Lisa Demuth
{{Short description|American politician (born 1967)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Lisa Demuth
| image = May 10, 2025 Lisa Demuth Fishing Opener.jpg
| caption = Demuth in 2025
| office = 62nd Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives
| term_start = February 6, 2025
| term_end =
| predecessor = Melissa Hortman
| successor =
| office1 = Minority Leader of the Minnesota House of Representatives
| term_start1 = January 3, 2023
| term_end1 = January 14, 2025
| predecessor1 = Kurt Daudt
| successor1 = Melissa Hortman
| state_house2 = Minnesota
| district2 = 13A
| term_start2 = January 8, 2019
| term_end2 =
| predecessor2 = Jeff Howe
| successor2 =
| birth_date = {{nowrap|{{birth date and age|1967|2|10}}}}
| birth_place = Paynesville, Minnesota, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| party = Republican
| spouse = Nick
| children = 4
}}
Lisa Demuth ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|d|eɪ|m|ə|θ}} {{Respell|DAY|məth}};{{cite web |url=https://www.house.mn.gov/members/pronunciation |title=Name Pronunciation Guide for House Members 2023|website=Minnesota Legislature|access-date=August 23, 2024}} born February 10, 1967){{cite web |title=Demuth, Lisa |url=https://www.leg.state.mn.us/legdb/fulldetail?ID=15498 |publisher=Minnesota Legislative Reference Library |accessdate=November 8, 2018 |language=en}} is an American politician serving since 2025 as the speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives. A member of the Republican Party of Minnesota, Demuth represents District 13A in central Minnesota, which includes the cities of St. Joseph and Cold Spring and parts of Stearns County. She has served since 2023 as leader of the House Republican caucus and from 2023 to 2025 as the minority leader of the House of Representatives.
In 2025, House Republicans voted to elect Demuth Speaker of the House. Her speakership was disputed by Democrats, and the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled that a quorum had not been present, invalidating Demuth's election.{{cite news |title=Republicans override Simon’s adjournment of House, elect Demuth as speaker |url=https://www.kaaltv.com/news/republicans-override-simons-adjournment-of-house-elect-demuth-as-speaker/ |access-date=January 14, 2025 |agency=ABC 6 News |date=January 14, 2025}}{{Cite web |title=Democrats boycott first day of Minnesota House session but GOP votes to appoint speaker anyway |url=https://apnews.com/article/minnesota-legislature-power-struggle-republicans-democrats-7db12f51ad0e47d49f4c50f56cb1e5c4 |website=The Associated Press|date = January 14, 2024}} On February 5, 2025, the two parties reached an agreement to end the DFL boycott of the legislative session that included making Demuth speaker.{{Cite web |author=KTTC Staff |date=February 6, 2025 |title=UPDATE: Agreement appears to be reached in Minnesota House, Demuth set to be speaker |url=https://www.kttc.com/2025/02/06/agreement-appears-be-reached-minnesota-house/ |access-date=February 6, 2025 |website=KTTC |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Faircloth |first=Ryan |date=February 6, 2025 |title=Democrats and Republicans reach deal to end Minnesota House stalemate |url=https://www.startribune.com/democrats-and-republicans-reach-deal-to-end-minnesota-house-stalemate/601217649 |access-date=February 6, 2025 |website=www.startribune.com |language=en}} She was elected to the role on February 6,{{cite news |last1=Schmidt |first1=Corey |title=Demuth chosen as Minnesota House speaker as power-sharing agreement ends DFL boycott |url=https://www.sctimes.com/story/news/politics/2025/02/06/minnesota-democrats-end-boycott-in-house-demuth-chosen-as-speaker/78295446007/ |access-date=6 February 2025 |work=St Cloud Times |date=6 February 2025}} making her the first Black person to become Minnesota speaker.{{Cite web |last=Demko |first=Paul |date=2025-02-26 |title=‘Minnesota Miracle’ upended by new Republican House speaker |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2025/02/26/lisa-demuth-minnesota-house-speaker-interview-00205445 |access-date=2025-02-26 |website=POLITICO |language=en}}
Early life, education, and career
Demuth was born in Paynesville, Minnesota. She graduated from Bloomington Kennedy High School.{{cite news |last1=Knaak |first1=Mike |title=House 13A candidates focus on health care, jobs - The News Leaders |url=https://thenewsleaders.com/house-13a-candidates-focus-on-health-care-jobs/ |accessdate=November 8, 2018 |work=The Newsleaders |publisher=Von Meyer Publishing |date=October 19, 2018}}
Demuth co-owns and manages commercial property with her husband, Nick. She was elected to the Rocori school board as a write-in candidate in 2007 and reelected twice.{{cite news |last1=Hertel |first1=Nora G. |title=Rocori school board member Lisa Demuth vies for Rep. Jeff Howe's legislative seat |url=https://www.sctimes.com/story/news/local/2018/06/06/rocori-school-board-member-lisa-demuth-runs-rep-howe-legislature-election-district-13-jim-read/676829002/ |accessdate=November 8, 2018 |work=St. Cloud Times |date=June 6, 2018 |language=en}}
Minnesota House of Representatives
Demuth was first elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2018. She was recruited to run by the former representative for 13A, Jeff Howe, who was stepping down to run for the Minnesota Senate.{{Cite web |last=Session Interview (Video) 2019 House Interview |title=Video - Minnesota Legislature |url=https://www.lrl.mn.gov/media/video?type=legdb_interview&year=2019&body=House&file=legdb_interview_2019_Demuth |access-date=January 15, 2023 |website=www.lrl.mn.gov}} During the 2021-22 legislative session, Demuth served as an assistant minority leader in the House. She opposes abortion and supported fetal heartbeat legislation in the Minnesota House.{{Cite web |date=December 5, 2022 |title=New House Republican leader Lisa Demuth vows 'calm and conversational' style |url=https://www.minnpost.com/state-government/2022/12/new-house-republican-leader-lisa-demuth-plans-to-lead-minority-with-calm-and-conversational-style/ |access-date=January 15, 2023 |website=MinnPost |language=en-US}}
After the 2022 Minnesota House of Representatives Election saw Republicans fail to flip the House from Democratic control, the Republican caucus elected Demuth minority leader. She has portrayed herself as more collaborative and calmer than her predecessor, Kurt Daudt. According to the American Conservative Union's scorecard, Demuth was ranked as less conservative than the average Republican legislator.
Demuth is the first African American and first biracial person to serve as minority leader of the Minnesota House of Representatives and the House Republican caucus. According to Demuth, she asked fellow legislators to pick her based on her qualifications, not her race.{{Cite web |last=Olson |first=Rochelle |title=Lisa Demuth is first woman, person of color to lead Minnesota House GOP caucus |url=https://www.startribune.com/lisa-demuth-is-first-woman-person-of-color-to-lead-minnesota-house-gop-caucus/600227801/ |access-date=January 15, 2023 |website=Star Tribune}}
=2025 speaker dispute=
{{main|2025 Minnesota House Speaker dispute}}
In the opening session of the 94th Minnesota Legislature on January 14, 2025, only the 67 elected House Republicans attended. The 66 elected DFL members were absent in an effort to prevent a quorum.{{cite web |last=Bierschbach |first=Briana |last2=Olson |first2=Rochelle |last3=Faircloth |first3=Ryan |date=January 14, 2025 |title=Minnesota House Democrats boycott first day of session, but Republicans move forward anyway |url=https://www.startribune.com/minnesota-legislature-convenes-at-noon-tuesday-will-house-democrats-show-up/601205385 |access-date=January 15, 2025 |website=Star Tribune}} Secretary of State Steve Simon presided over the chamber and left, ruling that there was no quorum. Republican members proceeded to elect Demuth as Speaker of the House and continued with normal legislative business for two weeks with Demuth presiding.{{cite web |last=Hubbard |first=Rob |date=January 14, 2025 |title=Simon says no quorum, Republicans elect Demuth speaker |url=https://www.house.mn.gov/SessionDaily/Story/18429 |access-date=January 14, 2025 |website=Minnesota House of Representatives}} On January 24, the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled that because of the absence of a quorum, Demuth's election and all action that followed were invalid.{{cite news |last1=Jacobsen |first1=Jeremiah |title=MN Supreme Court rules on Minnesota House quorum, effectively voiding GOP action thus far |url=https://www.kare11.com/article/news/politics/mn-supreme-court-rules-minnesota-house-quorum-effectively-voiding-gop-action-thus-far/89-babfacd9-8421-4d56-b057-5fb0377701b9 |access-date=January 24, 2025 |work=MPR News |date=January 24, 2025}} On February 5, 2025, the two parties reached an agreement to end the DFL boycott of the legislative session that included making Demuth speaker.
Electoral history
{{Election box begin | title= 2018 Election for Minnesota State Representative District 13A{{cite web |last1=Minnesota Secretary of State |title=2018 Results for State Representative District 13A |url=https://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/results/Index?ErsElectionId=115&scenario=StateRepresentative&DistrictId=379&show=Go |publisher=Minnesota Secretary of State |access-date=January 15, 2023}}}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Republican Party of Minnesota|candidate=Lisa Demuth|votes=11,348|percentage=61.01%|}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party|candidate=Jim Read|votes= 7,243 |percentage=38.94%|}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin | title= 2020 Election for Minnesota State Representative District 13A{{cite web |last1=Minnesota Secretary of State |title=2020 Results for State Representative District 13A |url=https://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/results/Index?ErsElectionId=136&scenario=StateRepresentative&DistrictId=379&show=Go |publisher=Minnesota Secretary of State |access-date=January 15, 2023}}}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Republican Party of Minnesota|candidate=Lisa Demuth|votes=16,056 |percentage=70.75%|}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party|candidate=Katy Westlund|votes= 6,610 |percentage=29.13%|}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin | title= 2022 Election for Minnesota State Representative District 13A{{cite web |last1=Minnesota Secretary of State |title=2022 Results for State Representative District 13A |url=https://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/results/Index?ErsElectionId=149&scenario=StateRepresentative&DistrictId=379&show=Go |publisher=Minnesota Secretary of State |access-date=January 15, 2023}}}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Republican Party of Minnesota|candidate=Lisa Demuth|votes=15,190 |percentage=74.01%|}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party|candidate=Andrea Robinson|votes= 5,324 |percentage=25.94%|}}
{{Election box end}}
Personal life
Demuth and her husband, Nick, reside in Cold Spring, Minnesota. They have four children.
References
{{reflist}}
{{notelist}}
External links
{{MN-legdb|15498}}
- [https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/members/profile/15498 Official House of Representatives website]
- [https://www.lisademuth.com/ Official campaign website]
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{{s-par|us-mn-hs}}
{{s-bef|before=Kurt Daudt}}
{{s-ttl|title=Minority Leader of the Minnesota House of Representatives|years=2023–2025}}
{{s-aft|after=Melissa Hortman}}
|-
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before=Melissa Hortman}}
{{s-ttl|title=Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives|years=2025–present}}
{{s-inc}}
{{s-end}}
{{Current Minnesota statewide political officials}}
{{Speakers of U.S. state Houses of Representatives}}
{{MNSpeakers}}
{{MNHMinorityLeaders}}
{{Minnesota House of Representatives}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Demuth, Lisa}}
Category:21st-century American women politicians
Category:African-American state legislators in Minnesota
Category:21st-century African-American women politicians
Category:21st-century African-American politicians
Category:Republican Party members of the Minnesota House of Representatives