Paul Gazelka

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Paul Gazelka
Image of Paul Gazelka

Republican Party

Prior offices
Minnesota House of Representatives
Minnesota State Senate District 9
Successor: Jordan Rasmusson

Education

Bachelor's

Oral Roberts University

Personal
Profession
Owner, insurance agency
Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Campaign Twitter

Campaign Instagram

Personal Facebook

Paul Gazelka (Republican Party) was a member of the Minnesota State Senate, representing District 9. He assumed office in 2011. He left office on January 3, 2023.

Gazelka (Republican Party) ran for election for Governor of Minnesota. He did not appear on the ballot for the Republican primary on August 9, 2022.

Gazelka served as state Senate majority leader from 2017 to 2021. He left the role on September 1, 2021, stating he "look[ed] forward to letting someone else take over serving as leader while I pursue the next chapter in my political life."[1]

Gazelka served in the Senate previously, representing District 12 from 2011 to 2013. He served in the Minnesota House of Representatives from 2005 to 2007.


Biography

Gazelka earned his undergraduate degree in business management from Oral Roberts University. His professional experience includes working as a State Farm insurance agent in Madison and Brainerd.

Committee assignments

2021-2022

Gazelka was assigned to the following committees:

2019-2020

Gazelka was assigned to the following committees:

2017 legislative session

At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:

Minnesota committee assignments, 2017
• Rules and Administration, Chair
• Taxes

2015 legislative session

At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Gazelka served on the following committees:

2013-2014

At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Gazelka served on the following committees:

Minnesota committee assignments, 2013
• Commerce
• Rules and Administration

2011-2012

In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Gazelka served on the following committees:

The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.


Elections

2022

Governor of Minnesota

See also: Minnesota gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2022

General election

General election for Governor of Minnesota

The following candidates ran in the general election for Governor of Minnesota on November 8, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Tim Walz
Tim Walz (D)
 
52.3
 
1,312,349
Image of Scott Jensen
Scott Jensen (R)
 
44.6
 
1,119,941
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
James McCaskel (Legal Marijuana Now Party)
 
1.2
 
29,346
Image of Steve Patterson
Steve Patterson (Grassroots-Legalize Cannabis Party of Minnesota)
 
0.9
 
22,599
Image of Hugh McTavish
Hugh McTavish (Independence-Alliance Party of Minnesota) Candidate Connection
 
0.7
 
18,156
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Gabrielle Prosser (Socialist Workers Party)
 
0.3
 
7,241
Image of Joyce Lacey
Joyce Lacey (Independent) (Write-in)
 
0.0
 
11
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Mohamed Mourssi-Alfash (Independent) (Write-in)
 
0.0
 
5
Image of Loner Blue
Loner Blue (Independent) (Write-in)
 
0.0
 
4
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Joshua Olgbolahan Jubril (Independent) (Write-in)
 
0.0
 
0
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.0
 
1,009

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 2,510,661
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Governor of Minnesota

Incumbent Tim Walz defeated Ole Savior in the Democratic primary for Governor of Minnesota on August 9, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Tim Walz
Tim Walz
 
96.5
 
416,973
Image of Ole Savior
Ole Savior
 
3.5
 
14,950

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 431,923
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Governor of Minnesota

Scott Jensen defeated Joyce Lacey and Bob Carney Jr. in the Republican primary for Governor of Minnesota on August 9, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Scott Jensen
Scott Jensen
 
89.3
 
288,499
Image of Joyce Lacey
Joyce Lacey
 
6.6
 
21,308
Image of Bob Carney Jr.
Bob Carney Jr.
 
4.1
 
13,213

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 323,020
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Grassroots-Legalize Cannabis Party of Minnesota primary election

Grassroots-Legalize Cannabis Party of Minnesota primary for Governor of Minnesota

Steve Patterson defeated Darrell Paulsen in the Grassroots-Legalize Cannabis Party of Minnesota primary for Governor of Minnesota on August 9, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Steve Patterson
Steve Patterson
 
59.1
 
1,003
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Darrell Paulsen
 
40.9
 
693

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 1,696
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Legal Marijuana Now Party primary election

Legal Marijuana Now Party primary for Governor of Minnesota

James McCaskel defeated Chris Wright in the Legal Marijuana Now Party primary for Governor of Minnesota on August 9, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
James McCaskel
 
51.9
 
1,461
Image of Chris Wright
Chris Wright Candidate Connection
 
48.1
 
1,356

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 2,817
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Minnesota State Senate

See also: Minnesota State Senate elections, 2022

Paul Gazelka did not file to run for re-election.

2020

See also: Minnesota State Senate elections, 2020

General election

General election for Minnesota State Senate District 9

Incumbent Paul Gazelka defeated A. John Peters in the general election for Minnesota State Senate District 9 on November 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Paul Gazelka
Paul Gazelka (R)
 
75.6
 
33,472
Image of A. John Peters
A. John Peters (D)
 
24.3
 
10,765
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.1
 
41

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 44,278
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Minnesota State Senate District 9

A. John Peters advanced from the Democratic primary for Minnesota State Senate District 9 on August 11, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of A. John Peters
A. John Peters
 
100.0
 
2,759

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 2,759
(100.00% precincts reporting)
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Minnesota State Senate District 9

Incumbent Paul Gazelka defeated Richard Dahl in the Republican primary for Minnesota State Senate District 9 on August 11, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Paul Gazelka
Paul Gazelka
 
83.5
 
5,822
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Richard Dahl
 
16.5
 
1,151

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 6,973
(100.00% precincts reporting)
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Campaign finance

2016

See also: Minnesota State Senate elections, 2016

Elections for the Minnesota State Senate took place in 2016. The primary election took place on August 9, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was May 31, 2016.

Incumbent Paul Gazelka defeated Jason Weinerman in the Minnesota State Senate District 9 general election.[2][3]

Minnesota State Senate, District 9 General Election, 2016
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.png Paul Gazelka Incumbent 71.26% 27,749
     Democratic Jason Weinerman 28.74% 11,191
Total Votes 38,940
Source: Minnesota Secretary of State


Jason Weinerman ran unopposed in the Minnesota State Senate District 9 Democratic primary.[4][5]

Minnesota State Senate, District 9 Democratic Primary, 2016
Party Candidate
    Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Jason Weinerman  (unopposed)


Incumbent Paul Gazelka ran unopposed in the Minnesota State Senate District 9 Republican primary.[4][5]

Minnesota State Senate, District 9 Republican Primary, 2016
Party Candidate
    Republican Green check mark transparent.png Paul Gazelka Incumbent (unopposed)

2012

See also: Minnesota State Senate elections, 2012

Gazelka won election for the District 9 seat in 2012 after redistricting. He was unopposed in the August 14 primary and defeated Al Doty (D) in the November 6 general election.[6]

Minnesota State Senate, District 9, General Election, 2012
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngPaul Gazelka Incumbent 53.7% 20,527
     Democratic Al Doty 46.3% 17,687
Total Votes 38,214

2010

See also: Minnesota State Senate elections, 2010

Gazelka defeated Democrat Taylor Stevenson and Constitution Party candidate Steve Park in the general election on November 2.[7]

Minnesota State Senate, District 12 (2010)
Candidates Votes Percent
Green check mark transparent.png Paul Gazelka (R) 16530 51.51%
Taylor Stevenson (D) 11609 36.18%
Steve Park (D) 827 2.58%
Write-in (C) 3125 9.74%

Gazelka defeated incumbent Paul Koering in the August 10, 2010 Republican primary by a margin of 3,752 to 2,857. Koering was seeking his third term.

Across the country in 2010, state senate elections were held in 43 states. 1,167 state senate seats were at stake. In all 1,167 state senate districts with an election in 2010, only 19 challengers (12 Democrats and 7 Republicans) defeated an incumbent state senator. Gazelka was one of the 7 Republican challengers who defeated an incumbent Republican state senator.

Campaign themes

2022

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Paul Gazelka did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

2020

Paul Gazelka did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.

2016

Gazelka's campaign website highlighted the following issues:

“

Financial Accountability—Lower Taxes

  • We must not enact more government programs than we can pay for. We ask everyone else to live within their means, government must do the same. We must ease the tax burden on all taxpaying citizens, we can only do this by cutting government waste and eliminating unnecessary programs.

Personal Responsibility—Individual Freedom

  • We must expect our citizens to be responsible for their lives and life choices. In return, we must allow our people to enjoy the freedom to live their lives as they choose. We must protect 2nd amendment rights, and the right to enjoy personal property. We must be aware that anything we ask the government to do for us requires us to trade in a piece of our freedom.

Strong Families

  • We know that children are best raised with mom and dad, living together in a happy, healthy, life-long marriage. We must help families become more successful at reaching this goal. At the same time, we must help those families who find themselves in a wounded place. Pro –life decisions should be praised, and then we need to help that new family to become successful. We need to help provide positive alternatives, helping the faith-based community do what they do best, help people overcome difficult situations.

Safety and Security

  • We need to pass laws that deter crime and give police what they need to affectively fight crime. One piece of legislation can make a huge difference. For example, when we made it illegal to buy sudephedarine over the counter, it virtually completely shut down meth labs in our state.
  • We need to continue to support our troops, and make sure the veterans are praised and take care of for putting themselves in harm’s way.[8]
 ”
—Paul Gazelka[9]

2012

Gazelka's website highlighted the following campaign themes:[10]

Fiscal Policy

  • Excerpt: "We must not enact more government programs than we can pay for. I support individuals and families spending their own money in a capital and free-market enterprise system."

Taxes

  • Excerpt: "I will not support a tax increase. We expect our federal government to protect our borders and to protect our individual freedoms as Americans."

Government

  • Excerpt: "Private industry is far more efficient and effective in use of money than the government. Money is best spent by the citizens who earned it. I believe that if government has less money, it becomes more efficient and cost-effective."

Jobs

  • Excerpt: "First of all, we need to lower taxes on Minnesota businesses so they have a greater opportunity to be successful, which in turn will spur on job growth. "

Healthcare

  • Excerpt: "We must drive down the cost of health insurance and resist the temptation to let the government decide what options we must take."

2010

Gazelka's website highlighted the following campaign themes:

  • Fiscal policy: "We must not enact more government programs than we can pay for. I support individuals and families spending their own money in a capital and free-market enterprise system."
  • Taxes: "I will not support a tax increase."
  • Government: "Private industry is far more efficient and effective in use of money than the government."
  • Jobs: "First of all, we need to lower taxes on Minnesota businesses so they have a greater opportunity to be successful, which in turn will spur on job growth."
  • Health care: "We must drive down the cost of health insurance and resist the temptation to let the government decide what options we must take."
  • Energy and Environment: "I support an energy and environmental policy that recognizes the importance of energy independence for our national security."
  • Education: "We need a K-12 education policy that respects parent’s choice, is funded fairly and insists on local control."
  • Immigration: "If you commit an illegal act, there should be consequences whether it is to the employer hiring illegal aliens or the illegal alien being sent back to their country of origin."
  • Transportation: "A primary role of government is to provide infrastructure for transportation."
  • Pro-life: "I believe that life begins at conception and ends at natural death. Adoption should always be the choice over abortion. When a young woman chooses to keep the child, we need to participate in helping the new family succeed."
  • Strong Families: "We know that children are best raised with mom and dad, living together in a happy, healthy, life-long marriage."
  • Stem-Cell Research: "I support adult stem-cell research which is the best ethical and scientific solution to help cure diseases."

Presidential preference

2012

See also: Endorsements by state officials of presidential candidates in the 2012 election

Paul Gazelka endorsed Rick Santorum in the 2012 presidential election.[11]

Campaign finance summary

Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.

Paul Gazelka campaign contribution history
YearOfficeStatusContributionsExpenditures
2020Minnesota State Senate District 9Won general$182,162 N/A**
2016Minnesota State Senate, District 9Won $90,518 N/A**
2012Minnesota State Senate, District 9Won $61,502 N/A**
2010Minnesota State Senate, District 12Won $49,458 N/A**
2006Minnesota State House, District 12ALost $41,253 N/A**
2004Minnesota State House, District 12AWon $37,733 N/A**
** Data on expenditures is not available for this election cycle
Note: Totals above reflect only available data.

Scorecards

See also: State legislative scorecards and State legislative scorecards in Minnesota

A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.

Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.

Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states.  To contribute to the list of Minnesota scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.



2022

In 2022, the Minnesota State Legislature was in session from January 31 to May 23.

Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to labor issues.
Legislators are scored on their support for the organization's principles, which it defines as "provid[ing] a basis for a constitutionally limited government established to sustain life, liberty, justice, property rights and free enterprise."
Legislators are scored on their votes on labor issues.
Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.


2021


2020


2019


2018


2017


2016


2015


2014


2013


2012


2011

Noteworthy events

Tested positive for coronavirus on November 15, 2020

See also: Politicians, candidates, and government officials diagnosed with or quarantined due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020
Covid vnt.png
Coronavirus pandemic
Select a topic from the dropdown below to learn more.


On November 15, 2020, Gazelka announced that he had tested positive for coronavirus.[12]

See also

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    Footnotes

    1. ↑ KTTC, "Leader of the Senate Republican Caucus steps down," September 1, 2021
    2. ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "Candidate Filing Search," accessed August 25, 2016
    3. ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "General election results, 2016," accessed December 19, 2016
    4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Minnesota Secretary of State, "Candidate Filings," accessed June 3, 2016
    5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Minnesota Secretary of State, "Minnesota State Primary: Tuesday, August 9, 2016," accessed August 9, 2016
    6. ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "Minnesota State Canvassing Report - State Primary - Tuesday, August 14, 2012," accessed April 23, 2014
    7. ↑ Secretary of State Official general election results
    8. ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
    9. ↑ Gazelka for Senate, "Values," accessed September 21, 2016
    10. ↑ "gazelkaforsenate," Official Campaign Website
    11. ↑ Rick Santorum for President, "SANTORUM ANNOUNCES MINNESOTA LEADERSHIP ENDORSEMENTS," February 6, 2012
    12. ↑ MPR News, "Minnesota Senate Majority Leader Gazelka tests positive for COVID-19," November 15, 2020

    Political offices
    Preceded by
    -     		Minnesota State Senate District 9
    2011-2023    		 Succeeded by
    Jordan Rasmusson (R)
    Preceded by
    -     		Minnesota House of Representatives
    2005-2007    		 Succeeded by
    -
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