Harry Niska

Niska grew up in Andover, Minnesota, and graduated from Anoka High School. He received his bachelor's degree in political science from Concordia College, Moorhead, and his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Minnesota Law School.

Niska worked as a law clerk on the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals for Judge Roger Leland Wollman from 2005 to 2006, and for Judge David Stras in 2018. He also served on the Ramsey County Charter Commission. He worked at law firm Ross & Orenstein, and unsuccessfully ran for a seat on the Ramsey City Council in 2010.{{Cite news |last=Lopez |first=Ricardo |date=2017-04-17 |title=Republican attorney Harry Niska joins race for AG |work=Star Tribune |url=https://www.startribune.com/gop-attorney-harry-niska-joins-race-for-ag/419651483/ |url-status=live |access-date=2023-03-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220707075133/https://www.startribune.com/gop-attorney-harry-niska-joins-race-for-ag/419651483/ |archive-date=2022-07-07}}

In 2015, Niska brought a complaint against a Republican activist who he claimed misled voters by making false claims of endorsement in a judicial race for the Minnesota Supreme Court.{{Cite web |last=Eli Shiffer |first=James |date=March 9, 2015 |title=Chanhassen man fined for lying about an election |url=https://www.startribune.com/chanhassen-man-fined-for-lying-about-an-election/295494501/ |access-date=2023-08-11 |website=Star Tribune}} The claim was upheld and the activist was fined $600. Niska said, "fraud, meaning lies that are actually meant to induce people to do something, are not protected by the First Amendment in the same way [as] even innocent or even white lies".

In 2016, Niska opposed Donald Trump in the Republican primary, saying he "did everything I knew to prevent the party from making what I think is a historic mistake".{{Cite web |last=Bakst |first=Brian |date=2016-10-17 |title=Fed up with campaign, some voters seek alternatives |url=https://www.mprnews.org/story/2016/10/17/minnesota-voters-seeking-third-party-alternatives |access-date=2023-08-11 |website=MPR News |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Bakst |first=Brian |date=2017-04-17 |title=Lawyer who bucked Trump seeks Minn. AG post |url=https://www.mprnews.org/story/2017/04/17/lawyer-who-bucked-trump-seeks-minn-ag-post |access-date=2023-08-11 |website=MPR News |language=en}} He signed up to volunteer for independent presidential candidate Evan McMullin, saying that he believed that Trump had "abused every lever of power that’s been available to him".{{Cite web |last=Condon |first=Patrick |date=October 16, 2016 |title=McMullin, other third-party presidential candidates also on Minnesota ballot |url=https://www.startribune.com/mcmullin-other-third-party-presidential-candidates-also-on-minnesota-ballot/397255481/ |access-date=2023-08-11 |website=Star Tribune}}

Niska ran in the Republican primary for Attorney General of Minnesota in 2018, saying he would focus on consumer protection and criticizing incumbent Lori Swanson for signing onto a lawsuit challenging Trump's travel ban from some Muslim-majority countries.{{Cite web |last=Coolican |first=J. Patrick |date=March 5, 2017 |title=Minn. Attorney General Lori Swanson takes quiet approach to job, political ambitions |url=https://www.startribune.com/minn-attorney-general-lori-swanson-takes-quiet-approach-to-job-political-ambitions/415435614/ |access-date=2023-08-11 |website=Star Tribune}} In 2012, Niska urged the Minnesota attorney general to join a lawsuit challenging the Affordable Care Act.{{Cite web |last=Niska |first=Harry |date=2012-01-11 |title=Minnesota attorney general should reconsider and join challenge to Obama health-care law |url=https://www.minnpost.com/community-voices/2012/01/minnesota-attorney-general-should-reconsider-and-join-challenge-obama-healt/ |access-date=2023-08-11 |website=MinnPost |language=en-US}} He withdrew from the primary in November 2017, citing family considerations.{{Cite web |last=Bakst |first=Brian |date=2017-11-06 |title=Republican lawyer Niska leaves Minn. AG race |url=https://www.mprnews.org/story/2017/11/06/republican-lawyer-niska-leaves-minn-ag-race |access-date=2023-08-11 |website=MPR News |language=en}}

Niska was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2022. He first ran after legislative redistricting and after three-term Republican incumbent Cal Bahr announced he would not seek reelection and would run for a seat in the Minnesota Senate.

Niska serves on the Commerce Finance and Policy and the Judiciary Finance and Civil Law Committees.

In 2025, the House Republican caucus appointed Niska House Majority Leader, although control of the House and its leadership is in dispute, as its DFL members boycotted the opening session and have argued that the House did not have a quorum to conduct business.{{cite news |last1=Karnowski |first1=Steve |title=Democrats boycott first day of Minnesota House session but GOP votes to appoint speaker anyway |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/democrats-boycott-day-minnesota-house-session-gop-votes-117664498 |access-date=15 January 2025 |agency=ABC News |date=January 14, 2025}}

Niska has said that many laws the DFL majority passed in 2023 are unconstitutional, resulting in multiple legal challenges.{{Cite web |last=Faircloth |first=Ryan |title=Lawsuits pile up against actions taken by DFL-controlled Minnesota Legislature |url=https://www.startribune.com/lawsuits-pile-up-against-actions-taken-by-dfl-controlled-minnesota-legislature/600287879/ |access-date=2023-08-11 |website=Star Tribune}}{{Cite web |last=Ferguson |first=Dana |date=2023-04-13 |title=Minnesota House advances automatic voter registration, donor disclosure requirements |url=https://www.mprnews.org/story/2023/04/13/minnesota-house-advances-automatic-voter-registration-donor-disclosure-requirements |access-date=2023-08-11 |website=MPR News |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Winter |first=Deena |date=2023-04-14 |title=House passes major elections bill over Republican objections that it's not bipartisan |url=https://minnesotareformer.com/2023/04/13/house-poised-to-pass-major-elections-bill-over-republican-objections/ |access-date=2023-08-11 |website=Minnesota Reformer |language=en-US}} He opposed legislation that prohibited post-secondary institutions participating in PSEO from requiring faith statements, saying it infringed on religious liberties.{{Cite web |last=Bierschbach |first=Briana |date=May 24, 2023 |title=Christian colleges and parents sue over provision in education budget |url=https://www.startribune.com/christian-colleges-and-parents-sue-over-provision-in-education-budget/600277542/ |access-date=2023-08-11 |website=Star Tribune}}

In 2023, he introduced legislation to address water contamination issues in the city of Andover{{Cite web |last=Harlow |first=Tim |date=January 18, 2023 |title=Bill would provide Andover with $9M to tackle water contamination issues |url=https://www.startribune.com/bill-would-provide-andover-with-9m-to-tackle-water-contamination-issues/600244467/ |access-date=2023-08-11 |website=Star Tribune}} and a bill that would prevent nonprofits from paying people's bail.{{Cite web |last=Ibrahim |first=Mohamed |date=2023-03-09 |title=Lawmakers hope to target inequities in Minnesota cash bail system |url=https://www.minnpost.com/public-safety/2023/03/lawmakers-hope-to-target-inequities-in-minnesota-cash-bail-system/ |access-date=2023-08-11 |website=MinnPost |language=en-US}} Niska supported legislation that would repeal fees for those seeking copies of civil and criminal court documents.{{Cite web |last=Winter |first=Deena |date=February 16, 2023 |title=Bill would repeal fees for district court documents in Minnesota |url=https://minnesotareformer.com/briefs/bill-would-repeal-fees-for-district-court-documents-in-minnesota/ |access-date=2023-08-11 |website=Minnesota Reformer |language=en-US}}

Niska is anti-abortion, and called DFL abortion-rights legislation passed in 2023 "the most extreme abortion policy possible".{{Cite web |last=Bierschbach |first=Briana |date=April 14, 2023 |title=These Minnesotans help abortion patients get to appointments, find shelter |url=https://www.startribune.com/minnesota-abortion-access-navigators-help-patients-travel-to-appointments/600266744/ |access-date=2023-08-11 |website=Star Tribune}}{{Cite web |last=Bakst |first=Brian |date=2023-05-23 |title=As session ends, Democrats ‘run the table’ at Capitol |url=https://www.mprnews.org/story/2023/05/23/as-session-ends-democrats-run-the-table-at-capitol |access-date=2023-08-11 |website=MPR News |language=en}}

Niska opposed legislation restoring voting rights to felons on parole, saying voting was a sacred right that should be taken away if people violate certain laws.{{Cite web |last=Olson |first=Rochelle |date=February 5, 2023 |title=Minnesota Legislature moving to restore voting rights for felons upon release from custody |url=https://www.startribune.com/minnesota-legislature-moving-to-restore-voting-rights-for-felons-upon-release-from-custody/600249302/ |access-date=2023-08-11 |website=Star Tribune}} He has long supported requiring voters to present a valid government-issued photo ID when voting.{{Cite web |last=Nelson |first=Peter J. |last2=Niska |first2=Harry |date=2012-09-06 |title=Even the perception of fraud makes voter ID measure a good idea |url=https://www.mprnews.org/story/2012/09/06/nelson |access-date=2023-08-11 |website=MPR News |language=en}}

Niska opposed legislation banning the discredited practice of conversion therapy, saying there were "free speech violations" in the bill.{{Cite web |last=Ferguson |first=Dana |date=2023-02-20 |title=Minnesota House votes to ban LGBTQ youth conversion therapy |url=https://www.mprnews.org/story/2023/02/20/minnesota-house-votes-to-ban-lgbtq-youth-conversion-therapy |access-date=2023-08-11 |website=MPR News |language=en}} He proposed removing sections of the bill that categorize advertising for the procedure's efficacy or "representing homosexuality as a mental disease, disorder, or illness",{{Cite news |last=Cooper |first=Renée |date=February 6, 2023 |title=‘Conversion therapy’ ban again headed for vote in Minnesota House |work=KSTP.com |url=https://kstp.com/kstp-news/top-news/conversion-therapy-ban-again-headed-for-vote-in-minnesota-house/ |access-date=March 16, 2023}} as consumer fraud.{{Cite news |last=Deng |first=Grace |date=February 23, 2023 |title=Minnesota House passes bill to ban ‘conversion therapy’ for minors |work=Minnesota Reformer |url=https://minnesotareformer.com/briefs/minnesota-house-passes-bill-to-ban-conversion-therapy-for-minors/ |access-date=March 16, 2023 |quote=Rep. Harry Niska, R-Ramsey, took issue with what he called “free speech violations” in the bill and introduced an amendment to delete the section of the bill that says advertising conversion therapy as successful is consumer fraud. The amendment did not pass.}}

Niska criticized a bill that both removed language within state law associating sexual orientation with pedophilia and also added gender identity as a protected class in Minnesota's human rights statute.{{Cite web |last=Olson |first=Rochelle |date=May 18, 2023 |title=Legal experts say change to Minnesota Human Rights Act won't protect pedophiles |url=https://www.startribune.com/legal-experts-say-change-to-minnesota-human-rights-act-wont-protect-pedophiles/600275868/ |access-date=2023-08-11 |website=Star Tribune}}{{Cite web |last=Olson |first=Rochelle |date=July 2, 2023 |title=Leigh Finke led expansion of Minnesota's transgender rights, endured attacks |url=https://www.startribune.com/leigh-finke-transgender-legislator-minnesota-human-rights-act/600287025/ |access-date=2023-08-11 |website=Star Tribune}} He said some may now "interpret the HRA to deem pedophilia as a protected class in Minnesota"; legal experts dismissed this because pedophilia is already against Minnesota law.

{{Election box begin no change

| title = 2022 Minnesota State House - District 31A{{cite web|url=https://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/results/Index?ErsElectionId=149&scenario=StateRepresentative&DistrictId=415&show=Go|title=2022 Results for State Representative District 31A|access-date=February 25, 2023|website=Minnesota Secretary of State}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Harry Niska

| party = Republican Party of Minnesota

| votes = 11,638

| percentage = 59.51

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Betsy O'Berry

| party = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party

| votes = 7,904

| percentage = 40.42

}}

{{Election box write-in with party link no change

| votes = 15

| percentage = 0.08

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 19,557

| percentage = 100.0

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no change

| winner = Republican Party of Minnesota

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change

| title = 2024 Minnesota State House - District 31A{{cite web|url=https://electionresults.sos.mn.gov/results/Index?ErsElectionId=170&scenario=StateRepresentative&DistrictId=415&show=Go|title=2024 Results for State Representative District 31A|access-date=January 16, 2025|website=Minnesota Secretary of State}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Harry Niska

| party = Republican Party of Minnesota

| votes = 15,461

| percentage = 61.11

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Dara Grimmer

| party = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party

| votes = 9,802

| percentage = 38.74

}}

{{Election box write-in with party link no change

| votes = 39

| percentage = 0.15

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 25,302

| percentage = 100.0

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no change

| winner = Republican Party of Minnesota

}}

{{Election box end}}

Niska lives in Ramsey, Minnesota with his wife, Jen, and has three children.

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{{MN-legdb|15608}}

• [https://www.house.mn.gov/members/profile/15608 Official House of Representatives website]
• [https://www.harryniska.com/ Official campaign website]

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{{s-par|us-mn-hs}}

{{s-bef|before=Jamie Long}}

{{s-ttl|title=Majority Leader of the Minnesota House of Representatives|years=2025–present}}

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{{Minnesota statewide political officials}}

{{U.S. state house floor leaders}}

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{{Minnesota House of Representatives}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Niska, Harry}}

Category:21st-century members of the Minnesota Legislature

Category:Concordia College (Moorhead, Minnesota) alumni

Category:Living people

Category:People from Anoka County, Minnesota

Category:Republican Party members of the Minnesota House of Representatives

Category:University of Minnesota Law School alumni

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)