Collin Peterson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Collin Peterson
Official portrait, 2012
Chair of the House Agriculture Committee
In office January 3, 2019 – January 3, 2021
Preceded by	Mike Conaway
Succeeded by	David Scott
In office January 3, 2007 – January 3, 2011
Preceded by	Bob Goodlatte
Succeeded by	Frank Lucas
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Minnesota's 7th district
In office January 3, 1991 – January 3, 2021
Preceded by	Arlan Stangeland
Succeeded by	Michelle Fischbach
Member of the Minnesota Senate from the 10th district
In office January 4, 1977 – January 5, 1987
Preceded by	Roger L. Hanson
Succeeded by	Cal Larson
Personal details
Born	Collin Clark Peterson (1944-06-29) June 29, 1944 (age 81) Fargo, North Dakota, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Education	Minnesota State University, Moorhead (BA)
Occupation	Accountant
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Army
Years of service	1963–1969
Unit	Army National Guard

Collin Clark Peterson (born June 29, 1944) is an American accountant, politician, and lobbyist. He served as a U.S. representative for Minnesota's 7th district from 1991 to 2021. He was a member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL).

Peterson led the House Committee on Agriculture from 2019 to 2021. He had also been its leader from 2007 to 2011. He was the longest-serving U.S. Representative from Minnesota. In 2020, Peterson lost his election to Michelle Fischbach, ending his 30 years in the United States House of Representatives. In 2022, Peterson started working as a lobbyist, helping groups talk to the government.

Early Life and Political Start

Collin Peterson was born in Fargo, North Dakota. He grew up on a farm in Baker, Minnesota. He earned his bachelor's degree from Minnesota State University Moorhead.

Peterson was a member of the Minnesota Senate from 1977 to 1986. He represented a district in northwestern Minnesota for the Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party.

Serving in the U.S. House of Representatives

Election Campaigns

1980s Elections

In 1984, Peterson ran for Congress in Minnesota's 7th district. He lost to the Republican, Arlan Stangeland. In 1986, he ran again and lost by a very small number of votes. He tried a third time in 1988 but lost in the DFL primary election.

1990s Elections

In 1990, Peterson ran for Congress for the fourth time. He won the primary election. In the main election, he finally defeated Stangeland, who had been in office for seven terms. Stangeland's popularity went down after he admitted using his official credit card for personal calls.

In 1992, Peterson won re-election by a very small margin. In 1994, he won again, even though many Republicans were elected that year. He won easily in 1996 and 1998.

2000s Elections

In the 2000s, Peterson was easily re-elected. He only once won with less than two-thirds of the votes. In 2000, some thought he might run for the U.S. Senate, but he chose to run for re-election to the House. He won with 69% of the vote. He continued to win with large majorities in 2002, 2004, 2006, and 2008.

2010s Elections

In 2010, Peterson won again despite many Republicans winning elections that year. He defeated Lee Byberg, but it was his closest election since 1994. In 2012, Peterson won re-election with over 60% of the vote.

In 2013, Republicans tried to get Peterson to retire. They used different ways to oppose him, like TV ads and following him around. Peterson said their actions made him more determined to run again. In March 2014, he announced he would run for re-election. He defeated Republican State Senator Torrey Westrom.

Peterson kept his seat even though his district was becoming more Republican. In 2016, Donald Trump won the district with 62% of the vote, which was his best result in Minnesota. This meant Peterson represented one of the most Republican areas in the country while being a Democrat.

In the November 2020 election, Peterson lost to Republican Michelle Fischbach. Trump again won the district with a large margin. Peterson's loss was the biggest for any sitting House member that year.

Committee Work

116th Congress (2019-2021)

• Committee on Agriculture (chairman)
• Committee on Veterans' Affairs

Past Work

• Committee on Agriculture (from 1991 to 2021)
  • He was both chairman and a senior member.
• Oversight and Government Reform
• Committee on Veterans' Affairs

Other Groups He Joined

• Military Veterans Caucus (Co-chairman)
• Congressional Arts Caucus

Political Views

Peterson helped start the Blue Dog Coalition. This is a group of House Democrats who are considered moderate or conservative. He was often seen as one of the most conservative Democrats. He often voted differently from his own party.

In 2017, Peterson was ranked the most bipartisan (working with both parties) member of the House of Representatives. This was based on a special index that measures how much members work across party lines.

Social Issues

Peterson voted for the Defense of Marriage Act, which defined marriage as between a man and a woman. He also supports the death penalty.

In 2019, Peterson said he would support funding for a wall on the southern border. He believed it was important to improve border security.

In April 2019, Peterson was the only Democrat to vote against renewing the Violence Against Women Act. He said he was concerned about parts of the law that he felt affected people's Second Amendment rights (the right to own guns).

Hunting and Nature

Peterson's district is very rural. Many people there are hunters and trappers who do not support strict gun control. Peterson cares about nature, but he thinks some environmental rules can hurt farmers. He is an avid hunter and supports animal trapping. In 2000, he worked with the Humane Society of the United States to stop the shipping of birds across states for cockfighting. He has supported laws that would remove protection for wolves under the Endangered Species Act.

In 2004, he was part of a lawsuit against North Dakota over hunting rules. They argued that the rules unfairly stopped non-North Dakota residents from hunting during the first week of the waterfowl hunting season. Their case was not successful.

Guns

Peterson has a high rating from the National Rifle Association (NRA) and strongly supports gun rights. The NRA supported him in 2010.

Economic Issues

Peterson is known as a fiscal conservative (someone who believes in careful spending). However, he has also voted against many free trade agreements. He voted against the North American Free Trade Agreement and the Freedom to Farm Act. He also voted against both versions of the Patriot Act. He has criticized the No Child Left Behind Act, saying it is unfair to rural students. He supports a national sales tax and changes to tax laws.

In 2009, Peterson was one of seven Democrats who voted against President Obama's economic stimulus package.

International Trade

In 1998, Peterson suggested a constitutional amendment that would allow people in Minnesota's Northwest Angle to vote on joining Canada. This was a way to draw attention to unfair fishing rules between the U.S. and Canada. Peterson said this idea helped get the White House's attention on the issue.

Healthcare

In 2003, he was one of only 16 Democrats to vote for President Bush's Medicare Prescription Drug Act.

In 2010, Peterson voted against the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (also known as Obamacare). In 2016, he was the only Democrat in the House to vote to repeal the Affordable Care Act. However, in 2017, he voted against Republican efforts to repeal it.

Agriculture

In 2005, Peterson became a senior member of the United States House Committee on Agriculture. He became the committee's chairman after Democrats won control of the House two years later.

Peterson supported a law that would protect jobs for immigrant agricultural workers and extend visas for legal immigrant workers. He was the chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture in the 116th Congress.

Military

Peterson was one of the few Democrats who voted for the Military Commissions Act of 2006.

Environmental Issues

In 2009, Peterson said he would not support climate change laws proposed by the Obama administration. He was concerned that new rules could harm corn ethanol production.

Impeachment of Donald Trump

On October 31, 2019, Peterson was one of two Democrats to vote against the first article of impeachment against President Donald Trump. He was also one of three Democrats to vote against the second article. He voted against impeachment again on December 18, 2019.

Personal Life

Peterson lives in Detroit Lakes. He is a licensed private pilot and often flew his own plane around his district.

In 2005, Peterson joined four Republicans to form a rock and country band called the Second Amendments.

Images for kids

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  Official portrait, 2012