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 - Amy Klobuchar has served as Hennepin County Attorney since 1999.
 - With her daughter holding the family Bible, Amy gets sworn-in as Hennepin County Attorney.
 - Amy with her husband John and their daughter Abigail.
 - Amy visits her grandma in Ely in earlier days. Her grandpa worked in the iron ore mines in northern Minnesota.
 - Amy relaxes with her father, former Star Tribune columnist Jim Klobuchar, after a bike ride. Amy's hobbies include cross-country bicycling trips, among them a ten-day, 1,100-mile trip with her dad from Minneapolis to Jackson Hole, Wyoming
 - Amy's father-in-law, Bill Bessler, teaches biology at Minnesota State University in Mankato.
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Contact the Campaign |
AMY KLOBUCHAR FOR MINNESOTA
P.O. BOX 4146
ST. PAUL, MN 55104-4146
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A Minnesota Leader Who Makes a Difference |
Amy Klobuchar was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2006, becoming the first woman elected to represent the State of Minnesota. As chief prosecutor in Hennepin County, Minnesota's largest county, and now as a United States Senator, Amy brings the values she learned growing up in Minnesota to her work every day. Her grandfather worked 1500 feet underground in the iron ore mines of Northern Minnesota. Her father, Jim, was a newspaperman, and her mother, Rose, was an elementary school teacher who continued teaching until she was 70.
Throughout her career, Amy has taken those Minnesota values to heart to get results.
As a private citizen and before being elected to public office, she was the leading advocate for successful passage of one of the first laws in the country guaranteeing 48-hour hospital stays for new moms and their babies.
And, in 1998, after serving as a partner of two of Minnesota's leading law firms, Amy became the first woman elected to serve as the Hennepin County prosecutor, which includes Minneapolis and 45 suburbs.
As County Attorney, Amy headed the largest prosecutor's office in the state for eight years, Amy making the prosecution of violent and career criminals her top priority. She was a leading advocate for successful passage of Minnesota's first felony DWI law, and received the leadership award from Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Her safe schools initiative, community prosecution efforts and criminal justice reforms also earned national awards, including from the U.S. Department of Justice. She was also elected by her colleagues to serve as president of the Minnesota County Attorneys Association.
As the United States Senator for Minnesota, Amy has quickly established herself as a leader determined to get results. On issues such as consumer protection, renewable energy, developing our rural economy, combating climate change and reforming our government, Amy has been a strong advocate for middle-class families and Minnesota values.
In the Senate, Amy took the lead to pass the most significant consumer product safety legislation in a generation, keeping toxic products off our shores and out of our stores. She acted quickly to obtain full funding to replace the I-35W bridge, the eight-lane highway which was rebuilt in a record nine months after tragically falling into the Mississippi River. She introduced legislation to secure health and education benefits for our nation's veterans. She took on the cell phone companies for more consumer-friendly policies. And she helped pass the most sweeping ethics reform since Watergate.
Her work has gained national recognition. The American Prospect named her a "woman to watch," and Working Mother Magazine named her as a 2008 "Best in Congress" for her efforts on behalf of working families.
The Washington Post has described Klobuchar as "a rising star" and "a leading proponent of efforts to combat climate change," as well as "the funniest new member of Congress."
The Star Tribune reported on her substantial progress, citing observers who praised her work in her first hundred days as, "a fast-moving legislator with potential to become a party leader."
In the Senate, Amy serves on four committees: Agriculture, Environment and Public Works, Commerce, and the Joint Economic Committee.
Amy was the valedictorian of her Wayzata High School class. She graduated magna cum laude from Yale University and the University of Chicago Law School. Her senior thesis in college, published as the book "Uncovering the Dome," chronicles the 10-year-history behind the building of the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome and is still used at colleges and universities across the country.
Amy is married to John Bessler, a native of Mankato who attended Loyola High School and the University of Minnesota. He now teaches law. Amy and John have a thirteen-year-old daughter, Abigail.
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About Amy 
