Martin Sabo



Martin Olav Sabo was a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL) in the United States House of Representatives for Minnesota's Fifth Congressional District (map) from 1979 to 2007.

Background
Sabo was born February 28, 1938 to Norwegian immigrant parents in Crosby, North Dakota. In 1959 he received a Bachelor of Arts from Augsburg College in Minneapolis, later pursuing graduate studies at the University of Minnesota. He was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 1960 at the age of 22, later serving as minority leader (1969–1972) and as house speaker (1973–1978). During his tenure in the state house he served terms as president of the National Conference of State Legislatures and of the National Legislative Conference, and was a presidential appointee to the National Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations.

Sabo's daughter, Julie Sabo, is a former member of the Minnesota House of Representatives and was the 2002 Democratic Farmer Labor Party nominee for Lieutenant Governor.

Congressional Career
When Congressman Don Fraser stepped down to run for the US Senate, Sabo became the Democratic candidate to succeed him. He won easily in the heavily Democratic 5th District and has been reelected thirteen times without any serious opposition. He has served in the House longer than any Minnesotan except fellow Democrat Jim Oberstar.

Iraq War
Sabo voted against the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 that started the Iraq War.

2006 Elections
Sabo announced that he would retire at the end of his term. Democrats nominated Keith Maurice Ellison and Republicans nominated Alan Raymond Fine to contest the November 2006 election for his seat. (See U.S. congressional elections in 2006)

Committees in the 109th Congress (2005-2006)

 * House Committee on Appropriations
 * Subcommittee on Defense
 * Subcommittee on Homeland Security - Ranking Minority Member

Coalitions and Caucuses

 * Bicycle Caucus
 * Congressional Arts Caucus
 * Congressional Fire Services Caucus
 * Congressional Human Rights Caucus
 * Congressional Native American Caucus
 * Congressional Urban Caucus
 * Democratic Homeland Security Task Force
 * Democratic Policy Committee
 * Executive Committee, Democratic Study Group
 * Co-Chair, Friends of Norway Congressional Caucus
 * House Democratic Deputy Whip
 * Internet Caucus

Boards and other Affiliations

 * Board of Regents, Augsburg College
 * Board Member, Deaconess Hospital
 * Fund-raising, Literacy Campaigns and Little League
 * Trinity Lutheran Church

Articles and Resources

 * Official website
 * Open Secrets - 2006 congressional races database

Local blogs and discussion sites

 * Minnesota Campaign Report
 * Centrisity
 * MN Publius.com

Contact
DC Office: 2336 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515-2305 Phone: 202-225-4755 Fax: 202-225-4886 Web Email Website

District Office- Minneapolis: Marquette Plaza, Suite 225 250 Marquette Avenue Minneapolis, MN 55401 Phone: 612-664-8000 Fax: 612-664-8004