Bobby Joe Champion

Bobby Joe Champion (born December 17, 1963) is an American attorney and politician serving as a member of the Minnesota Senate. A member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL), he represents the 59th district, which includes portions of downtown and north Minneapolis in Hennepin County.^[1] He is the incumbent president of the Minnesota Senate.^[2]

Bobby Joe Champion
President of the Minnesota Senate
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 2023 Serving with Jeremy Miller (January 14, 2025 – February 3, 2025)
Preceded by	David Osmek
Member of the Minnesota Senate from the 59th district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 8, 2013
Preceded by	Linda Higgins (Redistricting)
Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives from the 58B district
In office January 6, 2009 – January 8, 2013
Preceded by	Augustine Dominguez
Succeeded by	Raymond Dehn (Redistricting)
Personal details
Born	(1963-12-17) December 17, 1963 (age 61) Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Angela
Children	3
Education	Macalester College (BA) William Mitchell College of Law (JD)

Early life and education

Champion was born in Minneapolis and graduated from Minneapolis North High School. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Macalester College and a Juris Doctor from the William Mitchell College of Law.

Career

Champion worked as an assistant Minnesota attorney general under Skip Humphrey and Mike Hatch, and as an attorney for a legal rights center. He also worked with Flyte Tyme Productions and was co-founder and director of the Grammy-nominated Excelsior Choir. He was executive director of the Midwest chapter of the National Association of Minority Contractors and program director for Social Spaces with Stairstep Initiative.^[1][3]

In the 2023 legislative session, Bobby Joe Champion pushed for changes to the juvenile probation program in Minnesota.^[4]

Minnesota House of Representatives

Champion was elected to the House in 2008, unseating first-term incumbent Augustine Dominguez. He was reelected in 2010.^[5]

Minnesota Senate

In November 2012, Champion was elected to the Minnesota Senate, defeating Republican Jim Lilly by a margin of 82%–18%.^[6] Champion was reelected to the Minnesota Senate in 2016, defeating challenger Jennifer Carnahan.^[7] Champion was also re-elected in 2020 and 2022.^[8] In 2022, he was chosen to serve as president of the Senate by his caucus. He is the first African-American to ever hold this position. In addition, Champion currently chairs the Committee on Jobs and Economic Development.^[1]