Pappas served three terms in the House before running for Minnesota Senate in 1990.[1]
Minnesota Senate
Pappas was first elected to the Minnesota Senate in 1990, defeating incumbent Donald Moe in a DFL primary.[1][2]
Pappas has been reelected in every election since, serving a total of 10 terms. She has served on the Capital Investment, Commerce, Finance, Rules and Administration, and State and Local Government Committees. She chaired the Higher Education Committee from 2007 to 2011 and the Education Committee from 2001 to 2003. She served as president pro tempore from 2003 to 2007.
After the DFL regained a majority in the 2012 election, Pappas was elected by her caucus to serve as President of the Minnesota Senate, starting in January 2013.[3] Pappas was reelected to the Senate in 2016, 2020, and 2022. She is currently the chair of the Capital Investment committee and sits on the committees on Finance, Judiciary and Public Safety, and Labor.[1][4]
1997 Saint Paul mayoral campaign
Pappas ran an unsuccessful campaign for mayor of Saint Paul against incumbent Norm Coleman in 1997.[5]
Personal life
Pappas is married to Neal Gosman. They have three children and 31 grandchildren. She is Jewish.[5]
