26 Facts About Arne Carlson

Arne Helge Carlson was born on September 24,1934 and is an American politician who served from 1991 to 1999 as the 37th governor of Minnesota.

Arne Carlson served in the Minnesota House of Representatives from 1971 until 1979, then as the Minnesota State Auditor from 1979 until 1991.

Arne Carlson launched a bid for the Republican nomination for governor of Minnesota in 1990.

Arne Carlson lost the primary election to businessman Jon Grunseth, but Grunseth became embroiled in a scandal weeks before the election and withdrew from the race, whereupon Carlson became the nominee.

Arne Carlson earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Williams College in 1957 before taking graduate courses at the University of Minnesota.

Arne Carlson served one term on the Minneapolis City Council from 1965 to 1967, and was the Republican nominee for mayor in 1967, losing to Democratic-Farmer-Labor incumbent Arthur Naftalin.

Arne Carlson was a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives from 1971 to 1979.

Arne Carlson overhauled the state's multi-billion-dollar pension investment portfolio to allow private sector management, which significantly improved the rate of return.

On October 15,1990, with 15 days of campaigning left before Election Day, Arne Carlson revived his campaign for governor as a write-in candidate, and took part in an unusual three-way debate broadcast by Twin Cities Public Television, which became the highest-rated locally produced program in the station's history.

Arne Carlson was elected the 37th governor of Minnesota and served from January 7,1991, to January 4,1999.

Arne Carlson won as a member of the Independent-Republican Party.

In 1993, Arne Carlson served as chairman of the Midwestern Governors Association.

In June 1994, delegates to the Minnesota Republican Party State Convention viewed Arne Carlson, who supported gay rights and abortion rights, as liberal.

Arne Carlson worked closely with the university's president, Mark Yudof, on improving its physical plant, and in 1998 proposed and secured passage of a capital improvement package for all higher education with $206 million earmarked for the University of Minnesota.

In 1999, after leaving office, Arne Carlson was appointed to the board of directors of the IDS Mutual Fund Group, which was part of the American Express Financial Advisors, a Minneapolis-based company.

Arne Carlson was named chairman and CEO of the board the next year.

Fifty-seven percent of those surveyed said Arne Carlson made a "great or major contribution" to the state.

In retirement, Arne Carlson has often endorsed Democratic candidates over Republicans.

Arne Carlson endorsed Barack Obama in the 2008 presidential election, Hillary Clinton over Donald Trump in 2016, Joe Biden over Trump in 2020, and Kamala Harris over Trump in 2024.

Arne Carlson endorsed Tim Walz over Randy Demmer in the 2010 US House of Representatives election, and the same year broke with his party to endorse Independence Party candidate Tom Horner in the gubernatorial race.

Arne Carlson was an outspoken critic of Joan Gabel's performance as president of the University of Minnesota.

Arne Carlson is a member of the ReFormers Caucus of Issue One, and has criticized the impacts of the Supreme Court's Citizens United decision.

Arne Carlson has been fighting PolyMet, a massive mining conglomerate that used sulfide mining, which can pollute water.

Arne Carlson asked why Minnesota was doing business with Glencore.

Arne Carlson considers PolyMet an example of the Minnesota government's corruption and influence by "monied interests".

Arne Carlson was married to Barbara Arne Carlson from 1965 to 1977.