John J. Marty was born on November 1, 1956, and is a member of the Minnesota Senate representing District 40, which includes Roseville, Shoreview, Arden Hills, Mounds View, and New Brighton in the northern Twin Cities metropolitan area. He is affiliated with the Democratic-Farmer-Labor party.

Marty grew up in Riverside, Illinois, and is the son of Martin, a Lutheran theologian. He has built a career defined by progressive advocacy and independence from special interests, personally rejecting all special interest money throughout his political career.

Political Experience

Marty was first elected to the Minnesota Senate in 1986 and has been continuously re-elected, serving his 12th term. His legislative service spans multiple district boundaries: Senate District 63 , Senate District 54 , Senate District 66 , and District 40 .

In 1994, Marty ran for Governor of Minnesota as the DFL-endorsed candidate and won the Democratic primary but lost the general election to incumbent Governor Arne Carlson. He ran for the DFL endorsement again for governor in 1998 but did not proceed to the general election. In 2010, he withdrew from another gubernatorial race after failing to win his party's endorsement.

In the 2022 election, Marty won re-election with 64.76% of the vote against Republican challenger Rachel Japuntich.

Notable Achievements and Positions

Marty currently serves as Chair of the Senate Finance Committee and holds positions on the Elections, Labor, and Rules and Administration committees.

His legislative priorities and accomplishments include:

• Healthcare Reform: Marty is the principal author of the proposed Minnesota Health Plan, which would provide comprehensive coverage for all Minnesotans, including prescription drugs, dental care, vision and hearing services, mental health treatment, and long-term care, while reducing overall costs by eliminating billing and insurance bureaucracy.

• Government Ethics and Campaign Finance Reform: He is nationally recognized for his efforts to improve democracy in Minnesota by fighting corporate power, special interest money, and conflicts of interest.

• Social and Economic Justice: As a first-term senator, Marty challenged powerful lobbying interests including big tobacco, the gun lobby, and insurance companies. He advocates for policies promoting fairness, equality, and tolerance, along with living wages, affordable childcare, and universal healthcare.

• Environmental Protection: Marty leads efforts against climate change, pushing for carbon pricing, strengthened renewable energy policies, and measures to keep fossil fuels in the ground.

• Reproductive Rights: He has authored legislation to protect reproductive freedom, advocated for comprehensive sexuality education, and promoted consent and respect education.

• Transportation Infrastructure: Marty supports improved transit systems and community design that makes walking and biking more convenient while addressing climate concerns.