Background
Kelliher, Margaret Anderson was born on March 11, 1968 in Mankato, Minnesota, United States.
Kelliher, Margaret Anderson was born on March 11, 1968 in Mankato, Minnesota, United States.
Bachelor in History and Political Science, Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, Minnesota, 1990. Master of Public Administration, Harvard University Kennedy School Government.
First elected in 1999, she served until 2011, also serving as the Speaker from 2007 to 2011. She is the second woman (after Dee Long) to hold the position of House speaker. She was an unsuccessful candidate for the DFL nomination for Governor of Minnesota in the 2010 gubernatorial election, losing to former Senator Mark Dayton.
Kelliher worked as a legislative staffer for then-Speaker Robert Vanasek and then-Senate President Allan Spear before being elected to the legislature herself.
Anderson Kelliher served as Minority Whip from 2003 to 2006, and in January 2006 became the first Assistant Minority Leader of the Minnesota House. In June 2006, she was selected by her caucus to succeed Republican
Matt Entenza as Minority Leader, assuming the position after the legislative session came to a close. She succeeded Republican Steve Sviggum in that position.
On January 6, 2009, she was re-elected Speaker for the 2009–2010 biennium.
2010 gubernatorial campaign
On September 16, 2009, Anderson Kelliher announced that she would seek the DFL endorsement for governor in 2010. She joined a field that included two other former house minority leaders, Democrat Matt Entenza and Republican Marty Seifert. On April 24, 2010, Anderson Kelliher was endorsed by the DFL state convention to serve as the party"s candidate for governor.
This made her the first woman to earn major-party endorsement for a gubernatorial election in Minnesota.
On August 10, 2010, Kelliher lost a narrow primary election to former United States. Senator Mark Dayton, ending her campaign. During her 2010 primary campaign Kelliher announced several policy and budget initiatives.
In July 2010, she proposed that the state of Minnesota should borrow 2 billion dollars over 5 years to stimulate the construction industry in Minnesota however, she did not support using general fund dollars to build a new Vikings Stadium.
Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party, Democratic Party.
Active Minnesota 4-H Foundation, Minneapolis Institute Arts. Volunteer Basilica St. Mary. Past board directors Grace Neighborhood Nursery School.
Member of League of Women Voters, Bryn Mawr Neighborhood Association (community organizer 1995-1997).
Married David Kelliher. Children: Patrick, Frances.