Cal Bahr

Calvin Bahr (born July 17, 1962) is an American businessman, truck driver and politician serving since 2023 as a member of the Minnesota Senate. A member of the Republican Party of Minnesota, he represents the 31st district, in the northern Twin Cities metropolitan area.

Cal Bahr
Member of the Minnesota Senate
from the 31st District
Assumed office
January 3, 2023
Preceded byMichelle Benson
Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives
from the 31B district
In office
January 3, 2017 – January 4, 2023
Preceded byTom Hackbarth
Succeeded byPeggy Scott
Personal details
Born (1962-07-17) July 17, 1962
Cook County, Illinois, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseEllen Carey (Borchert)
ResidenceEast Bethel, Minnesota
Alma materStockton High School
OccupationSmall Business Owner

Career

Bahr was in the United States Army from 1980 to 1989.[1] He was a member of the Upper Rum River Water Management Organization board.[2]

Minnesota House of Representatives

Bahr was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2016. He won the Republican endorsement over incumbent Tom Hackbarth and defeated him in the Republican primary.[3][4] He was reelected in 2018. On December 7, 2018, Bahr and three other House members left the GOP House Caucus to form the New House Republican Caucus due to dissatisfaction with the House Republican leadership.[5] The caucus has introduced bills that feature their strong interest in constitutional issues as well as their own budget proposal.

Minnesota Senate

In 2022, Bahr ran for the open 31st State Senate seat, after incumbent Michelle Benson retired.[6] He won the Republican primary with 78.6% of the vote, and defeated Democratic nominee Jason Ruffalo in the general election.[7]

Bahr is considered one of the Senate's farthest-right members.[8]

In 2023, Bahr went viral after a video from a vote during the legislative session showed him voting shirtless from a bed.[9] According to a party spokesperson, Bahr had been working until 4:45am driving his truck the night before the vote.[10]

Electoral history

Source:[11]

  • 2022 Minnesota Senate race — District 31
    • Cal Bahr (R) 63.7% (25,705 votes)
    • Jason Ruffalo (DFL), 36.2% (14,585 votes)
    • Write-in, 0.1% (22 votes)
  • 2020 Minnesota House of Representatives race — District 31B
    • Cal Bahr (R) 67.1% (17,447 votes)
    • Susan Larson (DFL), 32.8% (8,532 votes)
    • Write-in, 0.1% (22 votes)
  • 2018 Minnesota House of Representatives race — District 31B
    • Cal Bahr (R) 64.4% (12,840 votes)
    • Susan Larson (DFL), 35.5% (7,080 votes)
    • Write-in, 0.1% (18 votes)
  • 2016 Minnesota House of Representatives race — District 31B
    • Cal Bahr (R) 66.53% (14,785 votes)
    • Susan Larson (DFL), 33.47% (7,438 votes)

Personal life

Bahr had two daughters with his first wife. Combined, he and his second wife, Ellen, who died in 2020, have four children and three grandchildren. Bahr resides in East Bethel, Minnesota.[1]

References
  1. "Bahr, Cal". Minnesota Legislative Reference Library. Retrieved January 10, 2017.
  2. "Bahr, Larson vie for open seat in House District 31B". ABC Newspapers. ECM Publishers. October 14, 2016. Retrieved January 10, 2017.
  3. Howard, Ryan (June 24, 2016). "Hackbarth gets no-confidence vote from district GOP". ABC Newspapers. ECM Publishers. Retrieved January 10, 2017.
  4. Moran-Froemming, Mandy (August 9, 2016). "Bahr unseats Hackbarth in House 31B primary". ABC Newspapers. ECM Publishers. Retrieved January 10, 2017.
  5. Bakst, Brian. "Renegade House members split from GOP caucus". Capitol View. Retrieved 2018-12-08.
  6. Senator Michelle Benson Says Farewell to the Minnesota Senate, retrieved 2023-03-14
  7. "Calvin Bahr". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2023-03-14.
  8. "If the Minnesota Senate shifts to the right, what does it mean for the powerful chamber?". MinnPost. 2022-07-05. Retrieved 2023-03-14.
  9. "Minnesota lawmaker Sen. Bahr is shirtless during Zoom meeting: Video". MinnPost. 2023-05-23. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
  10. "State senator makes shirtless vote during Zoom meeting". AP News. May 2, 2023. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
  11. "Calvin Bahr". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2023-03-14.
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