Taxes Committee chair Marquart announces he isn’t seeking re-election in ‘22

Rep. Paul Marquart (DFL-Dilworth), one of the longest-serving members in the Minnesota House, announced Wednesday he is not seeking re-election this fall.

First elected in 2000, Marquart is currently serving his 11^th term representing a rural district near Moorhead. He has chaired the influential House Taxes Committee since 2019 and previously served as chair of the Education Finance and Property Tax committees.

Marquart also served as deputy minority leader in the House DFL Caucus from 2015-18.

[WATCH Rep. Marquart speaks during 2011 House Floor debate]

Prior to his election to the House, Marquart served as mayor of Dilworth for 11 years and as a city council member for two.

“A huge thank you to my family, constituents and students who gave me the high honor and privilege to serve my community and state for 35 years,” Marquart said in a statement.

[WATCH 2018 interview with Rep. Marquart]

A social studies teacher at Dilworth-Glendon-Felton High School for 38 years, Marquart said in his statement the best part of being a legislator has been the door-to-door meetings with constituents.

“I truly valued the friendships and conversations I had with a lot of wonderful people in the district,” he said. “I will really miss that.”

Marquart’s coming retirement makes him the seventh DFLer —and 10th House member overall — to announce they are not seeking re-election to the House in 2022.