Michelle Benson
{{short description|American accountant and politician, Republican member of the Minnesota State Senate}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2018}}
{{Use American English|date=November 2018}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| image = Minnesota Senate Deputy Majority Leader Michelle Benson.jpg
| name = Michelle Benson
| caption = Benson in 2016
| office = Member of the Minnesota Senate
| term_start = January 4, 2011
| term_end = January 3, 2023
| preceded = Debbie Johnson
| succeeded = Cal Bahr
| constituency = 49th (2011–2013)
31st (2013–2023)
| party = Republican
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1968|9|11}}
| birth_place =
| alma_mater = St. Catherine University {{small|(BA)}}
University of St. Thomas {{small|(MBA)}}
| occupation = Accountant, consultant
| spouse = Craig Benson[https://m.startribune.com/minn-state-sen-michelle-benson-s-husband-files-for-bankruptcy/491826471/ Michelle Benson's husband files for bankruptcy], startribune.com. Accessed June 2, 2023.
| children = 3
| residence = Ham Lake, Minnesota
}}
Michelle R. Benson (born September 11, 1968) is an American accountant, politician, and Republican member of the Minnesota Senate. She represents District 31, which includes portions of Anoka, Isanti and Sherburne counties in the northern Twin Cities metropolitan area. Benson is the Deputy Majority Leader of the Minnesota Senate.
Early life, education, and career
Benson was raised on a farm near Murdock, Minnesota, graduating from Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg High School. In 1991, Benson graduated from St. Catherine University in Saint Paul with a Bachelor of Arts in chemistry. In 1996, Benson received a Master of Business Administration from the University of St. Thomas.{{Cite news|url=https://www.twincities.com/2010/10/02/senate-district-49-two-ham-lake-candidates-square-off/|title=Senate District 49: Two Ham Lake candidates square off|last=Cutts|first=Emily|date=2010-10-02|work=Twin Cities|access-date=2017-12-31|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.mnprivatecolleges.org/news-events/newsletters/september-2010-newsletter/ready-run-alumni-use-education-experiences-run|title=Ready to run: Alumni use education, experiences to run for public office {{!}} Minnesota Private Colleges|website=www.mnprivatecolleges.org|access-date=2019-10-18}} Benson, a certified public accountant, previously worked as an auditor and consultant at Deloitte & Touche and as executive director of a non-profit cybersecurity organization.{{cite web|url=http://www.leg.state.mn.us/legdb/fulldetail.asp?ID=15322|title=Legislator Record - Benson, Michelle R|date=|publisher=Minnesota Legislators Past & Present|accessdate=2012-12-08}}
Minnesota Senate
In 2010, Benson challenged incumbent Debbie Johnson for the Republican nomination. Benson won the nomination and subsequently won the election.{{Cite web|url=https://minnlawyer.com/2010/02/15/sd49-republicans-dump-johnson-on-second-ballot/|title=SD49 Republicans dump Johnson on second ballot|last=Shaw|first=Charley|date=2010-02-15|website=Minnesota Lawyer|language=en-US|access-date=2019-10-18}} Benson was re-elected handily in 2012 and 2016.{{Cite news|url=https://www.mnsenaterepublicans.com/senate-republicans-put-emphasis-healthcare-new-committee-structure/|title=Senate Republicans put emphasis on health care in new committee structure - Minnesota Senate Republicans|date=2016-11-22|work=Minnesota Senate Republicans|access-date=2017-12-04|language=en-US}} She currently serves as chair of the Senate Health and Human Services Finance and Policy Committee and is a deputy majority leader.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mnsenaterepublicans.com/michelle-benson/|title=Michelle Benson|website=Minnesota Senate Republicans|language=en-US|access-date=2019-10-18}}
In 2015, she co-sponsored legislation that would allow businesses to refuse to provide services for same-sex couples.{{Cite web|url=https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/1634997-Proposed-bill-in-Minnesota-Senate-would-allow-refusal-of-same-sex-weddings|title = Proposed bill in Minnesota Senate would allow refusal of same-sex weddings}}
In 2021, Michelle Benson called into question the ways in which the Minnesota government spent federal COVID-19 relief, dubbing the spending wasteful.{{cite news |last1=Mearhoff |first1=Sarah |title=Republicans say Minnesota governor wasting federal coronavirus aid |url=https://www.bemidjipioneer.com/news/government-and-politics/7024370-Republicans-say-Minnesota-governor-wasting-federal-coronavirus-aid}}
On August 31, 2021, Benson announced she was running for Governor of Minnesota. In her announcement, Benson promised to fight back against “radical, leftist policies” regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, and promised to deliver a "safer, better, and stronger" Minnesota.{{Cite web |date=2021-08-31 |title=GOP State Sen. Michelle Benson Announces Bid For Governor |url=https://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2021/08/31/michelle-benson-governor-run/ |access-date=2022-03-08 |language=en-US}} She later suspended her campaign in April 2022.{{Cite web |last=Tribune |first=Emma Nelson Star |title=Michelle Benson bows out of Minnesota governor's race |url=https://www.startribune.com/michelle-benson-bows-out-of-minnesota-governors-race/600169209/ |access-date=2022-04-29 |website=Star Tribune}}
Personal life
Benson has been a Boy Scout and Cub Scout leader, an administrator for a local Montessori school, and a member of the local chambers of commerce.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hometownsource.com/elk_river_star_news/news/local/michelle-benson-mn-senate/article_25a41b96-1694-5147-b368-4aa3c9d1972c.html|title=Michelle Benson*, MN Senate 31|last=|first=|date=|website=Elk River Star News|language=en|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2019-10-18}} Benson and her husband, Craig, live in Ham Lake with their three children.{{Cite web|url=https://northmetrotv.com/minnesota-senate-district-31-local-decision-2016/|title=Minnesota Senate District 31 – Local Decision 2016 – North Metro TV|date=June 2, 2016|language=en-US|access-date=2019-10-18}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{MN-legdb|15322}}
- [http://www.senate.mn/members/member_bio.php?mem_id=1184 Senator Michelle Benson] official Minnesota Senate website
- [https://www.mnsenaterepublicans.com/michelle-benson/ Senator Michelle Benson] official Minnesota Senate Republican Caucus page
- [http://www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=123011 Project Vote Smart - Senator Michelle Benson Profile]
{{Minnesota State Senators}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Benson, Michelle}}
Category:People from Ham Lake, Minnesota
Category:St. Catherine University alumni
Category:University of St. Thomas (Minnesota) alumni
Category:Republican Party Minnesota state senators
Category:Women state legislators in Minnesota
Category:21st-century American women politicians
Category:Government accounting officials