Keith Langseth

Keith Langseth (born January 20, 1938) is a Democratic Farmer Labor Party politician and former member of the Minnesota Senate, representing District 9 since 1981 until 2013. Prior to his election to the Senate, he was a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives from District 9B from 1975 to 1979. He served a combined 36 years in the Legislature. His district included portions of Becker, Clay, Otter Tail, Traverse and Wilkin counties in the northwestern part of the state.[1]

Keith Langseth
Member of the Minnesota Senate
from the 9th district
In office
1981 – January 7, 2013
Preceded byDoug Sillers
Succeeded bydistrict redrawn
Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives
from the 9B district
In office
1975–1979
Preceded byArlan Stangeland
Succeeded byMerlyn O. Valan
Personal details
Born (1938-01-20) January 20, 1938
Glyndon, Minnesota
Political partyDemocratic Farmer Labor Party
SpouseLorraine Langseth
Children3
ResidenceGlyndon, Minnesota
OccupationFarmer, legislator

Personal life

Langseth grew up in Glyndon, where he still resides. He graduated from Glyndon High School in 1956 and began working as a dairy farmer. He continued farming throughout his tenure in the legislature. He and his wife, Lorraine, have three children: Dan, Joy and Gayle.[2]

Political career

Langseth first became involved in the DFL as a result of his opposition to the Vietnam War. He was asked by the local DFL Party to run for the House of Representatives in 1974, later choosing to run for the Senate in 1980. He ran against and defeated an incumbent in both elections.

Langseth served as Chair of the Capital Investment Committee, a position he held since its creation in 2001. He was also a member of the Taxes, Agriculture and Veterans, Agriculture and Veterans Budget and Policy Division, Transportation, Transportation Budget and Policy Division, and Rules and Administration committees. His stated legislative concerns included bonding, tax policy, transportation, education and agriculture.[3]

Langseth announced his retirement from politics and did not run for re-election in 2012.[4]

Electoral history
  • Minnesota Senate District 9 Election 2010
    • Keith Langseth (D) 14,595 votes, 52.52%
    • Jeff Backer (R), 13,168 votes, 47.39%
    • Write In, 25 votes, 0.09%[5]
  • Minnesota Senate District 9 Election 2006
    • Keith Langseth (D) 20,353 votes, 69.8%
    • Paul Holle (R), 8,771 votes, 30.1%
    • Write In, 33 votes, 0.1%[6]
  • Minnesota Senate District 9 Election 2002
    • Keith Langseth (D) 18,587 votes, 61.22%
    • Bradley Monson (R), 10,144 votes, 33.41%
    • Dan Stewart (IP), 1,278 votes, 4.21%[7]
  • Minnesota Senate District 9 Election 2000
    • Keith Langseth (D) 19,412 votes, 61.05%
    • Wallace "Wally" Nord (R), 10,946 votes, 34.43%[8]
  • Minnesota Senate District 9 Election 1996
    • Keith Langseth (D) 17,189 votes, 58.67%
    • Cliff Dyrud (R), 11,235 votes, 38.35%[9]
  • Minnesota Senate District 9 Election 1992
    • Keith Langseth (D) 18,954 votes, 59.68%
    • Bob Friederichs (IR), 11,587 votes, 36.48%[10]
  • Minnesota Senate District 9 Election 1990
    • Keith Langseth (D) 13,705 votes, 61.80%
    • Robert Westfall (IR) 7,716 votes, 34.79%[11]
  • Minnesota Senate District 9 Election 1986
    • Keith Langseth (D) 11,166 votes, 57.96%
    • David Green (IR) 8,099 votes, 42.04%[12]
  • Minnesota Senate District 9 Election 1982
    • Keith Langseth (D) 11,733 votes, 50.62%
    • Phyllis Thysell (IR) 10,803 votes, 46.61%[13]
  • Minnesota Senate District 9 Election 1980
    • Keith Langseth (D) 13,776 votes, 52.9%
    • D.H. (Doug) Sillers (Incumbent) (IR) 12,245 votes, 47.1%[14]
  • Minnesota House District 9B Election 1978
    • Keith Langseth (D) 5,743 votes, 49.9%
    • Merlyn Valan (IR) 5,758 votes, 50.1%[15]
  • Minnesota House District 9B Election 1976
    • Keith Langseth (D) 8,498 votes, 62.8%
    • Lee Johnson (IR) 4,664 votes, 37.2%[15]
  • Minnesota House District 9B Election 1974
    • Keith Langseth (D) 5,361 votes, 58.94%
    • Arian Strangeland (Incumbent) (IR) 3,735 votes, 41.06%[16]

References
  1. "Minnesota Legislators Past & Present – Legislator Record – Langseth, Keith L". Leg.state.mn.us. Retrieved July 20, 2010.
  2. Minnesota Legislators Past & Present – Langseth, Keith L
  3. "Senator Keith Langseth DFL District 09". Senate.leg.state.mn.us. January 20, 1938. Retrieved July 20, 2010.
  4. Davis, Don (November 13, 2012). "Cash-strapped Republicans downplay funding issue". Wadena Pioneer Journal.
  5. "Election Reporting". Archived from the original on March 13, 2012. Retrieved November 19, 2010.
  6. MPR: Campaign 2006: Election Results: Minnesota Senate District 9
  7. 2003–2004 Legislative Manual
  8. 2001–2002 Legislative Manual
  9. 1997–1998 Legislative Manual
  10. 1993–1994 Legislative Manual
  11. 1991–1992 Legislative Manual
  12. 1987–1988 Legislative Manual
  13. 1983–1984 Legislative Manual
  14. 1981–1982 Legislative Manual
  15. 1977–1978 Legislative Manual
  16. 1975–1976 Legislative Manual
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