Background
Langseth, Keith L. was born on January 20, 1938 in Moorhead, Minnesota, United States. Son of Norman Clifford and Ruth Rosenquist Langseth.
Langseth, Keith L. was born on January 20, 1938 in Moorhead, Minnesota, United States. Son of Norman Clifford and Ruth Rosenquist Langseth.
He graduated from Glyndon High School in 1956 and began working as a dairy farmer.
His district included portions of Becker, Clay, Otter Tail, Traverse and Wilkin counties in the northwestern part of the state. Langseth first became involved in the DFL as a result of his opposition to the Vietnam War. He ran against and defeated an incumbent in both elections.
Langseth served as Chair of the Capital Investment Committee, a position he held since its creation in 2001.
His stated legislative concerns included bonding, tax policy, transportation, education and agriculture. Langseth announced his retirement from politics and did not run for re-election in 2012.
Minnesota Senate District 9 Election 2010
Keith Langseth (Doctorate) 14,595 votes, 52.52%
Jeff Backer (R), 13,168 votes, 47.39%
Write In, 25 votes, 0.09%
Minnesota Senate District 9 Election 2006
Keith Langseth (Doctorate) 20,353 votes, 69.8%
Paul Holle (R), 8,771 votes, 30.1%
Write In, 33 votes, 0.1%
Minnesota Senate District 9 Election 2002
Keith Langseth (Doctorate) 18,587 votes, 61.22%
Bradley Monson (R), 10,144 votes, 33.41%
Dan Stewart (Intellectual Property), 1,278 votes, 4.21%
Minnesota Senate District 9 Election 2000
Keith Langseth (Doctorate) 19,412 votes, 61.05%
Wallace "Wally" Nord (R), 10,946 votes, 34.43%
Minnesota Senate District 9 Election 1996
Keith Langseth (Doctorate) 17,189 votes, 58.67%
Cliff Dyrud (R), 11,235 votes, 38.35%
Minnesota Senate District 9 Election 1992
Keith Langseth (Doctorate) 18,954 votes, 59.68%
Bob Friederichs (International Rectifier ), 11,587 votes, 36.48%
Minnesota Senate District 9 Election 1990
Keith Langseth (Doctorate) 13,705 votes, 61.80%
Robert Westfall (International Rectifier ) 7,716 votes, 34.79%
Minnesota Senate District 9 Election 1986
Keith Langseth (Doctorate) 11,166 votes, 57.96%
David Green (International Rectifier ) 8,099 votes, 42.04%
Minnesota Senate District 9 Election 1982
Keith Langseth (Doctorate) 11,733 votes, 50.62%
Phyllis Thysell (International Rectifier ) 10,803 votes, 46.61%
Minnesota Senate District 9 Election 1980
Keith Langseth (Doctorate) 13,776 votes, 52.9%
Doctorate.H. (Doug) Sillers (Incumbent) (International Rectifier ) 12,245 votes, 47.1%
Minnesota House District 9B Election 1978
Keith Langseth (Doctorate) 5,743 votes, 49.9%
Merlyn Valan (International Rectifier ) 5,758 votes, 50.1%
Minnesota House District 9B Election 1976
Keith Langseth (Doctorate) 8,498 votes, 62.8%
Lee Johnson (International Rectifier ) 4,664 votes, 37.2%
Minnesota House District 9B Election 1974
Keith Langseth (Doctorate) 5,361 votes, 58.94%
Arian Strangeland (Incumbent) (International Rectifier ) 3,735 votes, 41.06%.
He was asked by the local DFL Party to run for the House of Representatives in 1974, later choosing to run for the Senate in 1980.
Prior to his election to the Senate, he was a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives from District 9B from 1975 to 1979. He is the longest-serving current member of the Senate. He was also a member of the Taxes, Agriculture and Veterans, Agriculture and Veterans Budget and Policy Division, Transportation, Transportation Budget and Policy Division, and Rules and Administration committees.
Married Lorraine Mae Ersland, 1957. Children: Danny, Gayle, Joy.
