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)
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 politician, accountant, and lobbyist. He served in the United States House of Representatives for Minnesota's 7th district from 1991 to 2021. As a member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL), he was a very experienced politician in Minnesota's government.

Peterson was the chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture two different times. This committee is very important for making laws about farming and food. After serving for 30 years in the U.S. House of Representatives, he was defeated in the 2020 election by Michelle Fischbach. After leaving Congress, Peterson started his own consulting firm and became a lobbyist, a person who works to influence political decisions.

Early Life and Career

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

Before serving in the U.S. Congress, Peterson was a member of the Minnesota Senate from 1977 to 1986. He represented a district in the northwestern part of the state.

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

Peterson first tried to get elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1984 but lost. He tried again in 1986 and 1988. Finally, on his fourth try in 1990, he won the election. He defeated the person who had held the seat for seven terms, Arlan Stangeland.

Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, Peterson was re-elected many times, often by a large number of votes. He became a very popular representative in his district.

However, in the 2010s, his elections became closer. His district started to vote more for the Republican party in presidential elections. In 2016, Donald Trump won the district by a lot, but Peterson still won his own election. This made him a Democrat representing one of the most Republican districts in the country.

In the 2020 election, Peterson lost to Republican Michelle Fischbach. This ended his 30-year career in the House of Representatives.

Work in Congress

During his time in Congress, Peterson served on several important committees.

• Committee on Agriculture: He was a member for his entire time in Congress. He served as the chairman, which is the leader of the committee, from 2007 to 2011 and again from 2019 to 2021.
• Committee on Veterans' Affairs: He also served on the committee that handles issues for military veterans.

Peterson was a co-founder of the Blue Dog Coalition. This is a group of Democrats in the House who are considered more moderate or conservative. He was known for often voting with Republicans on certain issues. A 2017 study named him the most bipartisan member of the House, meaning he was the best at working with members of the other political party.

Political Views

Peterson's political views were often more conservative than those of other Democrats. He was known for disagreeing with his party on several topics.

Social Issues

Peterson held conservative views on many social topics. For example, in 2019, he was the only Democrat to vote against a new version of the Violence Against Women Act. He said he was concerned about parts of the law related to gun rights.

Hunting and Farming

Peterson's district was very rural, with many farmers and hunters. He was a strong supporter of hunting and fishing rights. He was also a conservationist, meaning he wanted to protect the environment. However, he sometimes opposed environmental rules that he felt would harm farmers.

He once worked with the Humane Society of the United States to pass a law that stopped birds from being shipped across states for illegal fights.

Economic Issues

On money matters, Peterson was considered a fiscal conservative, meaning he was careful with government spending. He voted against the big economic stimulus package proposed by President Obama in 2009. He also supported the FairTax, a plan to replace federal income taxes with a national sales tax.

Healthcare

Peterson had a mixed record on healthcare laws. In 2010, he voted against the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. In 2017, however, he voted against Republican plans to get rid of the law.

Impeachment of Donald Trump

In 2019, Peterson was one of only two Democrats who voted against the impeachment of President Donald Trump. However, after he left office, he said he would have voted for the second impeachment in 2021.

Personal Life

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

In 2005, Peterson and four Republican members of Congress formed a rock and country music band.

Electoral History

2020

2018

2016

See also

• United States congressional delegations from Minnesota
• List of United States representatives from Minnesota