Jeff Dotseth
{{Short description|American politician}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Jeff Dotseth
| image =
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| state_house = Minnesota
| district = 11A
| predecessor = Mike Sundin
| term_start = January 3, 2023
| constituency = 11A (2023-present)
| birth_date =
| birth_place =
| residence = Kettle River, Minnesota
| education =
| party = Republican
| occupation = {{hlist|Real estate|Small business owner|Farmer|Consultant|Legislator}}
| spouse = Melissa
| children = 3
| website = {{url|https://www.house.mn.gov/members/profile/15598|Government website}} {{url|https://www.dotsethmn.com/|Campaign website}}
}}
Jeff Dotseth is an American politician serving in the Minnesota House of Representatives since 2023. A member of the Republican Party of Minnesota, Dotseth represents District 11A in northeastern Minnesota, which includes the city of Cloquet, Thomson Township, and parts of Carlton, Pine and St. Louis Counties.{{Cite web |title=Dotseth, Jeff - Legislator Record - Minnesota Legislators Past & Present |url=https://www.lrl.mn.gov/legdb/fulldetail?ID=15598 |access-date=2023-02-25 |website=www.lrl.mn.gov}}{{Cite web |title=Rep. Jeff Dotseth (11A) - Minnesota House of Representatives |url=https://www.house.mn.gov/members/profile/15598 |access-date=2023-02-25 |website=www.house.mn.gov}}
Minnesota House of Representatives
Dotseth was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2022. He first ran unsuccessfully in 2018 against DFL incumbent Mike Sundin, then lost to him again in 2020. Dotseth defeated DFL nominee Pete Radosevich in 2022 after Sundin retired.
Dotseth serves on the Commerce Finance and Policy and Housing Finance and Policy Committees.
In 2025, Dotseth co-sponsored a bill to designate messenger RNA (mRNA) treatments, which include several COVID-19 vaccines, “weapons of mass destruction". The bill would make possessing or administering them a crime punishable by up to 20 years in prison. The bill was drafted by a Florida-based hypnotist and conspiracy theorist who believes that mRNA treatments are "nanoparticle injections" that amount to "biological and technological weapons of mass destruction".https://minnesotareformer.com/2025/04/22/mn-republicans-introduce-vaccine-criminalization-bill-drafted-by-florida-hypnotist/https://josephsansone.substack.com/p/breaking-mrna-mrna-bioweapons-prohibition
Electoral history
{{Election box begin no change
| title = 2018 Minnesota State House - District 11A{{cite web|url=https://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/results/Index?ErsElectionId=115&scenario=StateRepresentative&DistrictId=375&show=Go|title=2018 Results for State Representative District 11A|access-date=February 25, 2023|website=Minnesota Secretary of State}}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Mike Sundin (incumbent)
| party = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party
| votes = 10,532
| percentage = 58.30
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Jeff Dotseth
| party = Republican Party of Minnesota
| votes = 7,518
| percentage = 41.62
}}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change
| votes = 14
| percentage = 0.08
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 18,064
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change
| winner = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change
| title = 2020 Minnesota State House - District 11A{{cite web|url=https://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/results/Index?ErsElectionId=136&scenario=StateRepresentative&DistrictId=375&show=Go|title=2020 Results for State Representative District 11A|access-date=February 25, 2023|website=Minnesota Secretary of State}}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Mike Sundin (incumbent)
| party = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party
| votes = 11,452
| percentage = 51.41
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Jeff Dotseth
| party = Republican Party of Minnesota
| votes = 10,798
| percentage = 48.48
}}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change
| votes = 25
| percentage = 0.11
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 22,275
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change
| winner = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change
| title = 2022 Minnesota State House - District 11A{{cite web|url=https://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/results/Index?ErsElectionId=149&scenario=StateRepresentative&DistrictId=375&show=Go|title=2022 Results for State Representative District 11A|access-date=February 25, 2023|website=Minnesota Secretary of State}}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Jeff Dotseth
| party = Republican Party of Minnesota
| votes = 9,510
| percentage = 51.16
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Pete Radosevich
| party = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party
| votes = 9,056
| percentage = 48.71
}}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change
| votes = 24
| percentage = 0.13
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 18,590
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box gain with party link without swing
| winner = Republican Party of Minnesota
| loser = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party
}}
{{Election box end}}
Personal life
Dotseth lives in Kettle River, Minnesota, with his wife, Melissa, and three children.
In 2008, Dotseth was charged with abuse of his then wife, Penny Kowal. He denied the allegations and pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of disorderly conduct.{{cite news |last1=Faircloth |first1=Ryan |last2=Bierschbach |first2=Briana |title=Minnesota Rep. Jeff Dotseth charged in 2008 with abuse of then-wife, court filings show |url=https://www.startribune.com/minnesota-rep-jeff-dotseth-charged-in-2008-with-abuse-of-then-wife-court-filings-show/601145747 |access-date=September 18, 2024 |work=Minnesota Star Tribune |date=September 16, 2024}} Kowal said in an affidavit that Dotseth had choked, kicked, and hit her on several occasions over a decade, and also abused their dog.{{Cite web |last=Griffith |first=Michelle |date=2024-09-18 |title=Rep. Jeff Dotseth kicked dog, called stepson ‘Kunta Kinte,’ according to affidavits • Minnesota Reformer |url=https://minnesotareformer.com/2024/09/18/rep-jeff-dotseth-kicked-dog-called-stepson-kunta-kinte-according-to-affidavits/ |access-date=2024-09-19 |website=Minnesota Reformer |language=en-US}} Dotseth's stepson also alleged that Dotseth had punched, choked, and hit him in violent outbursts. After a September 2024 Minnesota Star Tribune report on the matter, DFL leadership called for Dotseth to end his reelection campaign.{{cite news |last1=Caroline |first1=Cummings |title=Democrats call for GOP legislator to end re-election campaign following domestic abuse allegations |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/minnesota-rep-jeff-dotseth-abuse-allegations/ |access-date=September 17, 2024 |work=WCCO News |date=September 17, 2024}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{MN-legdb|15598}}
- [https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/members/profile/15598 Official House of Representatives website]
- [https://www.dotsethmn.com/ Official campaign website]
{{Minnesota House of Representatives}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dotseth, Jeff}}
Category:Members of the Minnesota House of Representatives