Sandy Pappas
Minnesota State Senator, District 65 since 1990. Did not run for re-election in 2026; leaves office in January 2027.
- In office
- 36 yrs
- Since 1990
- Bills became law
- 1
- 116 sponsored, 2025–2026 session
- Votes missed
- 0.0%
- Chamber median 0.0%
- With party
- 100%
- On votes splitting the parties
- Last margin
- +60.5
- Won 2022
Source: Wikidata, congress-legislators and Open States; 99chambers legislative recordsUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET
Committees
As of 2026-10.
- Capital Investment · chair
- Finance
- Judiciary and Public Safety
- Labor
- Rules and Administration
Source: Open States committeesUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET
Legislation
Appropriations-Omnibus Bills · Failed in committee Jun 2025
Appropriations-Omnibus Bills · Failed in committee Jun 2025
Courts · Became law Aug 2025
Bonds · Failed in the Senate May 2026
Bonds · Failed in the Senate May 2026
Source: Open States billsUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:22 PM ET
Voting record
Where Pappas sits in the Minnesota State Senate
Pappas is closer to the center than 6% of the chamber's Democrats.
Closest: Bonnie Westlin, Tou Xiong, Steve Cwodzinski
Source: 99chambers roll-call scalingUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:53 PM ET
With Pappas’s party
- Votes with the chamber's Democrats100%
- Cosponsorships of the other party's bills27%
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: Pappas’s vote, each party’s majority, and the result. An orange vote differs from most Democrats.
| Date | Bill | Pappas | 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 Pappas 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 65 | Won | D+60.5 |
| 2020 | Minnesota State Senate, District 65 | Won | D+63.2 |
| 2016 | Minnesota State Senate, District 65 | Won | D+61.8 |
| 2012 | Minnesota State Senate, District 65 | Won | D+63.8 |
| 2010 | Minnesota State Senate, District 65 | Won | D+53.1 |
| 2006 | Minnesota State Senate, District 65 | Won | D+59.2 |
| 2002 | Minnesota State Senate, District 65 | Won | — |
| 2000 | Minnesota State Senate, District 65 | Won | D+52.5 |
| 1996 | Minnesota State Senate, District 65 | Won | D+56.5 |
| 1992 | Minnesota State Senate, District 65 | Won | D+50.7 |
| 1990 | Minnesota State Senate, District 65 | Won | D+48.9 |
| 1988 | Minnesota House of Representatives, HD-65B | Won | D+50.6 |
| 1986 | Minnesota House of Representatives, HD-65B | Won | — |
| 1984 | Minnesota House of Representatives, HD-65B | Won | D+43.1 |
Source: 99chambers results archive
Seats Pappas has held
- Minnesota State Senate, District 65 · since 1990
Source: 99chambers results archive
Who Pappas has run against
- Paul Holmgren (R) · 2022 election, won
- Jason Delmont (R) · 2016 election, won
- Rick Karschnia (R) · 2012 election, won
- Lori Windels (R) · 2006 election, won
- Fred Meyer (R) · 2000 election, won
- Michael J. Gubash (R) · 1996 election, won
Source: 99chambers results archive
How we know Pappas
One person, matched across every source we use.
- Open States ocd-person/0b83a916-567b-4d36-843f-17d8f5e13b8d
Source: Identity links: Wikidata, congress-legislators, Open States, FECUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET