Tim Pawlenty | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2003 | |
| 39th Governor of Minnesota | |
| In office January 6, 2003 – January 3, 2011 | |
| Lieutenant | Carol Molnau |
| Preceded by | Jesse Ventura |
| Succeeded by | Mark Dayton |
| Chair of the National Governors Association | |
| In office July 23, 2007 – July 14, 2008 | |
| Preceded by | Janet Napolitano |
| Succeeded by | Ed Rendell |
| Majority Leader of the Minnesota House of Representatives | |
| In office January 3, 1999 – January 3, 2003 | |
| Preceded by | Ted Winter |
| Succeeded by | Erik Paulsen |
| Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives from the 38B district | |
| In office January 3, 1993 – January 3, 2003 | |
| Preceded by | Art Seaberg |
| Succeeded by | Lynn Wardlow |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Timothy James Pawlenty November 27, 1960 Saint Paul, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (BA, JD) |
| Signature |  |
Timothy James Pawlenty (/pəˈlɛnti/ pə-LEN-tee;[1] born November 27, 1960) is an American attorney, businessman, and politician who served as the 39th governor of Minnesota from 2003 to 2011. A member of the Republican Party, Pawlenty served in the Minnesota House of Representatives from 1993 to 2003, and as House Majority Leader from 1999 to 2003. He unsuccessfully ran for the Republican presidential nomination in the 2012 presidential election.
Pawlenty graduated from the University of Minnesota, becoming a labor law attorney and the vice president of a software company. In 1992 he was elected to represent District 38B, a district in suburban Dakota County, in the Minnesota House of Representatives. He was reelected four times and was elected majority leader in 1998. After securing the Republican endorsement, Pawlenty won the three-way 2002 Minnesota gubernatorial election. He campaigned under a conservative platform with a pledge not to raise taxes. He worked to lower the state's deficit by cutting funds from state programs and instituting "user fees". He was reelected in 2006 by a margin of less than one percent. Although Pawlenty eliminated the budget deficit in his first term, the deficit returned as a result of the Great Recession in 2007. The effectiveness of Pawlenty's economic policy as governor is disputed.[2]
As governor, Pawlenty also reformed Minnesota's education system, passed a concealed carry law, and codified a 24-hour wait period before receiving an abortion.[3] His administration advocated for numerous notable public works projects, including the construction of the Northstar Commuter Rail Line and Target Field. From 2007 to 2008, Pawlenty chaired the National Governors Association.
Pawlenty was rumored to be a contender for both the Republican presidential and vice-presidential nominations in the 2008 presidential election. He went on to co-chair John McCain's unsuccessful 2008 presidential campaign. Pawlenty ran for president in the 2012 Republican presidential primary. His campaign fell short of expectations by failing to gain traction.[4] After withdrawing from the race, Pawlenty became a finalist to join Mitt Romney on the 2012 ticket as the vice presidential candidate.[5] He was not selected, but he served as co-chair of Romney's campaign until his departure two months before the election.[6] Pawlenty sought a third term as governor of Minnesota in the 2018 election with Michelle Fischbach as his running mate. He lost the Republican primary to Jeff Johnson.[7] As of 2024, Pawlenty is the last Republican to serve as governor of Minnesota.
- ^ Baenen, Jeff. "Minnesota Pronunciation Guide". Associated Press in Minnesota. Archived from the original on July 22, 2011. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
- ^ "Looking back at Pawlenty's record". MPR News. December 22, 2010. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
- ^ McNeil, Michele (May 20, 2011). "Pawlenty, an Education Guy, to Run for President". Education Week. ISSN 0277-4232. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
- ^ "How Tim Pawlenty came to be everyone's favorite failed presidential candidate". MinnPost. September 15, 2015. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
- ^ Streitfeld, Rachel (August 12, 2012). "Ryan's clandestine journey to Romney's ticket went from 'surreal to real'". CNN. Retrieved August 15, 2012.
- ^ Knox, Olivier (September 20, 2012). "Pawlenty quits as Romney campaign co-chair". Yahoo! News.
- ^ The Associated Press (August 14, 2018). "County Commissioner Jeff Johnson defeats former two-term Gov. Tim Pawlenty in Republican primary for Minnesota governor". ABC News.