Joanell M. Dyrstad (born October 15, 1942) is an American politician from

Minnesota Minnesota () is a state in the upper midwestern region of the United States. It is the 12th largest U.S. state in area and the 22nd most populous, with over 5.75 million residents. Minnesota is home to western prairies, now given over to ...

was the 43rd lieutenant governor of

, serving from January 7, 1991, to January 3, 1995. She was elected with Governor

Arne Carlson Arne Helge Carlson (born September 24, 1934) is an American politician who served as the 37th Governor of Minnesota. A Republican, Carlson's viewpoints are considered to be moderate. He first won election to the governors office in 1990. Carlso ...

. In 1994, Dyrstad ran for the

U.S. Senate The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber. Together they compose the national bicameral legislature of the United States. The composition and pow ...

but lost the Independent Republican primary to

Rod Grams Rodney Dwight Grams (February 4, 1948 – October 8, 2013) was an American politician and television news anchor who served in both the United States House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. A local news anchor, Grams became well-known ...

Biography

Born and raised in

St. James, Minnesota St. James or Saint James is a city in and the county seat of Watonwan County, Minnesota, Watonwan County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 4,793 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. Minnesota State Highways Minnesota State ...

, Dyrstad (née Sletta) spent most of her adult life in Red Wing, where she served as mayor from 1985 to 1991. While mayor, Dyrstad served on the local

United Way United Way is an international network of over 1,800 local nonprofit fundraising affiliates. United Way was the largest nonprofit organization in the United States by donations from the public, prior to 2016. United Way organizations raise funds ...

chapter's board and was a member of the Minnesota League of Cities board. She also operated a local drugstore with her husband, Marvin. She is often credited with leading efforts to revitalize the historic riverfront of downtown Red Wing. Though not Minnesota's first female lieutenant governor, Dyrstad was the first lieutenant governor in the state, and perhaps the nation, to deliver part of a State of the State address when she spoke for Governor Carlson in 1991. In

1994 File:1994 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: The 1994 Winter Olympics are held in Lillehammer, Norway; The Kaiser Permanente building after the 1994 Northridge earthquake; A model of the MS Estonia, which sank in the Baltic Sea; Nelson ...

, Dyrstad ran an aggressive campaign in the Independent Republican primary for U.S. Senate against Congressman

. She compared Grams, a former news reporter, to bumbling fictional TV anchor

Ted Baxter Ted Baxter is a fictional character on the sitcom ''The Mary Tyler Moore Show'' (1970–1977). Portrayed by Ted Knight, the Baxter character is a broad parody of a vain, shallow, buffoonish TV personality. Knight's comedic model was actor William ...

from the Minnesota-based TV program ''

The Mary Tyler Moore Show ''The Mary Tyler Moore Show'' (also known simply as ''Mary Tyler Moore'') is an American television sitcom created by James L. Brooks and Allan Burns and starring actress Mary Tyler Moore. The show originally aired on CBS from 1970 to 1977. Mo ...

''. In the 2006 gubernatorial election, Dyrstad endorsed Independence Party nominee

Peter Hutchinson Peter Hutchinson (born December 17, 1949) is an Politics of the United States, American politician, businessperson, businessman and philanthropy, philanthropy executive from the U.S. state of Minnesota. He ran as the Independence Party of Minnes ...

over the more conservative Republican incumbent,

Tim Pawlenty Timothy James Pawlenty (; 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 o ...

.
Star Tribune Joanell and Marvin Dyrstad have been married since 1965. They have two children, Troy and Anika.

Electoral history

*1994 Race for U.S. Senate (Republican Primary) **

(R), 58% **Joanell Dyrstad (R), 35% **

Harold Stassen Harold Edward Stassen (April 13, 1907 – March 4, 2001) was an American politician who was the 25th Governor of Minnesota. He was a leading candidate for the Republican nomination for President of the United States in 1948, considered for a ti ...

(R), 5% *1990 Race for Governor/Lieutenant Governor ** Carlson/Dyrstad (R), 50% ** Perpich/Johnson (D), 47%

References

Minnesota Historical Society
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Dyrstad Joanell Lieutenant Governors of Minnesota Mayors of places in Minnesota Minnesota Republicans 1942 births Living people People from Red Wing, Minnesota People from St. James, Minnesota Gustavus Adolphus College alumni Women mayors of places in Minnesota 20th-century American politicians 20th-century American women politicians Candidates in the 1994 United States elections

Biography

Electoral history

See also

References