Senator Kari Dziedzic
Minnesota State Senator Kari Dziedzic entered eternal life on December 27, 2024, surrounded by her family. The eldest daughter of Walter and Patricia Dziedzic, she followed her father’s footsteps into community service.
A lifelong “Nordeaster,” Kari Dziedzic graduated from Edison High School and the University of Minnesota. She served as executive assistant to U.S. Senator Paul Wellstone and in several roles for Hennepin County. Kari was elected to represent her community in Senate District 60 in January 2012. She was later elected Senate Majority Leader, serving from January 2023 until she stepped down from the role in February 2024.
Kari will be remembered by her family and those she served for her enthusiastic and humble leadership, which inspired all who knew her. She had a heart of gold, willing to go to any measure to help those she loved. Like her father, she was fearless, even as she entered her battle with an ovarian cancer diagnosis in 2023 while serving as Senate Majority Leader.
Kari is survived and will be sorely missed by her mother, Pat Dziedzic, her five siblings and their spouses, her beloved nieces and nephews, and uncounted friends and colleagues. Memorial service details are pending. The family requests privacy at this time.
Legislative Accomplishments
Kari Dziedzic was elected by her Senate colleagues to serve as Senate Majority Leader in January 2023, after Minnesotans voted to put DFLers into the Senate majority.
During her first legislative session as leader – with just a one vote majority – she led the DFL Caucus in enacting historic legislation that will improve the lives a Minnesotans for decades.
State and National Recognition
The significant impact of her first session as Majority Leader has been noted, not only across the state, but also across the country, including by the White House, leaders in other states, and a host of national media, including the New York Times, the Washington Post, Politico, Huffington post, and Vanity Fair.
Former President Barack Obama singled out the work of Leader Dziedzic and the entire DFL caucus as an example for the rest of the country to follow in getting things done for the people of their states and the importance of voting.
Serving In Minnesota Senate Since 2012
Senator Dziedzic was first elected to the Senate in a special election in January 2012, and she won reelection in November of that year. She has been reelected three more times, in 2016, 2020, and 2022. She currently represents Senate District 60, which includes Northeast Minneapolis, Southeast Minneapolis, Nicollet Island, the University of Minnesota Campus, Augsburg University Campus, and the Cedar-Riverside Seward
Prior to coming to the Senate, she served as executive assistant to Minnesota’s U.S. Senator Paul Wellstone, and later worked for Hennepin County, first as communications director for the Hennepin County Attorney, then as the senior policy aide for the Hennepin County Board.
Born and Raised in Minneapolis
Born and raised in Northeast Minneapolis, where her father was a longtime public official, Majority Leader Dziedzic stays in close touch with the people and the diverse communities she represents. She is a graduate of Edison High School in Minneapolis, and of the University of Minnesota, where she earned a mechanical engineering degree.