Dick Cohen

Richard J. Cohen (born December 10, 1949) is a Minnesota politician and a former member of the Minnesota Senate. A member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL), he represented District 64, which includes portions of the city of Saint Paul in Ramsey County.[1]

Dick Cohen
Member of the Minnesota Senate
from the 64th district
In office
January 6, 1987 – January 5, 2021
Preceded byRon Sieloff
Succeeded byErin Murphy
Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives
from the 64B district
In office
January 4, 1983 – January 5, 1987
Preceded byredrawn district
Succeeded byHoward Orenstein
Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives
from the 63B district
In office
January 4, 1977 – January 2, 1979
Preceded byRon Sieloff
Succeeded byJohn Drew
Personal details
Born (1949-12-10) December 10, 1949
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Political partyMinnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party
ResidenceSaint Paul, Minnesota
Alma materNorthwestern University
William Mitchell College of Law
Occupationattorney, legislator

Early life and education

Cohen was born in Saint Paul and graduated from Highland Park High School. He earned his B.A. from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, and his J.D. from William Mitchell College of Law in Saint Paul.

Minnesota Legislature

Cohen was first elected to the Minnesota Legislature in 1976. He served as a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives for District 63B and, after redistricting in 1982, for District 64B. He was elected senator for District 64 in 1986, gaining the lone Republican-held Senate seat within the Twin Cities.[2] He was reelected in the 1990, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2012, and 2016 elections.

Cohen was chair of the Senate Finance Committee from 2003 to 2011 and chair of the Senate State Government Finance Committee from 1997 to 2001.[1]

On November 3, 2009, President Barack Obama announced Cohen's appointment to the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities. Cohen is considered by many to be the leading champion for the arts in the Minnesota Legislature. He led the campaign to include funding for the arts in the Clean Water, Land and Legacy constitutional amendment that Minnesota voters approved in 2008.[3]

In 2019, Erin Murphy announced that she would be running to unseat Cohen in the DFL primary.

On November 17, Cohen announced that he would not be running for re-election in 2020.[4]

Personal life

Cohen serves on the board of the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra. He previously served on the Guthrie Theater board.[5]

Electoral history
Minnesota Senate 64th district election, 2012[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic (DFL) Dick Cohen (incumbent) 33,008 69.67
Republican Sharon Anderson 9,069 19.14
Independent Scott Larson 5,196 10.97
Minnesota Senate 64th district election, 2010[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic (DFL) Dick Cohen (incumbent) 23,854 70.74 -5.74pp
Republican Tony Hernandez 9,817 29.11 +5.77pp
Minnesota Senate 64th district election, 2006[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic (DFL) Dick Cohen (incumbent) 27,427 76.48 +4.65pp
Republican Christine Van Tassel 8,369 23.34 -4.61pp
Minnesota Senate 64th district election, 2002[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic (DFL) Dick Cohen (incumbent) 27,408 71.83
Republican Christopher Johnston 10,664 27.95
Minnesota Senate 64th district election, 2000[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic (DFL) Dick Cohen (incumbent) 26,215 72.31 +11.27pp
Republican Chris Berg 10,039 27.69 -6.48pp
Minnesota Senate 64th district election, 1996[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic (DFL) Dick Cohen (incumbent) 22,539 61.04 -1.40pp
Republican Joe Zappa 12,618 34.17 +3.52pp
Minnesota Senate 64th district election, 1992[12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic (DFL) Dick Cohen (incumbent) 25,025 62.44
Ind.-Republican Joseph P. McCabe 12,285 30.65
Minnesota Senate 64th district election, 1990[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic (DFL) Dick Cohen (incumbent) 10,841 69.33 +21.73pp
Ind.-Republican G. Hess 3,702 23.68 -19.22pp
Minnesota Senate 64th district election, 1986[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic (DFL) Dick Cohen 11,499 47.6
Ind.-Republican Bill Ridley 10,408 42.9

References
  1. "Cohen, Richard J." Legislators Past & Present. Minnesota Legislative Reference Library. Retrieved February 27, 2013.
  2. Gregor W. Pinney, (August 13, 1986), "DFL hopes to win the seat in lone IR district in Cities", Star Tribune
  3. "Longtime state arts advocate is named to Obama's panel on arts, humanities". Star Tribune. November 3, 2009. Retrieved February 26, 2013.
  4. "DFL state Sen. Dick Cohen announces he will not run for reelection". Retrieved November 18, 2019.
  5. "About Dick Cohen". Cohen Volunteer Committee. Archived from the original on October 24, 2016. Retrieved February 26, 2013.
  6. "Results for All State Senate Races, 2012". Minnesota Secretary of State. Archived from the original on November 10, 2012. Retrieved February 26, 2013.
  7. "Results for All State Senate Races, 2010". Minnesota Secretary of State. Archived from the original on April 26, 2013. Retrieved February 26, 2013.
  8. "Results for All State Senate Races, 2006". Minnesota Secretary of State. Archived from the original on November 10, 2012. Retrieved February 26, 2013.
  9. "Results for All State Senate Races, 2002". Minnesota Secretary of State. Archived from the original on November 10, 2012. Retrieved February 26, 2013.
  10. "Results for All State Senate Races, 2000". Minnesota Secretary of State. Archived from the original on November 10, 2012. Retrieved February 26, 2013.
  11. "Minnesota Election Results 1996" (PDF). Minnesota Legislative Reference Library. Retrieved February 26, 2013.
  12. "Minnesota Election Results 1992" (PDF). Minnesota Legislative Reference Library. Retrieved February 26, 2013.
  13. "Minnesota Election Results 1990" (PDF). Minnesota Legislative Reference Library. Retrieved February 26, 2013.
  14. "Minnesota Election Results 1986" (PDF). Minnesota Legislative Reference Library. Retrieved February 26, 2013.
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