Arne Carlson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Arne Carlson
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Carlson in 2010
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| 37th Governor of Minnesota | |
| In office January 7, 1991 – January 4, 1999 |
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| Lieutenant | Joanell Dyrstad Joanne Benson |
| Preceded by | Rudy Perpich |
| Succeeded by | Jesse Ventura |
| 14th Auditor of Minnesota | |
| In office January 4, 1979 – January 7, 1991 |
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| Governor | Al Quie Rudy Perpich |
| Preceded by | Bob Mattson |
| Succeeded by | Mark Dayton |
| Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives | |
| In office January 5, 1971 – January 2, 1979 |
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| Preceded by | Thor Anderson |
| Succeeded by | Todd Otis |
| Constituency | 36th district (1971–1973) District 58B (1973–1979) |
| Member of the Minneapolis City Council from the 12th Ward | |
| In office 1965–1967 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
Arne Helge Carlson
September 24, 1934 New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican (1960–present) |
| Other political affiliations |
Democratic (until 1960) |
| Spouses |
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| Children | 3 |
| Education | Williams College (BA) |
Arne Helge Carlson (born September 24, 1934) is an American politician. He served as the 37th governor of Minnesota from 1991 to 1999. Before becoming governor, he was the Minnesota State Auditor from 1979 to 1991. Carlson is known for being a moderate Republican.
He grew up in New York City and received a scholarship to attend Choate Rosemary Hall, a special school. After college, he studied at the University of Minnesota. Carlson began his political career in 1965. He was elected to the Minneapolis City Council as a Republican. He served there until 1967 and was the city council's majority leader.
Carlson later served in the Minnesota House of Representatives from 1971 to 1979. Then, he became the Minnesota State Auditor from 1979 to 1991. In 1990, he ran for governor. He won the election after his opponent faced some challenges. He was reelected for a second term in 1994. Since 1999, he has supported candidates from the Democratic (DFL) even though he remains a Republican.
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Early Life and Education
Arne Carlson was born in New York City. His parents were immigrants from Sweden. They came from cities called Gothenburg and Visby. He went to public schools in New York City. Later, he received a scholarship to attend The Choate School in Connecticut.
In 1957, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Williams College. After that, he took advanced classes at the University of Minnesota.
Political Career
Early Public Service
Carlson served on the Minneapolis City Council from 1965 to 1967. In 1967, he ran for mayor of Minneapolis. He lost that election to the current mayor, Arthur Naftalin.
From 1971 to 1979, Carlson was a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives. In 1978, he was elected as the state auditor. He was reelected twice, in 1982 and 1986. As state auditor, Carlson helped create clear accounting rules for cities and counties. This made Minnesota a leader in how public money was tracked. He also improved how the state's large pension funds were managed. This helped them earn more money.
Governor of Minnesota
Election in 1990
Carlson was a strong candidate for governor in 1990. He was well-known from his time as auditor. However, some people in his party thought he was too moderate. They preferred another candidate, Jon Grunseth. Grunseth won the primary election against Carlson.
Before the main election, Grunseth faced some personal issues. He decided to withdraw from the race. This meant Carlson became the Republican candidate. He then took part in a special debate with the other candidates. The state Supreme Court ruled that Carlson could be on the ballot. In the election on November 6, Carlson won against the current governor, Rudy Perpich.
Time as Governor
Arne Carlson became the 37th governor of Minnesota. He served from January 7, 1991, to January 4, 1999. When he started, Minnesota had a large budget deficit. By the end of his time, the state had a surplus of money. His work helped Minnesota get a top credit rating again. This was the first time in 25 years a state received such an upgrade.
During his time as governor, Carlson did many important things.
- He increased money for elementary and secondary schools.
- He created a "Children's Cabinet" to help all state programs for kids work together.
- He helped start the first light rail system in Minneapolis.
- He supported "school choice," which allows parents to choose different schools for their children.
In 1993, Carlson led the Midwestern Governors Association. That same year, he signed a law called the Minnesota Human Rights Act. This law made it illegal to discriminate against LGBT people in housing, jobs, and education.
In 1994, Carlson ran for reelection. Some people in his party thought he was too liberal. However, he won the primary election easily. He also won the main election by a large margin against John Marty.
Carlson was a big fan of the University of Minnesota. He worked closely with the university's president to improve its buildings. In 1998, he helped pass a plan to give $206 million to the university. This led to new buildings and renovations.
After Being Governor
After leaving office in 1999, Carlson joined the board of directors for a financial company. He became its chairman and CEO the next year.
Carlson has stayed active in politics. In 2010, he spoke out about Minnesota's money problems. During a state government shutdown in 2011, he worked with Walter Mondale to suggest a plan for the state budget.
A poll in 2001 showed that many people in Minnesota thought Carlson made a "great or major contribution" to the state. He ranked second only to Hubert Humphrey.
Carlson has often supported Democratic candidates even though he is a Republican. He supported Barack Obama in 2008, Hillary Clinton in 2016, Joe Biden in 2020, and Kamala Harris in 2024 for president. He also supported other Democratic and Independence Party candidates in Minnesota. In 2010, his own party voted to ban him and others from party events for two years. This was because they were seen as too moderate.
Carlson has also spoken out against certain mining projects. He believes they could pollute water and are influenced by powerful groups. He has also worked to support changes in how political campaigns are funded. He believes that large corporations should not donate unlimited amounts of money to political campaigns.
Personal Life
Arne Carlson was married to Barbara Carlson from 1965 to 1977. They had three children together. After their divorce, Barbara became a well-known city councilwoman and talk show host. Carlson's second wife was Joanne Chabot. They later divorced. His third wife is Susan Shepard. They have one daughter. Susan was the First Lady of Minnesota from 1991 to 1999.
Images for kids
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Carlson in 2010
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Carlson with President Bill Clinton in 1993
