# Torrey Westrom *American businessman and Republican member of the Minnesota Senate for District 12* Torrey Westrom (born March 27, 1973) is a businessman and a Republican member of the [[Minnesota Senate]]. His Senate District 12 takes in all or part of eight counties: Big Stone, Douglas, Grant, Pope, Stearns, Stevens, Traverse and Wilkin.[^1] The Wikipedia account of his career identifies him as the first known blind person elected to the [[Minnesota Legislature]].[^1] Westrom entered the [[Minnesota House of Representatives]] after the 1996 election and moved to the Senate after the 2012 election.[^2] In 2014 he ran as the Republican challenger to [[Collin Peterson]] in [[Minnesota's 7th congressional district]]. He has also sat on several state task forces and commissions and on a federal advisory panel.[^2] ## Political career Westrom's legislative commission service has included the Rural Health Care Advisory Task Force, a voting equipment task force convened by the Secretary of State, and the Minnesota Legislative Audit Commission.[^2] In 2002 President George W. Bush named him to a four-year term on the Ticket to Work, a federal advisory panel. That panel counseled Congress and the White House on programs that help people with disabilities return to work.[^2] ### Minnesota House of Representatives Westrom won his first House election in 1996. He was returned at each two-year election until his Senate candidacy.[^2] He represented the former District 13A until the 2002 legislative redistricting, and District 11A after it.[^2] On May 17, 2011, he presided over the House as Speaker Pro Tempore. The Wikipedia account states that this made him the first known blind person to oversee a state legislative debate anywhere in the United States.[^2] ### Minnesota Senate Westrom won election to the Senate in 2012.[^2] The Wikipedia account credits him with promoting affordable and reliable energy in that chamber. It also credits him with backing clean-energy investment, including research into "green ammonia" and other carbon-free gas energy at the [[University of Minnesota]]'s Morris campus.[^2] In March 2023 he spoke in favor of private prisons, with particular reference to the [[Prairie Correctional Facility]] in [[Appleton, Minnesota]].[^2] ### Run for Congress In December 2013, under a year after taking his Senate seat, Westrom announced that he would run against the incumbent, Peterson, in the 2014 race for the 7th District seat.[^2] His campaign opened with events in Elbow Lake and Moorhead. According to the Wikipedia account, he raised more than $84,000 in its first month.[^2] He took 46% of the vote in the November general election. By the same account, no Republican had polled higher against Peterson since 1990.[^2] ## Personal life Westrom earned a B.A. in political science and business administration from [[Bemidji State University]] in 1995. He earned a J.D. from [[Mitchell Hamline School of Law]] in 2003.[^3] He and his wife own TSI Real Estate, a firm based in Elbow Lake whose properties include holdings in Hutchinson, Saint Paul and Madelia.[^3] ## In the Minnesota record ### Who - Torrey Westrom, born March 27, 1973; Republican member of the Minnesota Senate for District 12.[^1] ### What - Member of the Rural Health Care Advisory Task Force, the Secretary of State's voting equipment task force, and the Minnesota Legislative Audit Commission.[^2] - Appointed in 2002 by President George W. Bush to a four-year term on the Ticket to Work federal advisory panel.[^2] ### When - Graduated from Bemidji State University in 1995 and from Mitchell Hamline School of Law in 2003.[^3] - First elected to the Minnesota House in 1996, then reelected every two years until his Senate run. Elected to the Senate in 2012.[^2] - Acted as Speaker Pro Tempore on May 17, 2011.[^2] - Announced his congressional challenge in December 2013.[^2] - Advocated for private prisons in March 2023.[^2] ### Where - Senate District 12. House District 13A before the 2002 redistricting and House District 11A after it.[^1][^2] - Minnesota's 7th congressional district for the 2014 campaign.[^2] ### How much - Raised more than $84,000 in the first month of the 2014 congressional campaign.[^2] ### How many - Won 46% of the vote in the November 2014 general election against Collin Peterson.[^2] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia contributors, *Torrey Westrom* (revision 1378327011, retrieved 2026-10-26) — lead section: birth date, party, Senate district and counties, first known blind person elected to the Minnesota Legislature. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torrey_Westrom [^2]: Wikipedia contributors, *Torrey Westrom* (revision 1378327011, retrieved 2026-10-26) — "Political career" section: commissions, 2002 Ticket to Work appointment, House service from 1996 and districts 13A/11A, May 17, 2011 Speaker Pro Tempore, 2012 Senate election, energy positions, March 2023 private-prison advocacy, 2013–2014 congressional run. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torrey_Westrom [^3]: Wikipedia contributors, *Torrey Westrom* (revision 1378327011, retrieved 2026-10-26) — "Personal life" section: degrees and dates, TSI Real Estate. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torrey_Westrom