Keith Langseth
Encyclopedia
Keith Langseth is a Democratic Farmer Labor Party member of the Minnesota Senate
, representing District 9 since 1981. Prior to his election to the Senate, he was a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives
from District 9B from 1975 to 1979. His district includes portions of Becker
, Clay
, Otter Tail
, Traverse
and Wilkin
counties in the northwestern part of the state.
, where he still resides. He graduated from Glyndon High School in 1956 and began working as a dairy farmer. He has continued farming throughout his tenure in the legislature. He and his wife, Lorraine, have three children: Dan, Joy and Gayle.
. He was asked by the local DFL Party to run for the House of Representatives in 1974, later choosing to run for the Senate in 1980. He ran against and defeated an incumbent in both elections. He is the longest-serving current member of the Senate.
Langseth serves as Chair of the Capital Investment Committee, a position he has held since since its creation in 2001. He is also a member of the Taxes, Agriculture and Veterans, Agriculture and Veterans Budget and Policy Division, Transportation, Transportation Budget and Policy Division, and Rules and Administration committees. His stated legislative concerns include bonding, tax policy, transportation, education and agriculture.
Minnesota Senate
The Minnesota Senate is the upper house in the Minnesota Legislature. There are 67 members, half as many as are in the Minnesota House of Representatives. In terms of membership, it is the largest upper house of any state legislature. Each Senate district in the state includes an A and B House...
, representing District 9 since 1981. Prior to his election to the Senate, he was a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives
Minnesota House of Representatives
The Minnesota House of Representatives is the lower house in the Minnesota State Legislature. There are 134 members elected to two-year terms, twice the number of members in the Minnesota Senate. Each senate district is divided in half and given the suffix A or B...
from District 9B from 1975 to 1979. His district includes portions of Becker
Becker County, Minnesota
Becker County is a county located in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of 2010, the population was 32,504. Its county seat is Detroit Lakes. A portion of the White Earth Indian Reservation extends into the county.-History:...
, Clay
Clay County, Minnesota
Clay County is a county located in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of 2010, the population was 58,999. Its name is in honor of American statesman Henry Clay, member of the United States Senate from Kentucky and United States Secretary of State in the 19th century. Its county seat is Moorhead...
, Otter Tail
Otter Tail County, Minnesota
Otter Tail County is a county located in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of 2010, the population was 57,303. Its county seat is Fergus Falls.-History:...
, Traverse
Traverse County, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 4,134 people, 1,717 households, and 1,129 families residing in the county. The population density was 7 people per square mile . There were 2,199 housing units at an average density of 4 per square mile...
and Wilkin
Wilkin County, Minnesota
-External links:*...
counties in the northwestern part of the state.
Personal life
Langseth grew up in GlyndonGlyndon, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,049 people, 359 households, and 283 families residing in the city. The population density was 693.5 people per square mile . There were 403 housing units at an average density of 266.4 per square mile...
, where he still resides. He graduated from Glyndon High School in 1956 and began working as a dairy farmer. He has continued farming throughout his tenure in the legislature. He and his wife, Lorraine, have three children: Dan, Joy and Gayle.
Political career
Langseth first became involved in the DFL as a result of his opposition to the Vietnam WarVietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
. He was asked by the local DFL Party to run for the House of Representatives in 1974, later choosing to run for the Senate in 1980. He ran against and defeated an incumbent in both elections. He is the longest-serving current member of the Senate.
Langseth serves as Chair of the Capital Investment Committee, a position he has held since since its creation in 2001. He is also a member of the Taxes, Agriculture and Veterans, Agriculture and Veterans Budget and Policy Division, Transportation, Transportation Budget and Policy Division, and Rules and Administration committees. His stated legislative concerns include bonding, tax policy, transportation, education and agriculture.
Electoral history
- Minnesota Senate District 9 Election 2010
- Keith Langseth (D) 14,595 votes, 52.52%
- Jeff Backer (R), 13,168 votes, 47.39%
- Write In, 25 votes, 0.09%
- Minnesota Senate District 9 Election 2006
- Keith Langseth (D) 20,353 votes, 69.8%
- Paul Holle (R), 8,771 votes, 30.1%
- Write In, 33 votes, 0.1%
- Minnesota Senate District 9 Election 2002
- Keith Langseth (D) 18,587 votes, 61.22%
- Bradley Monson (R), 10,144 votes, 33.41%
- Dan Stewart (IP), 1,278 votes, 4.21%
- Minnesota Senate District 9 Election 2000
- Keith Langseth (D) 19,412 votes, 61.05%
- Wallace "Wally" Nord (R), 10,946 votes, 34.43%
- Minnesota Senate District 9 Election 1996
- Keith Langseth (D) 17,189 votes, 58.67%
- Cliff Dyrud (R), 11,235 votes, 38.35%
- Minnesota Senate District 9 Election 1992
- Keith Langseth (D) 18,954 votes, 59.68%
- Bob Friederichs (IR), 11,587 votes, 36.48%
- Minnesota Senate District 9 Election 1990
- Keith Langseth (D) 13,705 votes, 61.80%
- Robert Westfall (IR) 7,716 votes, 34.79%
- Minnesota Senate District 9 Election 1986
- Keith Langseth (D) 11,166 votes, 57.96%
- David Green (IR) 8,099 votes, 42.04%
- Minnesota Senate District 9 Election 1982
- Keith Langseth (D) 11,733 votes, 50.62%
- Phyllis Thysell (IR) 10,803 votes, 46.61%
- Minnesota Senate District 9 Election 1980
- Keith Langseth (D) 13,776 votes, 52.9%
- D.H. (Doug) Sillers (Incumbent) (IR) 12,245 votes, 47.1%
- Minnesota House District 9B Election 1978
- Keith Langseth (D) 5,743 votes, 49.9%
- Merlyn Valan (IR) 5,758 votes, 50.1%
- Minnesota House District 9B Election 1976
- Keith Langseth (D) 8,498 votes, 62.8%
- Lee Johnson (IR) 4,664 votes, 37.2%
- Minnesota House District 9B Election 1974
- Keith Langseth (D) 5,361 votes, 58.94%
- Arian Strangeland (Incumbent) (IR) 3,735 votes, 41.06%