news report of the suit. https://kstp.com/kstp-news/top-news/doj-sues-minnesota-secretary-of-state-simon-over-refusal-to-turn-over-voter-rolls/ [^26]: Democracy Docket, *United States v. Simon* — case tracker. https://www.democracydocket.com/cases/minnesota-doj-voter-data-access-challenge/ [^27]: ACLU, *United States v. Simon* — case page. https://www.aclu.org/cases/united-states-v-simon [^28]: Minnesota Secretary of State, *Historic Voter Turnout in 2026 Primary* (Aug. 12, 2026) — 1,103,000+ ballots; about 25 percent turnout; Simon's quoted statements. https://www.sos.mn.gov/about-the-office/news-room/historic-voter-turnout-in-2026-primary/ [^29]: U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, *Complaint, United States v. Minnesota*, No. 0:26-cv-00273 (D. Minn.) — federal complaint against the State. https://www.justice.gov/crt/media/1423361/dl [^30]: U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, *Complaint, United States v. Minnesota* (Title IX), No. 0:26-cv-02078 (D. Minn.) — federal Title IX complaint against the State. https://www.justice.gov/crt/media/1433251/dl