Erin Koegel

Erin Koegel is an American politician serving in the Minnesota House of Representatives since 2017. A member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL), Koegel represents District 39A in the northern Twin Cities metropolitan area, which includes the city of Fridley and parts of Anoka and Ramsey Counties in Minnesota.[1]

Erin Koegel
Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives
from the 39A district
37A (2017-2022)
Assumed office
January 3, 2017
Preceded byJerry Newton
Personal details
Born1981/1982 (age 40–41)
Duluth, Minnesota
Political partyMinnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party
SpouseSteve
ResidenceSpring Lake Park, Minnesota
Alma materUniversity of Minnesota Duluth
Occupationvolunteer coordinator

Early life, education, and career

Koegel was born in Duluth, Minnesota and raised in Maple Grove, Minnesota. She graduated from Osseo High School in 2000.[2] She attended the University of Minnesota Duluth, graduating with a Bachelor of Applied Science in psychology and a minor in political science, and later with a master's degree in advocacy and political leadership. She is a volunteer coordinator.[2][1]

Minnesota House of Representatives

Koegel was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2016, after incumbent Jerry Newton retired to run for a seat in the Minnesota State Senate, and has been reelected every two years since. From 2021-2022,,Koegel served as vice-chair of the Transportation Finance and Policy Committee. Koegel is the chair of the Sustainable Infrastructure Policy Committee and sits on the Commerce Finance and Policy and Transportation Finance and Policy Committees.[1]

Koegel is the co-author of the bill that would restrict wake boats within 200 feet of shore, prohibit wake boats on lakes 50 acres or less and on waterways that are less than 500 feet wide.[3]

Electoral history
2016 Minnesota State House - District 37A[4]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic (DFL) Erin Koegel 9,485 47.17
Republican Anthony Wilder 8,946 44.49
Republican Brian McCormick 1,647 8.19
Write-in 31 0.15
Total votes 20,469 100.0
Democratic (DFL) hold
2018 Minnesota State House - District 37A[5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic (DFL) Erin Koegel (incumbent) 9,816 56.01
Republican Anthony Wilder 7,676 43.80
Write-in 35 0.20
Total votes 17,527 100.0
Democratic (DFL) hold
2020 Minnesota State House - District 37A[6]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic (DFL) Erin Koegel (incumbent) 12,389 55.10
Republican Ken Wendling 10,070 44.78
Write-in 27 0.20
Total votes 22,486 100.0
Democratic (DFL) hold
2022 Minnesota State House - District 39A[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic (DFL) Erin Koegel (incumbent) 9,091 63.30
Republican Rod Sylvester 5,262 36.64
Write-in 9 0.06
Total votes 14,362 100.0
Democratic (DFL) hold

Personal life

Koegel is married to Steve and resides in Spring Lake Park, Minnesota.[1][8] Her daughter, Clara, was born in 2018.[9]

On August 22, 2021, Koegel accidentally severed her middle, ring, and little fingers on her left hand in a power saw accident. She was airlifted to the North Memorial Health Hospital in Robbinsdale, where she underwent emergency surgery. Surgeons were able to re-attach her middle finger, but her ring and pinky fingers were lost.[10][11] A GoFundMe page set up to support Koegel's recovery surpassed its goal of $5,000, however it attracted the notice of officials when it appeared that many contributions came from lobbyists. Minnesota state law prohibits gifts from lobbyists to lawmakers worth more than $5. The GoFundMe page announced that any gifts from lobbyists would be returned immediately.[12]

References
  1. "Koegel, Erin". Minnesota Legislative Reference Library. Retrieved January 10, 2017.
  2. "Minnesota House District 37A – Local Decision 2016". North Metro TV. Retrieved January 10, 2017.
  3. "Wake surfing bill introduced by lawmakers supported by boating industry, others oppose". KSTP. 2021-03-10. Retrieved 2021-09-11.
  4. "2016 Results for State Representative District 37A". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  5. "2018 Results for State Representative District 37A". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  6. "2020 Results for State Representative District 37A". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  7. "2022 Results for State Representative District 39A". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  8. "3 running for open seat in House District 37A". ABC Newspapers. ECM Publishers. October 14, 2016. Retrieved January 10, 2017.
  9. "Legislators balance lawmaking with child raising". MPR News. Retrieved 2021-09-11.
  10. Staff. "Minnesota State Rep. Cuts Off 3 Fingers In Power Saw Accident". www.valleynewslive.com. Retrieved 2021-08-31.
  11. "State representative cuts off 3 fingers in power saw accident". KSTP. 2021-08-30. Retrieved 2021-08-31.
  12. "Some donations to help injured lawmaker may be returned". September 2021.
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