Susan Allen

Susan Allen (born March 27, 1963) is an American politician and former member of the Minnesota House of Representatives. A member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL), she represented District 62B, a southside district encompassing the Powderhorn and Bryant neighborhoods of Minneapolis.[1][2] She was the first Native American woman to serve in the Minnesota Legislature and the first openly lesbian Native American to win election to a state legislature.[3][4][5] She did not seek re-election in 2018.

This article is about the Minnesota politician. For the harpist, see Susan Allen (musician). For the engineer, see Susan D. Allen. For the African American suffragist and temperance activist, see Susan E. Cannon Allen.
Susan Allen
Allen in 2014
Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives
from the 62B district
61B (2012–2013)
In office
January 19, 2012 – January 7, 2019
Preceded byJeff Hayden
Succeeded byAisha Gomez
Personal details
Born (1963-03-27) March 27, 1963
Uintah and Ouray Indian Reservation, Utah
Political partyDemocratic–Farmer–Labor
Domestic partnerAmber Gianera
Children1
Alma mater
ProfessionAttorney

Early life, education, and career

The daughter of an Episcopal priest, Allen graduated from Augsburg College in Minneapolis in 1992. She later earned a J.D. from the University of New Mexico Law School (1995) and an LL.M. from William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul (1999). She became a practicing attorney in 1997 and a partner of her law firm in 2004.

Minnesota House of Representatives

Allen was one of four openly gay members, alongside Representatives Karen Clark and Erin Maye Quade and Senator Scott Dibble, in the Minnesota Legislature.

Elections

When state representative Jeff Hayden was elected to the Minnesota Senate in October 2011, he vacated his seat in the House of Representatives. Allen was one of four DFLers to put themselves forward for the seat and, at the DFL nominating convention held on November 12, she received the party's endorsement on the third ballot.[6] She nevertheless faced a primary election on December 6, facing three opponents, two of whom had suspended their campaigns after losing at the convention. Allen won the nomination handily, taking over 82% of the vote in the primary.[7] In the general election held on January 10, 2012, she faced only one opponent, who ran under the "Respect" label, beating him 56–43%.[8]

She was re-elected in the 2012, 2014 and 2016 general elections. She did not seek re-election in 2018.

Personal life

As an attorney, Allen specializes in serving Indian tribes, helping them draft tribal laws in a wide range of areas.[9] She is Lakota and a member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe.[10] She identifies as two-spirit.[11]

References
  1. Who needs New Hampshire? Minneapolis election winners: Susan Allen and Kari Dziedzic
  2. "Kari Dziedzic wins DFL nod for Senate race". Star Tribune. December 6, 2011. In the Powderhorn and Bryant neighborhoods, voters chose attorney Susan Allen for the DFL nomination.
  3. "Susan Allen wins DFL endorsement for Hayden's House seat". Politics in Minnesota. November 14, 2011.
  4. "Susan Allen for Minnesota House District 61B: Issues". Archived from the original on 2012-07-14. I am a passionate supporter of marriage equality. As a lesbian, I feel this inequality every day.
  5. Kickass Openly Gay Native American Woman Elected to State Legislature
  6. "DFL Primary Election Tuesday, Dec. 6". Southside Pride. Archived from the original on 2012-04-15.
  7. "Minnesota Secretary of State: State Representative District 61B Special Primary Election Results". Archived from the original on 2012-05-17.
  8. "Minnesota Secretary of State: State Senate District 59 and Representative District 61B Special Election". Archived from the original on 2011-11-22. Retrieved 2011-12-07.
  9. "Susan Allen for Minnesota House District 61B: Experience". Archived from the original on 2012-07-15.
  10. Shah, Allie (April 13, 2012). "Rep. Susan Allen offers a unique legislative voice". Star Tribune. Archived from the original on November 8, 2012. Retrieved February 23, 2013.
  11. Weber, Stephanie (December 21, 2016). "Minnesota Rep. Susan Allen Is Two-Spirit, a Lesbian, and She Won't Be Assimilated". Slate. Retrieved November 29, 2017.
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