Ryan Winkler

Ryan Patrick Winkler (born December 30, 1975) is an American politician and the former majority leader of the Minnesota House of Representatives.[1] A member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL), he represented District 46A, which includes portions of the cities of Golden Valley, Plymouth, and St. Louis Park in Hennepin County.[2]

Ryan Winkler
Majority Leader of the Minnesota House of Representatives
In office
January 8, 2019 – January 3, 2023
Preceded byJoyce Peppin
Succeeded byJamie Long
Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives
from the 46A district
44B (2007–2013)
In office
January 8, 2019 – January 3, 2023
Preceded byPeggy Flanagan
Succeeded byLarry Kraft (redistricting)
In office
January 3, 2007 – July 1, 2015
Preceded byRon Latz
Succeeded byPeggy Flanagan
Personal details
Born (1975-12-30) December 30, 1975
Bemidji, Minnesota, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Children3
EducationHarvard University (BA)
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (JD)

In February 2018, Winkler announced his intentions to run for the legislative office he previously held in District 46A.[3] He was re-elected, succeeding Peggy Flanagan, who had left the house to run for lieutenant governor.

DFL legislators elected Winkler to serve as Majority Leader in November 2018, and he took office in January 2019.

Winkler announced that he will retire from the Minnesota House of Representatives at the end of his 2021–2023 term. He went on to run in the DFL primary election for Hennepin County Attorney on August 9, 2022, finishing in 3rd place.[4]

Education

Winkler graduated with a B.A. in history from Harvard University in 1998 and J.D. from the University of Minnesota Law School in 2001.[2]

Minnesota House of Representatives

He was first elected in 2006, and was re-elected in 2008, 2010, 2012, and 2014.

In 2021, legalizing recreational marijuana came up for a vote in front of the Minnesota House of Representatives for the first time. Winkler was a lead proponent of the push.[5]

Elections
2014 Minnesota State Representative- House 46A[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic (DFL) Ryan Winkler 10666 66.17
Republican Timothy O. Manthey 5425 33.66
2012 Minnesota State Representative- House 46A[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic (DFL) Ryan Winkler 15249 65.89
Republican John Swanson 7860 33.96
2010 Minnesota State Representative- House 44B[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic (DFL) Ryan Winkler 10605 64.64
Republican Rick Rice 5788 35.28
2008 Minnesota State Representative- House 44B[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic (DFL) Ryan Winkler 14524 66.80
Republican Bill Kadue 7162 32.94
2006 Minnesota State Representative- House 44B[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic (DFL) Ryan Winkler 11987 69.29
Republican John Palmatier 5276 30.50

Resignation

On May 21, 2015, Winkler announced he would resign effective July 1, 2015. His wife at the time, Jenny, accepted a job as an executive with the Rezidor Hotel Group, which is headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, and his family moved there to support her.[11]

Comments on Voting Rights Act lawsuit

Following the United States Supreme Court's decision in Shelby County v. Holder, Winkler took to Twitter to write, "VRA majority is four accomplices to race discrimination and one Uncle Thomas" referring to Justice Clarence Thomas, an African American. "Uncle Tom" is a derogatory used against blacks who are perceived as being apologetic for their race. Winkler later deleted the tweet and posted, "Deleted Tweet causing offense regarding Justice Thomas. I apologize for it, but believe VRA decision does abet racism."[12] On Twitter, he added that he did not understand "Uncle Tom" as a racist term.[13]

Personal life

Winkler is Lutheran and has Norwegian ancestry. He has three sons.[14]

In 2023, Winkler started a THC beverage company.[15]

References
  1. Mohr, Jonathan. "DFL chooses Hortman as next House speaker, Winkler as majority leader". Minnesota House of Representatives. State of Minnesota. Retrieved January 8, 2019.
  2. "Minnesota Legislators Past & Present - Legislator Record - Winkler, Ryan". Venus.library.leg.state.mn.us. Retrieved 2010-07-20.
  3. Featherly, Kevin (February 1, 2018). "Bar Buzz: 3 Dems drop out of AG race as Swanson stays in". Minnesota Lawyer. Minneapolis, MN. Retrieved June 6, 2018.
  4. "2022 Minnesota Primary Election Results".
  5. "Minnesota House casts historic vote to legalize marijuana".
  6. "Results for State Representative District 46A". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved July 1, 2015.
  7. "Results for State Representative District 46A". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved July 1, 2015.
  8. "Results for State Representative District 44B". Minnesota Secretary of State. Archived from the original on July 1, 2015. Retrieved July 1, 2015.
  9. "Results for State Representative District 44B". Minnesota Secretary of State. Archived from the original on July 1, 2015. Retrieved July 1, 2015.
  10. "Results for State Representative District 44B". Minnesota Secretary of State. Archived from the original on July 1, 2015. Retrieved July 1, 2015.
  11. "Sharp-tongued DFL Rep. Ryan Winkler to resign, move abroad". 20 May 2015.
  12. "DFL Rep. Winkler tweets and deletes "Uncle Thomas" to Supreme Court Justice". Star Tribune. June 25, 2013.
  13. Gentilviso, Chris (June 25, 2013). "Ryan Winkler Deletes 'Uncle Thomas' Voting Rights Act Tweet, Issues Apology". Huffington Post.
  14. "Winkler, Ryan - Legislator Record". Minnesota Legislators Past & Present. 2022-01-26. Retrieved 2022-10-14.
  15. Griffith, Michelle (15 March 2023). "Former House majority leader, key player in THC law, to start THC beverage company". Minnesota Reformer. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
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