Mark Dayton
| Mark Dayton | |
|---|---|
 |
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| 40th Governor of Minnesota | |
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Assumed office January 3, 2011 |
|
| Lieutenant |
Yvonne Prettner Solon Tina Smith |
| Preceded by | Tim Pawlenty |
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United States Senator from Minnesota |
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In office January 3, 2001 – January 3, 2007 |
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| Preceded by | Rod Grams |
| Succeeded by | Amy Klobuchar |
| 15th Auditor of Minnesota | |
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In office January 7, 1991 – January 3, 1995 |
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| Governor | Arne Carlson |
| Preceded by | Arne Carlson |
| Succeeded by | Judi Dutcher |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Mark Brandt Dayton January 26, 1947 Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) |
Alida Rockefeller (1978–1986) Janice Haarstick (div. 1999) |
| Children | 2 |
| Residence | Governor's Residence |
| Education | Yale University (BA) |
| Website |
Government website Campaign website |
Mark Brandt Dayton (born January 26, 1947) is an American politician who is the 40th and current Governor of Minnesota, serving since 2011. He was previously a United States Senator for Minnesota from 2001 to 2007, and the Minnesota State Auditor from 1991 to 1995. He is a member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL), which affiliates with the national Democratic Party.
A native of Minnesota, Dayton is the great-grandson of businessman George Dayton, the founder of Dayton's, a department store that later became the Target Corporation. He embarked on a career in teaching and social work in New York City and Boston after graduating from Yale University in 1969. During the 1970s, he served as a legislative aide to U.S. Senator Walter Mondale and Minnesota Governor Rudy Perpich. In 1978, Dayton was appointed the Minnesota Economic Development Commissioner and married Alida Rockefeller Messinger, a member of the Rockefeller family.
Dayton ran unsuccessfully in the U.S. Senate campaign in 1982 against Republican Party incumbent David Durenberger. He defeated former U.S. Senator Eugene McCarthy in the Democratic primary, and the general election became one of the most expensive in state history. Dayton campaigned as a populist in opposition to Reaganomics and famously promised "to close tax loopholes for the rich and the corporations – and if you think that includes the Daytons, you're right". After his defeat, Dayton returned to the Perpich administration until his election as Minnesota State Auditor in 1990.
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Wikipedia