Jeff Dotseth

Jeff Dotseth
Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives
from the 11A district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 3, 2023
Preceded byMike Sundin
Personal details
Political partyRepublican
SpouseMelissa
Children3
ResidenceKettle River, Minnesota
Occupation
WebsiteGovernment website 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.[1][2]

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.[1]

Dotseth serves on the Commerce Finance and Policy and Housing Finance and Policy Committees.[1]

Electoral history

2018 Minnesota State House - District 11A[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic (DFL) Mike Sundin (incumbent) 10,532 58.30
Republican Jeff Dotseth 7,518 41.62
Write-in 14 0.08
Total votes 18,064 100.0
Democratic (DFL) hold
2020 Minnesota State House - District 11A[4]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic (DFL) Mike Sundin (incumbent) 11,452 51.41
Republican Jeff Dotseth 10,798 48.48
Write-in 25 0.11
Total votes 22,275 100.0
Democratic (DFL) hold
2022 Minnesota State House - District 11A[5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jeff Dotseth 9,510 51.16
Democratic (DFL) Pete Radosevich 9,056 48.71
Write-in 24 0.13
Total votes 18,590 100.0
Republican gain from Democratic (DFL)

Personal life

Dotseth lives in Kettle River, Minnesota, with his wife, Melissa, and three children.[1]

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.[6] Kowal said in an affidavit that Dotseth had choked, kicked, and hit her on several occasions over a decade, and also abused their dog.[7] Dotseth's stepson also alleged that Dotseth had punched, choked, and hit him in violent outbursts.[7] After a September 2024 Minnesota Star Tribune report on the matter, DFL leadership called for Dotseth to end his reelection campaign.[8]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Dotseth, Jeff - Legislator Record - Minnesota Legislators Past & Present". www.lrl.mn.gov. Retrieved 2023-02-25.
  2. ^ "Rep. Jeff Dotseth (11A) - Minnesota House of Representatives". www.house.mn.gov. Retrieved 2023-02-25.
  3. ^ "2018 Results for State Representative District 11A". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  4. ^ "2020 Results for State Representative District 11A". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  5. ^ "2022 Results for State Representative District 11A". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  6. ^ Faircloth, Ryan; Bierschbach, Briana (September 16, 2024). "Minnesota Rep. Jeff Dotseth charged in 2008 with abuse of then-wife, court filings show". Minnesota Star Tribune. Retrieved September 18, 2024.
  7. ^ a b Griffith, Michelle (2024-09-18). "Rep. Jeff Dotseth kicked dog, called stepson 'Kunta Kinte,' according to affidavits • Minnesota Reformer". Minnesota Reformer. Retrieved 2024-09-19.
  8. ^ Caroline, Cummings (September 17, 2024). "Democrats call for GOP legislator to end re-election campaign following domestic abuse allegations". WCCO News. Retrieved September 17, 2024.