David Tomassoni

David Joseph Tomassoni (born December 5, 1952) is a Minnesota politician and member of the Minnesota Senate. He represents District 6, which includes parts of Itasca and St. Louis counties in northeastern Minnesota. A former member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL), Tomassoni left the party to become independent in November 2020, but is a member of the Minnesota Senate Republican Caucus.

David Tomassoni
President pro tempore of the Minnesota Senate
Assumed office
January 5, 2021
Preceded byMary Kiffmeyer
14th President of the Minnesota Senate
In office
September 9, 2021 – October 14, 2021
Acting
Preceded byJeremy Miller
Succeeded byDavid Osmek
In office
November 12, 2020 – January 7, 2021
Preceded byJeremy Miller
Succeeded byJeremy Miller
Member of the Minnesota Senate
Assumed office
January 3, 2001
Preceded byJerry Janezich
Constituency5th district (2001–2013)
6th district (2013–present)
Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives
from the 5B district
In office
January 5, 1993 – January 2, 2001
Preceded byRedistricted
Succeeded byTony Sertich
Personal details
Born (1952-12-05) December 5, 1952
Political partyDemocratic (before 2020)
Independent (2020–present)
Other political
affiliations		Republican (2020–present, caucus)
Spouse(s)Charlotte
Children3
EducationUniversity of Denver (BS)

Tomassoni chaired the Senate Economic Development Committee from 2007 to 2010. He now chairs the Environment, Economic Development and Agriculture Finance Division, co-chairs the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR), and has chaired the Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation Board (IRRRB) four times. Tomassoni is also vice chair of the Minnesota Amateur Sports Commission.

Early life, education, and career

Tomassoni graduated from Chisholm High School in Chisholm and received a B.S.B.A. from the University of Denver. He played professional hockey in Italy for 16 years and for the Italian national team at the 1984 Winter Olympics.[1][2]

Minnesota House of Representatives

Tomassoni represented District 5B in the Minnesota House of Representatives from 1993 to 2001. He served as an assistant majority leader from 1997 to 2001.[1]

Minnesota Senate

Tomassoni was elected to the Senate in 2000 and reelected in 2002, 2006, 2010, 2012, 2016, and 2020. He was a majority whip from 2001 to 2007.[1]

President of the Minnesota Senate

Tomassoni was elected president of the Minnesota Senate on November 12, 2020, in a rare event where the Senate's Republican majority supported a member of the DFL for Senate President. The move was seen as strategic, given that the Republican's slim majority in the state senate could be lost if the senate president becomes lieutenant governor.[3] That happened in 2018, when Senate President Michelle Fischbach became lieutenant governor following Tina Smith's appointment to the U.S. Senate.

Three weeks after the 2020 elections, when it was determined that the DFL did not win a majority in the Senate, Tomassoni and Senator Thomas Bakk announced they had left the DFL party to form their own "Independent Caucus." Republican Majority Leader Paul Gazelka welcomed the move and made Tomassoni the chair of the Higher Education Finance and Policy Committee in exchange for voting with Republicans on floor votes. This changed the Senate's composition to 34 Republicans, 31 Democrats, and two independents.[4]

Electoral history
Minnesota Senate 6th district election, 2020[5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic (DFL) David Tomassoni 25,557 57.04 -5.65pp
Republican John J. Moren 19,191 42.83 +5.65pp
Minnesota Senate 6th district election, 2016[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic (DFL) David Tomassoni 26,260 62.69 -8.89pp
Republican Skeeter Tomczak 15,555 37.13 +8.89pp
Minnesota Senate 6th district election, 2012[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic (DFL) David Tomassoni 30,882 71.58 +1.87pp
Republican Brandon Anderson 12,220 28.32 -1.87pp
Minnesota Senate 5th district election, 2010[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic (DFL) David Tomassoni 22,322 69.71 -8.12pp
Republican Matt Matasich 9,666 30.19 +8.09pp
Minnesota Senate 5th district election, 2006[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic (DFL) David Tomassoni 26,143 77.83 +0.84pp
Republican Matt Matasich 7,422 22.10 -0.81pp
Minnesota Senate 5th district election, 2002[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic (DFL) David Tomassoni 27,372 76.99
Republican Matt Matasich 8,147 22.91

Personal life

Tomassoni and his wife, Charlotte, have three children.[1] In July 2021, Tomassoni announced he had been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.[11]

References
  1. "Minnesota Legislators Past & Present - Legislator Record - Tomassoni, David J". Venus.library.leg.state.mn.us. Retrieved July 20, 2010.
  2. Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "David Tomassoni Olympic Results". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on April 18, 2020. Retrieved May 22, 2019.
  3. "Anticipating Biden election fallout, Republicans tap DFLer as Minnesota Senate president". November 12, 2020.
  4. "Longtime Minnesota senators quit DFL caucus to form Independent Caucus". November 18, 2020.
  5. "Results for State Senator District 6, 2020". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
  6. "Results for State Senator District 6, 2016". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
  7. "Results for All State Senate Races, 2012". Minnesota Secretary of State. Archived from the original on November 10, 2012. Retrieved February 17, 2013.
  8. "Results for All State Senate Races, 2010". Minnesota Secretary of State. Archived from the original on April 26, 2013. Retrieved February 17, 2013.
  9. "Results for All State Senate Races, 2006". Minnesota Secretary of State. Archived from the original on November 10, 2012. Retrieved February 17, 2013.
  10. "Results for All State Senate Races, 2002". Minnesota Secretary of State. Archived from the original on November 10, 2012. Retrieved February 17, 2013.
  11. Sen. Tomassoni on figuring out how to move forward with ALS
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