Politics & Government

Rep. Steve Simon Running for Secretary of State

The DFL legislator and St. Louis Park resident announced his candidacy Tuesday to replace retiring Secretary of State Mark Ritchie.

(Story by James Warden.)

St. Louis Park Rep. Steve Simon announced Tuesday that he will be running for Secretary of State.

The DFL legislator is seeking to replace retiring Secretary of State Mark Ritchie.

Simon is a five-term legislator and current chairman of the House Elections Committee.

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In a news release announcing his candidacy for the DFL nomination, Simon focused on ensuring eligibly voters are able to cast their ballots.

“Every eligible voter should be able to vote,” the release quoted him as saying. “Secretary of State Ritchie has helped make Minnesota’s election system the envy of the nation. I want to build on Minnesota’s proud tradition of leading America in voter turnout, voter access, and voter engagement. As secretary of state, I'll work to protect the integrity of our election system and make it easier for Minnesotans to take part in our democracy.”

Find out what's happening in St. Louis Parkwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Simon has played a big part in recent debates on proposed changes to the state’s election system. When Republicans proposed an amendment to require photo ID at the polls, Simon countered with a proposal for electronic poll books that he said could use technology to ensure the integrity of the state’s elections.

And as House elections chairman this year, he authored the state’s “no-excuses” absentee voting provision, which allows eligible voters to cast an absentee ballot without giving their reasons for not voting in person on election day.

But he’s perhaps best known for his involvement in the debates over same-sex marriage. Two years ago, a video of one of his speeches went viral after he asked, “How many gay people must God create before we accept that he wants them around?” And this legislative, he fought back tears as he described how the homosexual community is urgently seeking to be a part of society’s most-cherished institutions.

The 43-year-old lawyer is a graduate of Hopkins High School, Tufts University and the University of Minnesota Law School. He has represented St. Louis Park and Hopkins in the state House since 2005. He previously served in the office of the Minnesota Attorney General as an assistant attorney general. He lives in Hopkins with his wife and daughter. 


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