Liz Olson

{{short description|American politician}}

{{Distinguish|Elizabeth Olsen}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Liz Olson

| image = Liz Olson Speaking at Paid Time to Care Press Conference in Duluth (cropped).jpg

| office = Speaker pro tempore of the Minnesota House of Representatives

| term_start = January 8, 2019

| term_end = January 2, 2023

| predecessor = Laurie Halverson

| successor = Dan Wolgamott

| office1 = Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives

| term_start1 = January 3, 2017

| term_end1 = July 5, 2024

| predecessor1 = Erik Simonson

| successor1 = Peter Johnson

| constituency1 = 7B (2017–2023)
8A (2023–2024)

| birth_date = {{birth based on age as of date|35|2016|10|11}}

| birth_place =

| death_date =

| death_place =

| party = Democratic (DFL)

| spouse = Tom

| children = 1

| education = University of Minnesota, Duluth (BA)
Luther Seminary (MA)

| occupation = {{hlist|Community organizer|Legislator}}

| website = {{URL|https://www.house.mn.gov/members/profile/15469|Government website}} {{URL|http://www.lizforduluth.com/|Campaign website}}

}}

Liz Olson is an American politician who formerly served in the Minnesota House of Representatives. A member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL), Olson represented District 8A in northeastern Minnesota, which includes parts of the city of Duluth in St. Louis County.{{Cite web |title=Olson, Liz - Legislator Record - Minnesota Legislators Past & Present |url=https://www.lrl.mn.gov/legdb/fulldetail?id=15469 |access-date=2023-07-08 |website=www.lrl.mn.gov}}{{Cite web |title=Rep. Liz Olson (08A) - Minnesota House of Representatives |url=https://www.house.mn.gov/members/profile/15469 |access-date=2023-07-08 |website=www.house.mn.gov}}

Early life, education, and career

Olson attended the University of Minnesota Duluth, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in sociology and women's studies, and Luther Seminary, graduating with a Master of Arts in congregational and community care.{{cite web|title=Olson, Liz|url=https://www.leg.state.mn.us/legdb/fulldetail?ID=15469|publisher=Minnesota Legislative Reference Library|accessdate=December 29, 2016}}

Olson is a community organizer who has worked for Churches United in Ministry, Generations Health Care Initiatives, and TakeAction Minnesota.{{cite news|last1=Passi|first1=Peter|title=Olson to run for House seat|url=http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/3934331-olson-run-house-seat|accessdate=December 29, 2016|work=Duluth News Tribune|date=January 27, 2016}} She is a former president of the League of Women Voters, Duluth, is a member of the advisory committee of the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits northeast chapter, and is a board member of Firefly Yoga International.{{cite news|last1=Passi|first1=Peter|title=Pilot, community organizer eye House seat|url=http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/4134565-pilot-community-organizer-eye-house-seat|accessdate=December 29, 2016|work=Duluth News Tribune|date=October 11, 2016}}

Minnesota House of Representatives

Olson was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2016 and was reelected every two years through 2022. She first ran after two-term DFL incumbent Erik Simonson announced he would seek election to the Minnesota Senate.{{Cite web |title=Simonson, Erik - Legislator Record - Minnesota Legislators Past & Present |url=https://www.lrl.mn.gov/legdb/fulldetail?ID=15417 |access-date=2023-07-08 |website=www.lrl.mn.gov}} In 2020, her opponent contested the election results, but a court dismissed the case.

Olson served as speaker pro tempore of the House from 2019 to 2022. From 2019 to 2020 she served as the majority whip for the House DFL Caucus, and from 2021 to 2022 as deputy majority leader. Olson chaired the Ways and Means Committee during her final term.

Having already announced her decision not to seek reelection, Olson resigned her seat in mid-2024, taking a position with the McKnight Foundation.{{Cite web |title=Rep. Liz Olson - RELEASE: Rep. Liz Olson announces plans to step down from Minnesota House |url=https://www.house.mn.gov/members/profile/news/15469/39647 |access-date=2024-07-20 |website=www.house.mn.gov |language=en}}

Electoral history

{{Election box begin no change

| title = 2016 Minnesota State House - District 7B{{cite web|url=https://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/results/Index?ErsElectionId=100&scenario=StateRepresentative&DistrictId=368&show=Go|title=2016 Results for State Representative District 7B|access-date=February 12, 2023|website=Minnesota Secretary of State}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Liz Olson

| party = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party

| votes = 13,824

| percentage = 70.87

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Cody Barringer

| party = Republican Party of Minnesota

| votes = 5,641

| percentage = 28.92

}}

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

| votes = 40

| percentage = 0.21

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 19,505

| 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 = 2018 Minnesota State House - District 7B{{cite web|url=https://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/results/Index?ErsElectionId=115&scenario=StateRepresentative&DistrictId=368&show=Go|title=2018 Results for State Representative District 7B|access-date=February 12, 2023|website=Minnesota Secretary of State}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Liz Olson (incumbent)

| party = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party

| votes = 12,739

| percentage = 71.84

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Caroline Burley

| party = Republican Party of Minnesota

| votes = 4,965

| percentage = 28.00

}}

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

| votes = 28

| percentage = 0.16

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 17,732

| 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 7B{{cite web|url=https://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/results/Index?ErsElectionId=136&scenario=StateRepresentative&DistrictId=368&show=Go|title=2020 Results for State Representative District 7B|access-date=February 12, 2023|website=Minnesota Secretary of State}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Liz Olson (incumbent)

| party = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party

| votes = 14,769

| percentage = 68.15

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Art Johnston

| party = Republican Party of Minnesota

| votes = 6,879

| percentage = 31.74

}}

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

| votes = 23

| percentage = 0.11

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 21,671

| 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 8A{{cite web|url=https://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/results/Index?ErsElectionId=149&scenario=StateRepresentative&DistrictId=369&show=Go|title=2022 Results for State Representative District 8A|access-date=February 12, 2023|website=Minnesota Secretary of State}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Liz Olson (incumbent)

| party = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party

| votes = 11,587

| percentage = 70.48

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Art Johnston

| party = Republican Party of Minnesota

| votes = 4,830

| percentage = 29.38

}}

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

| votes = 22

| percentage = 0.13

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 16,439

| percentage = 100.0

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no change

| winner = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party

}}

{{Election box end}}

Personal life

Olson and her husband, Tom, have one child. They reside in the Denfeld neighborhood in Duluth, Minnesota.

References

{{Portal|Minnesota}}

{{reflist}}