Democratic Senator from Minnesota

Dayton graduated from Yale University in 1969, where he played varsity ice hockey. He then worked for two years in the New York City Public Schools as a 9th grade general science teacher. After teaching, Dayton spent four years working for a Boston social service agency, before going to work as a legislative assistant to Minnesota Senator Walter Mondale. In 1977, Dayton joined Governor Rudy Perpich's staff, and a year later was given the post of state Commissioner of Economic Development.

In 1982 he unsuccessfully challenged the seat of Republican U.S. Senator David Durenberger, and became Minnesota's Commissioner of Energy and Economic Development the next year. In 1990 he was elected to a four-year term as State Auditor.

Since then he has worked on other democratic campaigns including that of Senator Paul Wellstone. He was sworn in to his own senate seat in January 2001.

Mark has two sons, Eric, a college student, and Andrew a high school junior in Minnesota

His Committees:

  • Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
  • Committee on Armed Services
  • Committee on Governmental Affairs
  • Committee on Rules and Administration
  • His website and contact info is at www.senate.gov/~dayton

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