Duane Robert Quam II (born July 2, 1960) is an American politician serving in the Minnesota House of Representatives since 2011. A member of the Republican Party of Minnesota, Quam represents District 24A in southeast Minnesota, including the cities of Kasson and Byron, parts of Rochester, and parts of Dodge and Olmsted Counties. He is an engineer.[1]

Duane Quam
Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives
from the 24A district
29A (2011–2012), 25A (2013-2022)
Assumed office
January 4, 2011
Preceded byRandy Demmer
Personal details
Born (1960-07-02) July 2, 1960 (age 64)
Rochester, Minnesota, U.S.
Political partyRepublican Party of Minnesota
SpousePat
Children2
Residence(s)Byron, Minnesota, U.S.
Alma materUniversity of Texas at Dallas
OccupationEngineer, legislator

Early life, education, and career

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Quam was raised on a farm and graduated from Byron High School in Byron, and from the University of Texas at Dallas, earning his B.S. in engineering and his M.S. in physics. He is a former member of the Byron School Board, a past chair of the Zumbro Education District governing board, a past chair of the Minnesota State Academic Science Standards writing committee, and a past United Way Community Resource Allocation Committee member, and serves as a consultant on educational texts and a participant on several MCA committees.[1][2]

Minnesota House of Representatives

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Quam was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2010, running after incumbent Randy Demmer resigned to run for Minnesota's 1st congressional district, and has been reelected every two years since.[1]

Quam serves as the minority lead for the Property Tax Division of the Taxes Committee and also serves on the Elections Finance and Policy, Health Finance and Policy and Human Services Finance Committees.[1]

2018 debate incident

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In October 2018, Quam made headlines when he snatched a microphone from the hand of his opponent, Jamie Mahlberg, during a debate. Quam later tried to hand the mic back to Mahlberg. When she did not take it, he dropped it back in front of her.[3][4][5] Quam later apologized.[6] Quam was reelected with 53.6% of the vote.

Electoral history

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2010 Minnesota State House - District 29A[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Duane Quam 11,259 60.71
Democratic (DFL) Douglas Wunderlich 7,268 39.19
Write-in 20 0.11
Total votes 18,547 100.0
Republican hold
2012 Minnesota State House - District 25A[8]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Duane Quam (incumbent) 11,056 54.55
Democratic (DFL) John Vossen 9,188 45.34
Write-in 22 0.11
Total votes 20,266 100.0
Republican hold
2014 Minnesota State House - District 25A[9]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Duane Quam (incumbent) 10,970 96.24
Write-in 429 3.76
Total votes 11,399 100.0
Republican hold
2016 Minnesota State House - District 25A[10]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Duane Quam (incumbent) 12,934 59.96
Democratic (DFL) Linda (Wally) Walbruch 8,615 39.94
Write-in 21 0.10
Total votes 21,570 100.0
Republican hold
2018 Minnesota State House - District 25A[11]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Duane Quam (incumbent) 10,376 53.62
Democratic (DFL) Jamie Mahlberg 8,957 46.29
Write-in 17 0.09
Total votes 19,350 100.0
Republican hold
2020 Minnesota State House - District 25A[12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Duane Quam (incumbent) 14,479 57.47
Democratic (DFL) Kim Hicks 10,692 42.44
Write-in 21 0.08
Total votes 25,192 100.0
Republican hold
2022 Minnesota State House - District 24A[13]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Duane Quam (incumbent) 12,015 63.97
Democratic (DFL) Keith McLain 6,758 35.98
Write-in 8 0.04
Total votes 18,781 100.0
Republican hold

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Quam, II, Duane - Legislator Record - Minnesota Legislators Past & Present". www.lrl.mn.gov. Retrieved 2023-02-19.
  2. ^ "Duane Quam for Minnesota House".[self-published source?]
  3. ^ A Minnesota Republican snatched his opponent's mic, then dropped it in front of her, The Washington Post, Avi Selk, October 10, 2018. Retrieved November 9, 2018.
  4. ^ Stolle, Matthew (October 10, 2018). "Quam's mic grab creates a commotion". Rochester Post-Bulletin. Rochester, Minnesota. Archived from the original on October 10, 2018. Retrieved October 10, 2018. Incumbent GOP state Rep. Duane Quam grabs the microphone from the hand of DFL challenger Jamie Mahlberg during a legislative forum held by the League of Women Voters Rochester Monday.
  5. ^ Selk, Avi (October 10, 2018). "A Minnesota Republican snatched his opponent's mic, then dropped it in front of her". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on October 10, 2018. Retrieved October 10, 2018. Minnesota state Rep. Duane Quam blamed "nerves" after he snatched a mic from Jamie Mahlberg's hands, then lobbed it back at her when he finished talking.
  6. ^ "Minnesota lawmaker apologizes for yanking mic from opponent during forum". Star Tribune. October 10, 2018. Archived from the original on 2019-03-30. Minnesota state Rep. Duane Quam, R-Byron, apologized for yanking the mic from DFL challenger Jamie Mahlberg during a forum in Rochester on Monday.
  7. ^ "2010 Results for State Representative District 29A". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
  8. ^ "2012 Results for State Representative District 25A". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
  9. ^ "2014 Results for State Representative District 25A". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
  10. ^ "2016 Results for State Representative District 25A". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
  11. ^ "2018 Results for State Representative District 25A". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
  12. ^ "2020 Results for State Representative District 25A". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
  13. ^ "2022 Results for State Representative District 24A". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
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