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Sandy Pappas
11th President of the Minnesota Senate
In office January 8, 2013 – January 2, 2017
Preceded by	Michelle Fischbach
Succeeded by	Michelle Fischbach
Member of the Minnesota Senate from the 65th district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 8, 1991
Preceded by	Donald Moe
Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives from the 65B district
In office January 8, 1985 – January 7, 1991
Preceded by	Frank J. Rodriguez Sr.
Succeeded by	Carlos Mariani
Personal details
Born	(1949-06-15) June 15, 1949 (age 75) Hibbing, Minnesota, U.S.
Political party	Democratic (DFL)
Spouse	Neal Gosman
Children	3
Alma mater	Metropolitan State University Harvard University

Sandra L. "Sandy" Pappas (born June 15, 1949) is an American politician who has been serving in the Minnesota Senate since 1991. A member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL), she represents District 65, which includes parts of Saint Paul in Ramsey County. Pappas served as President of the Minnesota Senate from 2013 to 2019.

In 1997, Pappas ran as the DFL-endorsed candidate for mayor of Saint Paul, losing to incumbent Norm Coleman. Before her election to the Senate, she served three terms in the Minnesota House of Representatives.

Early life and education

Pappas was born in Hibbing, Minnesota, and attended Robbinsdale High School in Robbinsdale, Minnesota.

Pappas attended the University of Minnesota and Metropolitan State University, from which she earned a B.A. in public policy in 1986. She later attended the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, earning an MPA.

Minnesota House of Representatives

Pappas was first elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 1984 for District 65B. Her margin of victory in the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party primary election was so small that a recount occurred.

Pappas served three terms in the House before running for Minnesota Senate in 1990.

Minnesota Senate

Pappas was first elected to the Minnesota Senate in 1990, defeating incumbent Donald Moe in a DFL primary.

Pappas has been reelected in every election since, serving a total of 10 terms. She has served on the Capital Investment, Commerce, Finance, Rules and Administration, and State and Local Government Committees. She chaired the Higher Education Committee from 2007 to 2011 and the Education Committee from 2001 to 2003. She served as president pro tempore from 2003 to 2007.

After the DFL regained a majority in the 2012 election, Pappas was elected by her caucus to serve as President of the Minnesota Senate, starting in January 2013. Pappas was reelected to the Senate in 2016, 2020, and 2022. She chairs the Capital Investment Committee and sits on the committees on Finance, Judiciary and Public Safety, and Labor.

1997 Saint Paul mayoral campaign

Pappas ran for mayor of Saint Paul in 1997 and lost to incumbent Norm Coleman.

Personal life

Pappas is married to Neal Gosman. They have three children and 31 grandchildren. She is Jewish.

References

1. ^ "Pappas, Sandra L. "Sandy" - Legislator Record - Minnesota Legislators Past & Present". www.lrl.mn.gov. Retrieved 2024-12-04.
2. "Former state Sen. Donald Moe dies; 'straight talker' wasn't typical St. Paul Democrat". Twin Cities. 2017-12-31. Retrieved 2024-10-18.
3. Stassen-Berger, Rachel E. (November 8, 2012). "Bakk, Thissen to lead DFL at the State Capitol". Star Tribune. Retrieved March 1, 2013.
4. "Minnesota State Senate District 65". Retrieved January 12, 2021.
5. ^ "Pappas, Sandra L. "Sandy"". Legislators Past & Present. Minnesota Legislative Reference Library. Retrieved January 10, 2013.

External links

• Sandy Pappas at Minnesota Legislators Past & Present
• Official Senate website
• Official campaign website
• Project Vote Smart - Senator Sandy Pappas Profile
• Follow the Money - Sandy Pappas Campaign Contributions
  • 2006 2004 2002 2000 1996

v t e Presidents of the Minnesota Senate
Lt. Governor (1858–1973)	Holcombe Donnelly Sherwood Armstrong Yale Barto Wakefield Gilman Rice Ives Clough Day Gibbs L. Smith Jones Eberhart E. Smith Gordon Burnquist Sullivan Frankson Collins Nolan Adams Arens Solberg Petersen Richardson Lindsten Anderson Thye A. Miller Anderson Nelsen Rolvaag Keith Goetz Perpich
Senate-elected (1973–present)	Olson Gearty Davies Hughes Chmielewski Hughes Spear Samuelson Metzen Fischbach Pappas Fischbach J. Miller Tomassoni J. Miller Osmek Champion

• 1949 births
• Harvard Kennedy School alumni
• Living people
• Presidents of the Minnesota Senate
• Democratic Party Minnesota state senators
• Democratic Party members of the Minnesota House of Representatives
• People from Hibbing, Minnesota
• Politicians from Saint Paul, Minnesota
• Women state legislators in Minnesota
• 21st-century American women politicians
• Metropolitan State University alumni
• Jewish American state legislators in Minnesota
• Jewish American women in politics
• 21st-century members of the Minnesota Legislature