Norm Coleman Biography Quotes 11 Report mistakes

Overview

Norman Bertram Coleman Jr., widely known as Norm Coleman, is an American public figure whose career has spanned student activism, law, municipal leadership, statewide campaigns, and service in the United States Senate. Born in 1949, he became a prominent voice in Minnesota politics, first as mayor of Saint Paul and later as a U.S. senator. His political journey included a widely noted party switch from the Democratic-Farmer-Labor tradition to the Republican Party, and he is associated with urban redevelopment in Saint Paul, high-profile statewide races, and investigations conducted while chairing a key Senate oversight subcommittee. Along the way he collaborated with, campaigned against, or served alongside figures such as Hubert H. Humphrey III, Jesse Ventura, Paul Wellstone, Walter Mondale, Al Franken, Mark Dayton, Amy Klobuchar, and Tim Pawlenty.

Early Life and Education

Coleman was born on August 17, 1949, in Brooklyn, New York, and grew up in a family that emphasized education and civic awareness. He attended Hofstra University, graduating in 1971. Like many students of his era, he was active in campus politics and antiwar protests, experiences that initially placed him on the liberal side of the political spectrum. He went on to earn a law degree from the University of Iowa College of Law in 1976, laying the foundation for a legal and public-service career. His early exposure to political debate and organizing would later inform his approach to governance and coalition-building, even as his policy views evolved.

Legal Career and the Minnesota Attorney General's Office

After law school, Coleman moved to the Upper Midwest and began a long tenure in the Minnesota Attorney General's Office. Working under Attorney General Hubert H. Humphrey III, he developed a reputation as a capable litigator and administrator and rose to senior responsibilities over the course of roughly 17 years. Those years honed his skills in consumer protection, public policy implementation, and courtroom advocacy. Mentored by Humphrey and collaborating with colleagues across agencies, he learned how statewide issues intersect with local concerns, a perspective that would later guide his mayoral priorities and legislative agenda.

Mayor of Saint Paul

Coleman was elected mayor of Saint Paul in 1993 and took office in 1994. During his first term he focused on revitalizing the citys core, building public-private partnerships, and improving the climate for investment. In 1996 he announced a party switch to the Republican Party, citing differences with the direction of national Democrats and a growing conviction that market-oriented strategies and fiscal discipline were better suited to the challenges he saw in city government. He won reelection in 1997.

As mayor, he championed riverfront redevelopment and efforts to restore vitality to downtown neighborhoods. A signature achievement was advancing construction of the Xcel Energy Center, a catalyst project that helped return top-tier professional hockey to Minnesota. Working with business leaders and the National Hockey League, and alongside team owner Bob Naegele Jr., Coleman shepherded an arena plan that was central to securing the Minnesota Wild franchise for Saint Paul. The project signaled a broader approach: infrastructure as a platform for economic growth, cultural identity, and civic pride. His successor in City Hall, Randy Kelly, would inherit a city that had regained momentum in its urban core.

The 1998 Gubernatorial Campaign

With rising statewide visibility, Coleman ran for governor of Minnesota in 1998 as the Republican nominee. The contest became one of the most memorable three-way races in modern politics, featuring Coleman, Democratic-Farmer-Labor candidate Hubert H. Humphrey III, and Reform Party candidate Jesse Ventura. Ventura ultimately won in an upset, with Coleman finishing second and Humphrey third. The loss was a defining moment, but the campaign elevated Colemans profile and demonstrated his ability to compete in a politically diverse electorate.

United States Senate

Coleman entered the 2002 U.S. Senate race against incumbent Paul Wellstone. Late in the campaign, Wellstone died tragically in a plane crash, and former Vice President Walter Mondale stepped in as the Democratic replacement. In a closely watched and emotional election, Coleman narrowly defeated Mondale and took office in January 2003.

In the Senate, Coleman served on committees that intersected with the Upper Midwest economy and national oversight. He chaired the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, where he led inquiries into issues such as abuses in the United Nations Oil-for-Food program and other matters involving corporate and governmental accountability. He also focused on small business, energy, and agricultural concerns important to Minnesota, including biofuels and rural development. Colemans approach combined a pro-business orientation with pragmatic deal-making, and he worked across the aisle with colleagues such as Mark Dayton and, later, Amy Klobuchar to advance state priorities in transportation, infrastructure, and economic competitiveness.

The 2008 Recount and Aftermath

Coleman sought reelection in 2008 against Al Franken. The race ended with one of the closest margins in Minnesota history, triggering an extensive recount and court proceedings. The process, conducted under intense public scrutiny, culminated in a decision by the Minnesota Supreme Court upholding Franken as the winner. Governor Tim Pawlenty signed the election certificate, and Coleman conceded in mid-2009. The episode, while a personal and political setback, underscored his acceptance of institutional outcomes and Minnesota tradition regarding close contests.

Later Career and Civic Involvement

After leaving the Senate, Coleman returned to the private sector as a lawyer and public policy advisor and became a key organizer and strategist in center-right advocacy and electoral efforts. He played leading roles with the American Action Network and the Congressional Leadership Fund, organizations that support policy messaging and House campaigns. In these roles he worked closely with donors, strategists, and elected officials to shape national messages on economic growth, tax policy, and public safety. He also remained active in Jewish communal and policy organizations, reflecting both personal identity and longstanding interest in U.S.-Israel relations and religious liberty.

Coleman publicly shared his diagnosis of head and neck cancer and his treatment journey, using his platform to encourage early detection and perseverance. His openness about illness and recovery added a personal dimension to his public life, resonating with supporters and adversaries alike and highlighting the human side of high-profile politics.

Personal Life and Legacy

Coleman is married to Laurie Coleman, and they have two children. His family, and the memory of formative influences from his New York upbringing to his Minnesota mentors, feature prominently in his reflections on public service. Over the decades he evolved from a student protest leader into a Republican officeholder, a shift that he framed as a response to practical challenges and the lessons of governing. The through-line in his career is a preference for coalition-building and results: downtown redevelopment in Saint Paul, attracting a major-league franchise with business partners like Bob Naegele Jr., advancing investigations and oversight in the Senate, and helping shape national campaign infrastructure after office.

His legacy in Minnesota includes a transformed Saint Paul city center, a blueprint for public-private collaboration, and a reputation for competitiveness in closely divided races. Nationally, he is remembered for his Senate oversight work and for his continued impact on Republican strategy and fundraising. The network of people around him at pivotal moments Hubert H. Humphrey III in his formative legal years, rivals such as Jesse Ventura, Paul Wellstone, Walter Mondale, and Al Franken in his marquee campaigns, and colleagues including Mark Dayton, Amy Klobuchar, and Tim Pawlenty in governance and transition reflects a career spent at the junction of policy, politics, and public life.