Zack Stephenson (born July 18, 1984) is an American politician who has served since 2019 as a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives and since 2025 as the House leader of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL). He represents District 35A in the northwestern Twin Cities metropolitan area.
Zack Stephenson | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Stephenson in 2025 | |
| DFL Caucus Leader of the Minnesota House of Representatives | |
| Assumed office September 9, 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Melissa Hortman |
| Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives from the 35A district | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2019 | |
| Preceded by | John Heinrich |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 18, 1984 Coon Rapids, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Austin |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Knox College (BA) University of Chicago (JD) |
Early life, education, and career
editStephenson was born and raised in Coon Rapids, Minnesota, and graduated from Coon Rapids High School in 2002.[1] He attended Knox College, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in public policy analysis in 2006, and the University of Chicago Law School, graduating with a Juris Doctor in 2010.[2]
Stephenson is a prosecutor for Hennepin County. He was formerly a staffer for U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar.[1]
Minnesota House of Representatives
editStephenson was first elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2018. He chaired the Commerce Committee, and also served on the Climate and Energy Committee and the Elections Committee.[3] In 2025, he co-chaired the Ways and Means Committee.[4]
During the 2019 session, Stephenson successfully authored a bill to get rid of Minnesota's "marital rape exception". Before his bill passed, Minnesota law prevented prosecution of rape in certain circumstances when the victim was married to the rapist. With the bill's passage, rapists can be prosecuted regardless of whether they are married to the victim.[5]
Stephenson also successfully authored a provision to take the first steps towards building a new Mississippi River crossing between Dayton, Minnesota, and Ramsey, Minnesota.[6]
In 2020, Stephenson was the chief author of a bill to provide grants to small businesses that were not able to operate due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The bill allocated $62.5 million in grants up to $10,000, with $18 million reserved for microbusinesses, defined as businesses with less than 6 employees. Stephenson's bill passed the House by a margin of 129 to 5 and was unanimously approved in the Senate.[7]
Stephenson's legislative priorities include consumer protection and combating climate change. In 2021, he authored the Energy Conservation and Optimization Act, which significantly expands Minnesota's energy conservation programs.[8] The bill is expected to cut carbon emissions in Minnesota, in particular by incentivizing "fuel switching", whereby utilities offer consumers incentives to switch from less efficient fossil fuels to more efficient electricity.[9] Stephenson also authored the Natural Gas Innovation Act (NGIA), which passed into law with bipartisan support in 2021. NGIA gives Minnesota regulators and utilities new tools to decarbonize the building sector, establishes a new goal to reduce the use of fossil gas, and starts a new regulatory proceeding to plan for further decarbonization.[10]
In 2021, Stephenson also secured passage of Minnesota's Student Borrower's Bill of Rights, which regulates student loan servicers and protects student borrowers from abusive practices.[11] He has also authored legislation to ban price gouging by prescription drug companies.[11]
During the 93rd Minnesota Legislature, Stephenson garnered attention as the DFL point man on cannabis legalization.[12] Stephenson also authored legislation that banned political donations from foreign-owned corporations, a bill providing a rebate for electric vehicles, and legislation to criminalize certain misleading deepfakes.[12]
On September 9, 2025, Minnesota House Democrats elected Stephenson as their new caucus leader.[13]
Personal life
edit
Stephenson and his wife, Austin, have two children. He resides in Coon Rapids, Minnesota.[2] In 2023, he came out as bisexual.[14]
References
edit- ^ a b "Voters guide: House District 36A: Maresh vs. Stephenson". ABC Newspapers. Adams Publishing Group. October 13, 2018. Archived from the original on November 3, 2018. Retrieved November 8, 2018.
- ^ a b "Stephenson, Zack". Minnesota Legislative Reference Library. Archived from the original on June 29, 2023. Retrieved November 11, 2018.
- ^ "Rep. Zack Stephenson (36A) - Minnesota House of Representatives". Archived from the original on 2019-01-09. Retrieved 2019-01-08.
- ^ "Rep. Zack Stephenson (36A) - Minnesota House of Representatives". Archived from the original on 2019-01-09. Retrieved 2025-09-09.
- ^ "Senate approves 'marital rape' repeal, prodded by determined survivor". Star Tribune. 30 April 2019. Archived from the original on 2019-10-12. Retrieved 2019-10-27.
- ^ "Rep. Zack Stephenson - RELEASE: Rep. Zack Stephenson's Proposal to Take the First Steps Towards a New Mississippi River Crossing Between Ramsey and Dayton Included in Final Transportation Budget". Archived from the original on 2020-06-17. Retrieved 2020-06-17.
- ^ "MN legislators approve $60M to help small businesses hit hard by coronavirus pandemic". 12 June 2020. Archived from the original on 17 June 2020. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
- ^ "In a session with few big legislative achievements, Minnesota lawmakers pass a 'significant' energy conservation bill". 19 May 2021. Archived from the original on 9 June 2021. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
- ^ "Sustainable: ECO Act broadens energy efficiency options for businesses and consumers | Finance & Commerce". 31 May 2021. Archived from the original on 9 June 2021. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
- ^ "New law paves the way for deeper understanding of the future of gas in Minnesota". 30 June 2021. Archived from the original on 2021-07-09. Retrieved 2021-07-05.
- ^ a b "Minnesota lawmakers propose 'bill of rights' for student borrowers, licensing requirement for loan providers". Star Tribune. 23 February 2021. Archived from the original on 2021-07-09. Retrieved 2021-07-05.
- ^ a b Ingraham, Chris (29 June 2023). "The players who made the big plays: Minnesota lawmakers worth watching". Minnesota Reformer. Archived from the original on 2023-06-29. Retrieved 2023-06-29.
- ^ Griffith, Michelle (September 9, 2025). "Minnesota House Democrats pick Hortman protégé Rep. Zack Stephenson as new leader". St. Cloud Times. Retrieved September 9, 2025.
- ^ "Minnesota Lawmaker Zack Stephenson on Coming Out as Bisexual". www.advocate.com. Archived from the original on 2023-02-01. Retrieved 2023-02-01.