Paul Torkelson
Minnesota State Representative, District 15B since 2008. Did not run for re-election in 2026; leaves office in January 2027.
- In office
- 18 yrs
- Since 2008
- Bills became law
- 0
- 33 sponsored, 2025–2026 session
- Votes missed
- 0.0%
- Chamber median 0.0%
- With party
- 96%
- On votes splitting the parties
- Last margin
- +45.4
- Won 2024
Source: Wikidata, congress-legislators and Open States; 99chambers legislative recordsUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET
Committees
As of 2026-10.
- Ways and Means · co-chair
Source: Open States committeesUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET
Legislation
Appropriations · Failed in the House May 2026
Children and Minors · Failed in the House Apr 2026
Constitutional Amendments · Failed in the House Mar 2025
Education and Education Department · Failed in committee May 2026
Airports and Aircraft · Failed in committee Apr 2026
Source: Open States billsUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:22 PM ET
Voting record
Where Torkelson sits in the Minnesota House of Representatives
Torkelson is closer to the center than 78% of the chamber's Republicans.
Closest: Tom Sexton, Ron Kresha,
Source: 99chambers roll-call scalingUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:53 PM ET
With Torkelson’s party
- Votes with the chamber's Republicans96%
- Cosponsorships of the other party's bills24%
Black tick: the average of Republicans in the Minnesota House of Representatives.
Source: 99chambers legislative scores from roll calls and cosponsorships
Key votes
Votes chosen for their effect, not their side: Torkelson’s vote, each party’s majority, and the result. An orange vote differs from most Republicans.
| Date | Bill | Torkelson | Rep. majority | Dem. majority | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 17, 2026 | HF 1849: Term limits provided for governor and lieutenant governor, and constitutional amendment… | Yes | Yes | No | Failed 64–69 |
| May 17, 2026 | HF 5149: Law enforcement access to sensitive locations restricted, civil remedies established,… | No | No | Yes | Passed 67–63 |
| May 14, 2026 | HF 5140: Ownership, possession, and sale of semiautomatic military-style assault weapons and… | No | No | Yes | Failed 67–67 |
| Apr 16, 2026 | HF 5015: School safety plans enhanced, student discipline provisions modified, anonymous reporting… | Yes | Yes | No | Failed 63–68 |
| Apr 9, 2026 | HF 4907: Motor vehicle registration tax modified, and money transferred. | Yes | Yes | No | Failed 67–67 |
Source: 99chambers key votes from Congress.gov, Voteview and Open States roll calls
Career
Offices held, and every time Torkelson 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Minnesota House of Representatives, District 15B | Won | R+45.4 |
| 2022 | Minnesota House of Representatives, District 15B | Won | R+45.2 |
| 2020 | Minnesota House of Representatives, District 16B | Won | R+35.4 |
| 2018 | Minnesota House of Representatives, District 16B | Won | R+26.4 |
| 2016 | Minnesota House of Representatives, District 16B | Won | R+46.3 |
| 2014 | Minnesota House of Representatives, District 16B | Won | R+30.0 |
| 2012 | Minnesota House of Representatives, District 16B | Won | R+23.9 |
| 2010 | Minnesota House of Representatives, District 21B | Won | — |
| 2008 | Minnesota House of Representatives, District 21B | Won | R+3.0 |
Source: 99chambers results archive
Seats Torkelson has held
- Minnesota House of Representatives, District 15B · since 2022
- Minnesota House of Representatives, District 16B · since 2012
- Minnesota House of Representatives, District 21B · since 2008
Source: 99chambers results archive
Who Torkelson has run against
- Tom Kuster (D) · 2024 general, won
- Tom Kuster (D) · 2022 general, won
- Marinda Kimmel (D) · 2020 general, won
- Marinda Kimmel (D) · 2018 general, won
- Austin Grossenburg (D) · 2016 general, won
- James Kanne (D) · 2014 general, won
Source: 99chambers results archive
How we know Torkelson
One person, matched across every source we use.
- Open States ocd-person/380875c6-dc4c-4062-8c2d-f5b80dd64c4c
Source: Identity links: Wikidata, congress-legislators, Open States, FECUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET