Jim Carlson
Minnesota State Senator, District 52 since 2006. Did not run for re-election in 2026; leaves office in January 2027.
- In office
- 20 yrs
- Since 2006
- Bills became law
- 0
- 33 sponsored, 2025–2026 session
- Votes missed
- 0.0%
- Chamber median 0.0%
- With party
- 99%
- On votes splitting the parties
- Last margin
- +26.6
- Won 2022
Source: Wikidata, congress-legislators and Open States; 99chambers legislative recordsUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET
Committees
As of 2026-10.
- Elections · chair
- Transportation
Source: Open States committeesUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET
Legislation
No bills in this list for the 2025–2026 session.
Source: Open States billsUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:22 PM ET
Voting record
Where Carlson sits in the Minnesota State Senate
Carlson is closer to the center than 49% of the chamber's Democrats.
Closest: Ann Johnson Stewart, Mary Kunesh, Amanda Hemmingsen-Jaeger
Source: 99chambers roll-call scalingUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:53 PM ET
With Carlson’s party
- Votes with the chamber's Democrats99%
- Cosponsorships of the other party's bills12%
Black tick: the average of Democrats in the Minnesota State Senate.
Source: 99chambers legislative scores from roll calls and cosponsorships
Key votes
Votes chosen for their effect, not their side: Carlson’s vote, each party’s majority, and the result. An orange vote differs from most Democrats.
| Date | Bill | Carlson | Dem. majority | Rep. majority | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 17, 2026 | HF 2484: Bonding bill; spending authorized to acquire and better land and buildings and for other… | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 50–17 |
| May 17, 2026 | SF 2077: Omnibus Outdoor Heritage Fund, Legacy and Lands bill | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 41–26 |
| May 17, 2026 | SF 4612: Omnibus Health and Human Services supplemental appropriations | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 35–32 |
| May 17, 2026 | SF 4401: Omnibus Cannabis bill | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 35–32 |
| May 16, 2026 | HF 3900: Permanent school fund investment, management, and distribution policy modified; and… | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 38–29 |
Source: 99chambers key votes from Congress.gov, Voteview and Open States roll calls
Career
Offices held, and every time Carlson was on a ballot. Filled marks are general elections won; hollow marks are primaries; an orange outline is a loss.
Source: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)
Elections
Margin against the seat’s presidential baseline: how the seat voted for president in the same or nearest year.
| Year | Race | Result | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Minnesota State Senate, District 52 | Won | D+26.6 |
| 2020 | Minnesota State Senate, District 51 | Won | D+22.6 |
| 2016 | Minnesota State Senate, District 51 | Won | D+8.2 |
| 2012 | Minnesota State Senate, District 51 | Won | D+6.4 |
| 2010 | Minnesota State Senate, District 38 | Lost | R+3.5 |
| 2006 | Minnesota State Senate, District 38 | Won | D+7.3 |
| 2004 | Minnesota House of Representatives, District 38B | Lost | R+7.5 |
Source: 99chambers results archive
Seats Carlson has held
- Minnesota State Senate, District 52 · since 2022
- Minnesota State Senate, District 51 · since 2012
- Minnesota State Senate, District 38 · since 2006
Source: 99chambers results archive
Who Carlson has run against
- Stephen Lowell (R) · 2022 general, won
- Douglas D. Willetts (R) · 2020 general, won
- Victor Lake (R) · 2016 general, won
- Ted Daley (R) · 2012 general, won
- Ted Daley (R) · 2010 general, lost
- Michael McGinn (R) · 2006 general, won
Source: 99chambers results archive
How we know Carlson
One person, matched across every source we use.
- Open States ocd-person/ac087885-bab6-4fbf-b88a-daf71262c8b6
Source: Identity links: Wikidata, congress-legislators, Open States, FECUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET