Minnesota Index: 2017 session preview

The 2017 session of the Minnesota Legislature begins Jan. 3. Here's a numerical look at the incoming members of the House and Senate for the 90th legislative biennium. 

Republican members at the start of the 2017 session 76

            DFL members 57

            Open seats       1 (District 32B)

Republican majority at start of 2015-16 biennium     73-61

            DFL seat majority 2013-14 biennium after two special elections in February 2013  73-61

            Republican majority at start of 2011-12 biennium     72-62

Members needed for a veto-proof majority    90

Number of men, women in the House            85, 48

            Republican men, women         56, 20

            DFL men, women       29, 28

Number of women in the 2009-10, 2011-12, 2013-14, 2015-16 biennia       43, 45, 45, 45

Term for longest-serving House members (Lyndon Carlson, Sr.)       23

Number of newly elected House members     23

            Republican, DFL        12, 11

Freshman House members in 2009-10, 2011-12, 2013-14, 2015-16 biennia 22, 34, 34, 24

Number of incumbents re-elected in November 2016            110

            Number that were not 5

            Open seats       18

Republican majority in Minnesota Senate      34-33

            DFL majority in 2013-14 and 2015-16 biennia          39-28

            Republican majority at start of 2011-12 biennium     37-30

Number of new state senators 21

            Republican, DFL        12, 9

Number of Senate incumbents re-elected in November 2016            46

            Number that were not 8

            Open seat        1

Last time Republicans controlled Senate after election for four-year term    1967-70

            Republican, DFL members at that time 45, 22

Vote difference in closest House race (Randy Jessup - 42A) 125

            Votes cast in that race 23,242

Vote difference in second-closest House race (Nolan West - 37B)   168

            Votes cast in that race 22,827

With 201 total legislators, state rank amongst largest legislatures      5

            Legislators in New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Georgia and New York, respectively            424, 253, 236, 212

State rank in terms of largest House   12

            State rank in terms of largest Senate  1

Base annual compensation for legislators       $31,140

            Daily House, Senate member per diem           $66, $86

Year when legislators last got a base pay increase      1999

Days between Jan. 3 and May 22, day by which the Legislature must adjourn 139

Sources: House Public Information Services, House Chief Clerk's Office, Legislative Reference Library, National Conference of State Legislatures.