Calvin Bahr (born July 17, 1962) is an American businessman, truck driver and politician serving since 2023 as a member of the
Minnesota Senate. A member of the
Republican Party of Minnesota
The Republican Party of Minnesota is the oldest active political party in the U.S. state of Minnesota. The Minnesota Republican Party’s platform is relatively moderate. The party’s main issues are economic growth, education, healthcare, civi ...
, he represents the 31st district, in the northern
Twin Cities
Twin cities are a special case of two neighboring cities or urban centres that grow into a single conurbation – or narrowly separated urban areas – over time. There are no formal criteria, but twin cities are generally comparable in statu ...
metropolitan area.
Career
Bahr was in the
United States Army
The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cla ...
from 1980 to 1989.
He was a member of the Upper Rum River Water Management Organization board.
Minnesota House of Representatives
Bahr was
elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2016. He won the Republican endorsement over incumbent
Tom Hackbarth
Thomas M. Hackbarth (born December 28, 1951) is a Minnesota politician and former member of the Minnesota House of Representatives. A member of the Republican Party of Minnesota, he represented District 31B, which included portions of Anoka Coun ...
and defeated him in the Republican primary. He was reelected in 2018. On December 7, 2018, Bahr and three other House members left the GOP House Caucus to form the New House Republican Caucus due to dissatisfaction with the House Republican leadership. The caucus has introduced bills that feature their strong interest in constitutional issues as well as their own budget proposal.
Minnesota Senate
In 2022, Bahr ran for the open 31st State Senate seat, after incumbent
Michelle Benson
Michelle R. Benson (born September 11, 1968) is an American accountant, politician, and Republican member of the Minnesota Senate. She represents District 31, which includes portions of Anoka, Isanti and Sherburne counties in the northern T ...
retired. He won the Republican primary with 78.6% of the vote, and defeated Democratic nominee Jason Ruffalo in the general election.
Bahr is considered one of the Senate's farthest-right members.
In 2023, Bahr went viral after a video from a vote during the legislative session showed him voting shirtless from a bed. According to a party spokesperson, Bahr had been working until 4:45am driving his truck the night before the vote.
Electoral history
Source:
* 2022 Minnesota Senate race — District 31
** Cal Bahr (R) 63.7% (25,705 votes)
** Jason Ruffalo (DFL), 36.2% (14,585 votes)
** Write-in, 0.1% (22 votes)
* 2020 Minnesota House of Representatives race — District 31B
** Cal Bahr (R) 67.1% (17,447 votes)
** Susan Larson (DFL), 32.8% (8,532 votes)
** Write-in, 0.1% (22 votes)
* 2018 Minnesota House of Representatives race — District 31B
** Cal Bahr (R) 64.4% (12,840 votes)
** Susan Larson (DFL), 35.5% (7,080 votes)
** Write-in, 0.1% (18 votes)
* 2016 Minnesota House of Representatives race — District 31B
** Cal Bahr (R) 66.53% (14,785 votes)
** Susan Larson (DFL), 33.47% (7,438 votes)
Personal life
Bahr had two daughters with his first wife. Combined, he and his second wife, Ellen, who died in 2020, have four children and three grandchildren. Bahr resides in
East Bethel, Minnesota
East Bethel is a city in Anoka County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 11,786 at the 2020 census.
Minnesota State Highway 65 and Anoka County Road 22 are the main routes in the city. Highway 65 runs north–south, and County Road ...
.
References
External links
Senator Cal Bahr''official Minnesota Senate website''
Official campaign website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bahr, Cal
Living people
Republican Party members of the Minnesota House of Representatives
21st-century American legislators
People from Anoka County, Minnesota
Politicians from Cook County, Illinois
Military personnel from Illinois
Military personnel from Minnesota
1962 births
21st-century Minnesota politicians