Lisa Demuth facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lisa Demuth
Minority Leader of the Minnesota House of Representatives
In office January 3, 2023 – January 14, 2025
Preceded by	Kurt Daudt
Succeeded by	Melissa Hortman
Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives from the 13A district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 8, 2019
Preceded by	Jeff Howe
Personal details
Born	(1967-02-10) February 10, 1967 (age 58) Paynesville, Minnesota, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Nick
Children	4

Lisa Demuth (/ˈdeɪməθ/ DAY-məth; born February 10, 1967) is an American politician serving since 2019 in the Minnesota House of Representatives. A member of the Republican Party of Minnesota, Demuth represents District 13A in central Minnesota, which includes the cities of St. Joseph and Cold Spring and parts of Stearns County. She has served since 2023 as leader of the House Republican caucus and from 2023 to 2025 as the minority leader of the House of Representatives.

In 2025, Republicans voted for her to be Speaker of the House during an absence of a quorum. Her speakership was disputed by Democrats, and the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled that a quorum was not present, making Demuth's election invalid.

Early life, education, and career

Demuth was born in Paynesville, Minnesota. She graduated from Bloomington Kennedy High School.

Demuth co-owns and manages commercial property with her husband, Nick. She was elected to the Rocori school board as a write-in candidate in 2007 and reelected twice.

Minnesota House of Representatives

Demuth was first elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2018. She was recruited to run by the former representative for 13A, Jeff Howe, who was stepping down to run for the Minnesota Senate. During the 2021-22 legislative session, Demuth served as an assistant minority leader in the House. .....

After the 2022 Minnesota House of Representatives Election saw Republicans fail to flip the House from Democratic control, the Republican caucus elected Demuth minority leader. She has portrayed herself as more collaborative and calmer than her predecessor, Kurt Daudt. According to the American Conservative Union's scorecard, Demuth was ranked as less conservative than the average Republican legislator.

Demuth is the first African American and first biracial person to serve as minority leader of the Minnesota House of Representatives and the House Republican caucus. According to Demuth, she asked fellow legislators to pick her based on her qualifications, not her race.

2025 speaker dispute

In the opening session of the 94th Minnesota Legislature on January 14, 2025, only the 67 elected House Republicans attended, while the 66 elected DFL members were absent in an effort to quorum. Secretary of State Steve Simon presided over the chamber and left, ruling that there was not a quorum present, before Republican members proceded to elect Demuth as Speaker of the House and continued with normal legislative business with Demuth presiding for two weeks. On January 24, the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled that they did not have quorum, invalidating Demuth's election and all action that followed.

Electoral history

Personal life

Demuth and her husband, Nick, reside in Cold Spring, Minnesota. They have four children.