Roger Moe


Roger Moe is an American politician and a former member and majority leader of the Minnesota Senate. He was also the state Democratic Party's endorsed candidate for governor in 2002.

Education and early career

Born in Crookston, Moe graduated from Crookston Central High School and received his college degree from Mayville State College in North Dakota. His graduate studies were completed at Moorhead State University and North Dakota State University in Fargo. In 2005 he received an Honorary LL.D from the University of Minnesota. Before running for office, he taught math and coached wrestling at Ada High School in Ada.

Senate leadership and accomplishments

Moe was first elected to the Senate in 1970, and was the second youngest senator in state history up to that time. He represented the old District 66 during the 1971–72 biennium and, after the 1972 legislative redistricting, District 2 for the remainder of his time in office. Through the years, he represented all or parts of Becker, Beltrami, Clay, Clearwater, Mahnomen, Norman, Polk and Red Lake counties in the northwestern part of the state.
Moe became the Senate's majority leader in 1981, a position he held for 22 years. He is the longest-serving state majority leader, and the longest-serving leader of either of Minnesota's legislative bodies. His brother, Donald Moe, was also a member of the legislature, serving in both the House and Senate.
Among Moe's many legislative accomplishments was an initiative to transfer lottery proceeds to Minnesota environmental projects, the creation of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities governance system, the Midwestern Higher Education Compact, and the Environmental Trust Fund.

Run for lieutenant governor and governor

After running as the lieutenant governor candidate with Skip Humphrey during Humphrey's 1998 gubernatorial bid, Moe ran for governor against Tim Pawlenty, Tim Penny and Ken Pentel in 2002. Pawlenty won that election. Moe and his running mate, Julie Sabo, received 36% of the vote in the general election to Pawlenty's 44%.

Post-legislative public service

Moe has retired from public office. He is a business consultant and lobbyist, and serves on several state and national nonprofit boards, and on the Minnesota Job Skills Partnership Board. He and his wife reside in Erskine.

Electoral history