Dan Severson
{{short description|American politician}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2019}}
{{Use American English|date=November 2019}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name = Dan Severson
|image = Dan Severson head shot 2.jpg
|state_house = Minnesota
|district = 14A
|term_start = January 7, 2003
|term_end = January 3, 2011
|predecessor = Steve Dehler
|successor = Tim O'Driscoll
|prior_term =
|birth_date = {{Birth-date and age|August 31, 1954}}
|birth_place = Mora, Minnesota, U.S.
|death_date =
|death_place =
|birthname = Daniel Mark Severson
|party = Republican
|spouse = Cathy Jo
|residence = Sauk Rapids, Minnesota, U.S.
|alma_mater = St. Cloud State University
|occupation =
|profession = Business owner
Fighter pilot
Politician
Veteran
|allegiance = U.S.
|branch = United States Navy
|serviceyears = 1978–2000
|rank = Commander
}}
Daniel Mark Severson{{cite web|url=http://danseverson.com/|title=Dan Severson for Senate Campaign Page|accessdate=August 10, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708231059/http://www.danseverson.com/|archive-date=July 8, 2011|url-status=dead}} (born August 31, 1954) is a former member of the Minnesota House of Representatives who represented District 14A, which includes portions of Benton and Stearns counties in the north central part of the state. He is a retired U.S. Navy fighter pilot, business owner, and substitute teacher.{{cite web|url=http://www.leg.state.mn.us/legdb/fulldetail.asp?ID=10785|title=Minnesota Legislators Past & Present - Legislator Record - Severson, Daniel "Dan"|website=Leg.state.mn.us|accessdate=June 27, 2011}}
Early life, education, and military service
Severson graduated from St. Cloud State University in St. Cloud in 1979 with a B.A. in Physics. He was a Navy fighter pilot, officer and commander from 1978 to 2000.{{cite web|url=http://www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=38901|title=Project Vote Smart|publisher=Vote Smart|accessdate=June 27, 2011|archive-date=October 31, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101031173424/https://www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=38901|url-status=dead}}
Severson enlisted in the Navy in 1978 at the age of 21. Severson was in the Navy for 22 years, most of those years as a Strike-Fighter Pilot.
Minnesota House of Representatives
=Elections=
In 2002, after redistricting, Severson ran for the newly redrawn Minnesota House District 14A and won defeating DFL nominee Dennis Molitor 49%-47%.{{Cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=41341|title = Our Campaigns - MN House Seat 14A Race - Nov 05, 2002}} In 2004, he won re-election to a second term with 62% of the vote.{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=87697|title=2004 Election Results|publisher=Our Campaigns|accessdate=March 10, 2012}} In 2006, he won re-election to a third term with 54% of the vote.{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=272238|title=2006 Election Results|publisher=Our Campaigns|accessdate=March 10, 2012}} In 2008, he won re-election to a fourth term with 55% of the vote.{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=425080|title=2008 Election Results|publisher=Our Campaigns|accessdate=March 10, 2012}}
=Tenure=
He was House Republican Minority Whip.[http://danseverson.com/meet Meet] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120311132332/http://danseverson.com/meet |date=March 11, 2012 }} Retrieved March 10, 2012. He co-sponsored a bill that would eliminate second-hand smoke in bars and restaurants.{{cite news|place=St. Paul, Minnesota|url=http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2007/04/26/smokingban/|author=Tom Scheck|title=Minnesota House approves smoking ban|date=April 26, 2007|accessdate=March 10, 2012}} In 2008, he supported Republican governor Tim Pawlenty when he vetoed a $3.2 billion budget increase paid for by higher taxes.{{cite news|title=Minn. lawmakers override governor's veto|url=http://www.lse.co.uk/FinanceNews.asp?ArticleCode=pnrxj1cq7itr9cq&ArticleHeadline=minn_lawmakers_override_governors_veto|date=February 26, 2008|accessdate=March 10, 2012}} In 2009, he introduced an amendment to the Minnesota State Constitution to prohibit marriage or civil unions between same-sex couples.{{cite news |last=Carlyle |first=Erin |date=March 19, 2009 |title=Minn. legislators propose constitutional ban on gay marriage |url=http://www.citypages.com/news/minn-legislators-propose-constitutional-ban-on-gay-marriage-6564616 |work=City Pages |location=Minneapolis |quote=Rep. Dan Severson (R-Sauk Rapids) introduced a bill this week to amend the Minnesota constitution so that marriage between a man and a woman is the only legally recognized domestic union in the state.}}
=Committee assignments=
Severson was a member of the House Agriculture, Rural Economies and Veterans Affairs Subcommittee for the Veterans Affairs Division, and the Finance subcommittees for the Housing Finance and Policy and Public Health Finance Division, the Public Safety Finance Division, and the Transportation Finance and Policy Division.{{cite web|url=http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/members/members.asp?id=10785|title=Minnesota Legislators Past & Present - Legislator Record - Severson, Daniel "Dan"|publisher=House.leg.state.mn.us|accessdate=June 27, 2011}}
2010 Secretary of State campaign
In October 2009, Severson announced that he had filed the paperwork to run for Minnesota Secretary of State, seeking the Republican Party's endorsement for his candidacy at their 2010 state convention.[http://www.sctimes.com/article/20091007/NEWS01/110060044/-1/RSSTOP]{{Dead link|date=April 2016}} He received the party's endorsement on April 29, 2010,{{cite web |first=Rick |last=Brock |date=April 30, 2010|url=http://www.rogueonminnesota.org/news/minnesota-gop-convention-day-1-results/ |title=Minnesota GOP Convention Day 1 Results |website=RogueOn Minnesota |accessdate=August 4, 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727222520/http://www.rogueonminnesota.org/news/minnesota-gop-convention-day-1-results/ |archivedate=July 27, 2011 }} and challenged incumbent secretary of state Mark Ritchie in the November 2010 general election.{{cite news|last1=Salisbury|first1=Bill|title=Minnesota GOP endorses Severson for Secretary of State|url=https://www.twincities.com/2010/04/28/minnesota-gop-endorses-severson-for-secretary-of-state/|work=Twin Cities|date=April 28, 2010}}
In his filing for secretary of state, Severson sought to be listed using his Navy pilot call name Doc Severson, some thought it to be an allusion to former Tonight Show band leader Doc Severinsen. Severson was challenged because he had not previously appeared on the ballot with the nickname "Doc." Severson stated the nickname had been given to him as he went through flight training and followed him through his 22 year career.[http://www.sctimes.com/article/20100708/NEWS01/107070048/Severson-s-use-of-Doc-nickname-on-ballot-challenged Severson's use of 'Doc' nickname on ballot challenged]{{dead link|date=April 2016}}
Severson ran for secretary of state on the contention that there was widespread fraud in the recount of the 2008 Senate election and a requirement that voters show a Photo ID to vote.{{cite web|url=http://danseverson.com/issues.html|title=Issues: Dan "Doc" Severson for Minnesota Secretary of State|publisher=Danseverson.com|accessdate=June 27, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708231442/http://danseverson.com/issues.html|archive-date=July 8, 2011|url-status=dead}} Incumbent Democratic secretary of state Mark Ritchie won re-election and defeated Severson 49%-46%.{{cite web|url=http://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/20101102/ElecRslts.asp?M=S&Races=0332 |title=Election Reporting |publisher=Electionresults.sos.state.mn.us |accessdate=June 27, 2011 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110908021118/http://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/20101102/ElecRslts.asp?M=S&Races=0332 |archivedate=September 8, 2011 |url-status=dead }}
2012 U.S. Senate campaign
{{Main|2012 United States Senate election in Minnesota}}
On May 16, 2011, Severson announced that he would seek the Republican party's endorsement for the U.S. Senate seat held by Democrat Amy Klobuchar.[https://web.archive.org/web/20190723075323/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/ap-source-ex-state-republican-rep-severson-to-challenge-democratic-us-sen-klobuchar-in-2012/2011/05/16/AFdTKj4G_story.html Washington Post - May 16, 2011: "Former Minn. GOP state Rep. Severson to challenge Democratic US Sen. Klobuchar in 2012"] However, he lost the endorsement at the party convention and withdrew in favor of State Representative Kurt Bills. Klobuchar was re-elected in a landslide, winning all but two counties.
2014 Secretary of State campaign
{{Main|2014 Minnesota Secretary of State election}}
Severson ran for secretary of state again in 2014. After winning the party endorsement ahead of former state senator John Howe, Severson was unopposed in the primary election. He lost the general election to Democratic state representative Steve Simon by 901,450 votes (47.04%) to 879,022 (45.87%).{{citation needed|date=November 2019}}
2020 U.S. House of Representatives campaign
{{Main| 2020 United States House of Representatives elections in Florida#District 19}}
Severson moved to Florida in 2015. In October, 2019 Congressman Francis Rooney announced his retirement from congress, Severson declared his candidacy for the United States House of Representatives for {{ushr|FL|19}} in the 2020 elections.{{Cite web|url=https://floridapolitics.com/archives/310964-dan-severson-ready-to-represent-conservative-region-in-congress|title = Dan Severson ready to represent conservative region in Congress|date = November 12, 2019}} During his campaign, Severson made a tweet including the hashtag "#WWG1WGA", a slogan used by followers of the QAnon conspiracy theory.{{Cite web |last=Kaplan |first=Alex |title=Here are the QAnon supporters running for Congress in 2020 |url=https://www.mediamatters.org/qanon-conspiracy-theory/here-are-qanon-supporters-running-congress-2020 |access-date=2022-08-22 |website=Media Matters for America |date=January 7, 2020 |language=en}} He came in seventh place in the GOP primary, with just 3.1% of the vote.
2022 Lee County School District campaign
After losing the U.S. House of Representatives race, Dan also ran for but lost in a more modest local school board election{{Cite web| title=Summary rept-group detail | date=November 2022 | url=https://www.lee.vote/Portals/Lee/Results/ArchivedResults/11-8-2022%20Results%20SUMMARY.pdf?ver=OD_RkOucAKsAZK9mwJotiQ%3d%3d | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230308152937/https://www.lee.vote/Portals/Lee/Results/ArchivedResults/11-8-2022%20Results%20SUMMARY.pdf?ver=OD_RkOucAKsAZK9mwJotiQ%3d%3d | archive-date=2023-03-08}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{commons category}}
{{CongLinks|votesmart=125752}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-ppo}}
{{s-bef|before=Mary Kiffmeyer}}
{{s-ttl|title=Republican nominee for Minnesota Secretary of State|years=2010, 2014}}
{{s-aft|after=John Howe}}
{{s-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Severson, Dan}}
Category:Republican Party members of the Minnesota House of Representatives
Category:People from Mora, Minnesota
Category:People from Sauk Rapids, Minnesota
Category:St. Cloud State University alumni
Category:United States Navy officers
Category:Candidates in the 2020 United States House of Representatives elections