Bakk was first elected to the Minnesota Senate in 2002 and went on to win reelection five times.[4] After the 2010 election, in which Republicans gained control of the Senate for the first time since party designation, Bakk was elected by his caucus to serve as its first-ever minority leader.[5] After the DFL regained a majority in the 2012 election, Bakk was elected by his caucus to serve as majority leader, a position he assumed when the legislature convened on January 8, 2013.[6] Bakk was again elected by his caucus to serve as minority leader following the 2016 election, which saw Republicans regain control of the upper chamber.[7]
In late 2019, it was reported that Susan Kent, a state senator from Woodbury, intended to challenge Bakk for his caucus leadership post.[8] On February 1, 2020, in a caucus meeting that lasted more than six hours, Kent defeated Bakk, succeeding him as minority leader.[9]
Three weeks after the 2020 elections, when it was determined that the DFL did not win a majority in the Senate, Bakk and fellow DFL state senator David Tomassoni announced they would no longer caucus with Democrats and instead form their own “independent caucus.” Republican Majority Leader Paul Gazelka welcomed the move and gave Bakk the chairmanship to the Capital Investment in exchange for voting in line with the Republican Party on floor votes. This changed the composition of the Senate to 34 Republicans, 31 Democrats, and two independents.[10]
In March 2022, Bakk announced he was not seeking re-election to the State Senate and would retire from politics at the end of the year.[11] Bakk endorsed Babbitt mayor Andrea Zupancich (GOP) to succeed him in the state Senate later that year.[12]
2010 Minnesota gubernatorial campaign
Bakk at a DFL gubernatorial debate in November 2009
Bakk campaigned in the 2010 Minnesota gubernatorial election. He led in early fundraising among the DFL candidates, raising $146,000 in 2008, and beginning 2009 with a little more than $131,000. He ended his campaign in March 2010.[13]
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