Dean Barkley

Independence Party (Minnesota) Senator of Minnesota

Congresses Served

Senate Terms

January 1, 1950 (75 years old)

Birthday

Briefly served as a United States Senator from Minnesota from 2002 to 2003.
Founder and chair of the Minnesota Reform Party, which was later renamed the Independence Party.
Was the chairman of Jesse Ventura’s successful gubernatorial campaign in 1998.
Appointed by Ventura as director of Minnesota’s Office of Strategic and Long Range Planning.
Appointed to the U.S. Senate after Senator Paul Wellstone’s death in 2002, served until early 2003.
Ran for office four times, including for Congress in 1992 and for the U.S. Senate in 1994, 1996, and 2008.
Inspired to run for office by Ross Perot’s 1992 presidential campaign.
Graduated with a Bachelor of Arts and a Juris Doctor from the University of Minnesota.
Volunteered for George McGovern’s 1972 presidential campaign.
Practiced law and was president of Dayton’s Furniture before entering politics.
Served as a state government lobbyist and campaign director for Kinky Friedman’s 2006 gubernatorial campaign after leaving the Senate.
Worked part-time as a bus driver for the elderly and disabled in 2008.
Ran against Minnesota Supreme Court Associate Justice G. Barry Anderson in the 2012 election.
Returned to law practice in Bloomington with a general practice after his political career.
His senatorial papers are held by the Minnesota Historical Society.