Kahn, Phyllis L.
House 1973-82 (District 57A); House 1983-92 (District 58B); House 1993-2012 (District 59B); House 2013-2016 (District 60B)
Party when first elected: Nonpartisan Election-Democratic-Farmer-Labor Caucus
Counties Served:
Hennepin
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
Date of Birth:
3/23/1937
Birth Place:
New York City (Brooklyn), New York
Birth County:
Birth Country:
United States
Date of Death:
Gender:
Female
Religion:
Jewish
Reported Minority: None Reported
Other Names:
City of Residence (when first elected):
Minneapolis
Occupation (when first elected):
Genetics Research; Department of Genetic and Cell Biology, University of Minnesota
EDUCATION
Erasmus Hall High School, New York; Secondary;
Cornell University; B.A.; Physics, 1957
Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government; M.P.A.; Public Administration; Bush Leadership Fellowship, 1983-85
Yale University; Ph.D.; Biophysics, 1962
Princeton University; Fellowship; Post Doctoral Fellow
OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE
State Board/Commission/Council:
Minnesota 2005 Capitol Centennial Commission;
? to 2005
State Agency:
Minnesota Department of Human Rights' Women's Advisory Committee;
1971 to 1973
FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS
Spouse:
Donald "Don" W.
Children:
Two children: Tamar (daughter), Jeremy (son)
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:
GENERAL NOTES
She is the second longest serving female legislator after Rep. Mary Murphy. She is tied for third longest serving legislator with two legislators who served in both bodies--Sen. Anton Rockne and Rep. Carl Iverson--following Rep. Lyndon Carlson and Rep. Mary Murphy.
Religion provided by the Natural Resources Defense Council's State Directories 2005 and Politics in Minnesota the Directory, 2005-2006.
Body: House
District: 60B
Elected: 11/4/2014
Residence: Minneapolis
Term of Office: 1/6/2015 to 1/2/2017
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation: Legislator
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Special Session Bills Authored: 2015 1st Sp.S. - Author
Body: House
District: 60B
Elected: 11/6/2012
Residence: Minneapolis
Term of Office: 1/8/2013 to 1/5/2015
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation: Legislator
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Special Session Bills Authored: 2013 1st Sp.S. - Author
Committees:
-
Environment and Natural Resources Policy
Minutes
-
Government Operations
Minutes
-
Legacy (Chair)
Minutes
-
State Government Finance and Veterans Affairs
Minutes
-
Ways and Means
Minutes
Body: House
District: 59B
Elected: 11/2/2010
Residence: Minneapolis
Term of Office: 1/4/2011 to 1/7/2013
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation: Legislator
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Special Session Bills Authored: 2011 1st Sp.S. - Author
Committees:
-
Capital Investment
Minutes
[She was a member in 2012 only.]
-
State Government Finance
Minutes
-
State Government Finance: Veterans Services Division
Minutes
[She was a member in 2011 only.]
-
Ways and Means
Minutes
Body: House
District: 59B
Elected: 11/4/2008
Residence: Minneapolis
Term of Office: 1/6/2009 to 1/3/2011
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation: Legislator
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Special Session Bills Authored: 2010 2nd Sp.S. - Author
Committees:
-
Finance
Minutes
-
Finance: Cultural and Outdoor Resources Finance Division
Minutes
- Ex Officio Member
-
Finance: State Government Finance Division (Chair)
Minutes
-
State and Local Government Operations Reform, Technology and Elections
Minutes
-
Ways and Means
Minutes
Body: House
District: 59B
Elected: 11/7/2006
Residence: Minneapolis
Term of Office: 1/3/2007 to 1/5/2009
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation: Legislator
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Special Session Bills Authored: 2007 1st Sp.S. - Author
Committees:
-
Finance
Minutes
-
Finance: Minnesota Heritage Finance Division
Minutes
-
Finance: State Government Finance Division (Chair)
Minutes
-
Governmental Operations, Reform, Technology and Elections
Minutes
-
Ways and Means
Minutes
Body: House
District: 59B
Elected: 11/2/2004
Residence: Minneapolis
Term of Office: 1/4/2005 to 1/2/2007
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation: Legislator
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Capital Investment
Minutes
-
Governmental Operations and Veterans Affairs
Minutes
-
State Government Finance
Minutes
Body: House
District: 59B
Elected: 11/5/2002
Residence: Minneapolis
Term of Office: 1/7/2003 to 1/3/2005
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation: Legislator
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Special Session Bills Authored: 2003 1st Sp.S. - Author
Committees:
-
Environment and Natural Resources Finance
Minutes
-
Governmental Operations and Veterans Affairs Policy
Minutes
-
State Government Finance
Minutes
Body: House
District: 59B
Elected: 11/7/2000
Residence: Minneapolis
Term of Office: 1/3/2001 to 1/6/2003
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation: Legislator
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Capital Investment
Minutes
-
Governmental Operations and Veterans Affairs Policy
Minutes
-
Regulated Industries
Minutes
-
State Government Finance
Body: House
District: 59B
Elected: 11/3/1998
Residence: Minneapolis
Term of Office: 1/5/1999 to 1/2/2001
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation: Legislator
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Commerce
Minutes
-
Governmental Operations and Veterans Affairs Policy
Minutes
-
State Government Finance
Minutes
Body: House
District: 59B
Elected: 11/5/1996
Residence: Minneapolis
Term of Office: 1/7/1997 to 1/4/1999
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation: Legislator
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Economic Development and International Trade
-
Economic Development and International Trade: International Trade
-
Governmental Operations (Chair)
Minutes
-
Governmental Operations: Administrative Rules
Minutes
-
Governmental Operations: Government Structures, Reform and Efficiency
Minutes
-
Governmental Operations: Pensions (Chair)
Minutes
-
Governmental Operations: State Government Finance Division
Minutes
-
Regulated Industries and Energy
-
Ways and Means
Body: House
District: 59B
Elected: 11/8/1994
Residence: Minneapolis
Term of Office: 1/3/1995 to 1/6/1997
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation: Legislator
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Governmental Operations (Chair)
-
Governmental Operations: Administrative Rules
-
Governmental Operations: Gambling Division
-
Governmental Operations: State Government Finance Division
-
Ways and Means
Body: House
District: 59B
Elected: 11/3/1992
Residence: Minneapolis
Term of Office: 1/5/1993 to 1/2/1995
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation: Legislator
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Education
-
Education: Higher Education Finance Division
-
Governmental Operations and Gambling (Chair)
-
Governmental Operations and Gambling: Administrative Rules
-
Governmental Operations and Gambling: Gambling (Chair)
-
Governmental Operations and Gambling: Government Structures and Reorganization
-
Governmental Operations and Gambling: State Government Finance Division
-
Ways and Means
Body: House
District: 58B
Elected: 11/6/1990
Residence: Minneapolis
Term of Office: 1/8/1991 to 1/4/1993
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation: Legislator
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Agriculture
-
Agriculture: Rural Development, Marketing, and International Trade
-
Agriculture: Soil and Water Resources
-
Appropriations
-
Appropriations: State Government Division (Chair)
-
Environment and Natural Resources
-
Ways and Means
Body: House
District: 58B
Elected: 11/8/1988
Residence: Minneapolis
Term of Office: 1/3/1989 to 1/7/1991
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation: Legislator
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Agriculture
-
Agriculture: Soil and Water Resources
-
Appropriations
-
Appropriations: Computer
-
Appropriations: State Departments Division (Chair)
-
Economic Development
-
Economic Development: International Trade and Technology Division
-
Environment and Natural Resources
-
Environment and Natural Resources: Environment
-
Ways and Means
Body: House
District: 58B
Elected: 11/4/1986
Residence: Minneapolis
Term of Office: 1/6/1987 to 1/2/1989
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation: Legislator
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Agriculture
-
Agriculture: Agriculture Finance Division
-
Agriculture: Dairy and Livestock
-
Agriculture: Soil and Water Conservation
-
Appropriations
-
Appropriations: State Departments Division (Chair)
-
Environment and Natural Resources
-
Future and Technology
-
Future and Technology: Biotechnology
-
Future and Technology: Telecommunication
-
Ways and Means
Body: House
District: 58B
Elected: 11/6/1984
Residence: Minneapolis
Term of Office: 1/8/1985 to 1/5/1987
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation: Legislator
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Appropriations
-
Appropriations: State Departments Division
-
Environment and Natural Resources
-
Environment and Natural Resources: Environment
Body: House
District: 58B
Elected: 11/2/1982
Residence: Minneapolis
Term of Office: 1/4/1983 to 1/7/1985
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation: Legislator
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Appropriations
-
Appropriations: State Departments Division (Chair)
-
Energy
-
Energy: Energy and Economics
-
Environment and Natural Resources
-
Environment and Natural Resources: Environment
Body: House
District: 57A
Elected: 11/4/1980
Residence: Minneapolis
Term of Office: 1/6/1981 to 1/3/1983
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation: Legislator/Former Genetics Research; Department of Genetic and Cell Biology, University of Minnesota
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Appropriations
-
Appropriations: State Departments Division (Chair)
-
Appropriations: Telecommunication and Information Systems (Chair)
-
Energy
-
Environment and Natural Resources
-
Environment and Natural Resources: Recreation and Open Space
Body: House
District: 57A
Elected: 11/7/1978
Residence: Minneapolis
Term of Office: 1/3/1979 to 1/5/1981
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation: Legislator/Former Genetics Research; Department of Genetic and Cell Biology, University of Minnesota
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Agriculture
-
Agriculture: Agriculture Programs and Policies
-
Appropriations
-
Appropriations: Semi-State Division
-
Appropriations: State Departments Division (Chair)
[She was the Chair in 1980 only.]
-
Energy and Utilities
-
Energy and Utilities: Alternative Energy Systems
Body: House
District: 57A
Elected: 11/2/1976
Residence: Minneapolis
Term of Office: 1/4/1977 to 1/2/1979
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation: Geneticist; Department of Genetic and Cell Biology, University of Minnesota
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Agriculture
-
Appropriations
-
Appropriations: Semi-State Division
-
Appropriations: State Departments Division
-
Environment and Natural Resources
Body: House
District: 57A
Elected: 11/5/1974
Residence: Minneapolis
Term of Office: 1/7/1975 to 1/3/1977
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation: Genetics Research; Department of Genetic and Cell Biology, University of Minnesota
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Agriculture
-
Appropriations
-
Appropriations: State Departments Division
-
Environment and Natural Resources
Body: House
District: 57A
Elected: 11/7/1972
Residence: Minneapolis
Term of Office: 1/2/1973 to 1/6/1975
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation: Genetics Research; Department of Genetic and Cell Biology, University of Minnesota
Party:
Nonpartisan Election-Democratic-Farmer-Labor Caucus
Committees:
-
Appropriations
-
Appropriations: State Departments Division
-
City Government
-
Environmental Preservation and Natural Resources
-
Transportation
Session Interviews
Session Interview
(Video) 2016 House Interview
Session Interview
(Video) 2003 House Interview
Articles & Books About
Bierschbach, Briana. "Why Minnesota's Longest-Serving Lawmaker is Fighting for Her Political Life." MinnPost, August 4, 2014.
"Speaking of the House." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, January 14, 2005, p. 16.
"Phyllis L. Kahn." Typewritten Profile, Source Unknown, 1973?
Gibson, Richard. "Some Women's Place May Be in House (or Senate)." Minneapolis Star, October 24, 1972, p. 1A, 3A.
Archive Collections
Phyllis Kahn Papers, 1972–2002
- Available in the Minnesota Historical Society's Collections.
District Files
District File - 2000 District 59B
District File - 2002 District 59B
District File - 2003 District 59B
District File - 2004 District 59B
District File - 2005 District 59B
District File - 2006 District 59B
District File - 2007 District 59B
District File - 2008 District 59B
District File - 2009 District 59B
These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.
The Minnesota Legislative Reference Library has collected newspaper articles on legislators since 1973. They are available in the Library.