Former DFL Senate Majority Leader Kari Dziedzic dies of cancer at age 62

Former Senate Majority Leader Kari Dziedzic, who came from a famous northeast Minneapolis family and led the 34-member Senate DFL caucus through the landmark 2023 session, died Friday from the ovarian cancer that forced her to step away from her leadership role this year.

Dziedzic, 62, died in a Minneapolis assisted-living facility where she had been staying since early summer, according to a family member. Until the past week, she was in regular contact with colleagues and working on bills for the 2025 legislative session even though her treatment had kept her physically away from the State Capitol throughout 2024.

For much of her career, Dziedzic worked behind the scenes on behalf of other candidates and as a staffer for officials. She was elected to represent Senate District 60 in northeast Minneapolis in 2012, and 10 years later became leader of the Senate DFL caucus shortly after their surprising electoral gains gave the party a 34-33 advantage in the chamber.

Her death means the Senate will be evenly split at 33 members each for the DFL and the GOP when the 2025 session begins Jan. 14.

Gov. Tim Walz, who on Saturday called Dziedzic "humble and dedicated" with an "old-school political savvy," likely will have to call a special election so voters in her district, a DFL stronghold, can choose a senator for the remaining two years of her term. The seat likely won't be filled until late January at the soonest.

When she was elected to run the caucus in November 2022, Dziedzic had not so much as chaired her own committee. But she worked tirelessly, aided by a deep understanding of policy issues ranging from the state's complicated tax code to professional sports and health care.

During her first month as majority leader in early 2023, she announced her cancer diagnosis. She underwent a hysterectomy and had her spleen and appendix removed in March 2023.

As Dziedzic faced treatment, she worked remotely but never missed a vote during a highly productive session in which the DFL passed a long list of progressive bills that included restoring voting rights to felons upon release from incarceration, protecting reproductive rights, paid family and medical leave, and free meals for school children regardless of ability to pay.

She also personally sponsored a bill to ensure that cancer patients can have their wigs covered by insurance if they lose their hair. That law will take effect next week.

Bipartisan tributes streamed in Saturday for Dziedzic. Sen. Erin Murphy, DFL-St. Paul, who succeeded Dziedzic as majority leader, said in a statement that her work improved the lives of millions and that her death will echo across Minnesota.

"Her talents as a consequential and thoughtful leader made us all better legislators, and her examples of kindness, humor and selflessness made us all better people," Murphy said. "She was an uncommon leader and touched us all in a great many ways. I will miss her greatly."

First-term Sen. Heather Gustafson, DFL-Vadnais Heights, said Dziedzic's leadership held the caucus together in the 2023 session.

"She was real, never condescending, always straightforward, honest, and able to get to the heart of an issue with remarkable clarity," Gustafson said. "I could speak endlessly about how much I admire the irreplaceable Kari Dziedzic, but right now all I can think about is how much I'm going to miss her."

Dziedzic returned to the Capitol before the end of the 2023 session, walking down the steps with Walz, DFL Speaker Melissa Hortman and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan for a celebration of their work.

In November 2023, a screening showed Dziedzic to be free of the cancer. But the disease returned three months later, and Dziedzic informed her DFL colleagues at an online meeting in early February that she needed to step down from leadership to focus on her treatment.

She never returned to the Capitol, though she continued to vote and participate in committee meetings throughout the session.

In a statement, Hortman said Dziedzic will be remembered beyond her legislative legacy "for treating people with dignity and respect and never giving up on finding workable compromises. She had an incredible ability to work diligently through the most arcane and difficult policy issues to find resolution."

Senate Minority Leader Mark Johnson, R-East Grand Forks, called Dziedzic "a passionate legislator, a respected leader, and a trusted colleague and friend. She will be remembered for her integrity and her compassion for Minnesotans, something that we all saw as she continued to serve even as she battled cancer."

House Speaker-designate Lisa Demuth, R-Cold Spring, said Dziedzic served with compassion. "I will always remember her tremendous resolve and commitment to public service, even in the face of a difficult cancer diagnosis," Demuth said.

Dziedzic (pronounced DEED-zick) came to the Senate with a lifetime of political connections and policy knowledge that she learned in part from her parents: Walt Dziedzic, a former police officer, Minneapolis City Council and Park Board member, and her mother, Pat Dziedzic, who survives her. Walt Dziedzic, a beloved northeast Minneapolis civic legend, died in 2018 at age 84.

Former Sen. Jeff Hayden, another Minneapolis DFLer, said Dziedzic was a good friend who loved Minneapolis and was an expert on multiple issues. "She was probably one of the most well-respected leaders in Senate history," Hayden said, adding that she was a good listener, an even-keeled leader and strategist.

"She led without ego," he said. "I'm just heartbroken."

U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar said Dziedzic came out of the rough-and-tumble world of old-school northeast Minneapolis politics but carved her own path as a female leader who earned everyone's respect.

"She didn't do it with a huge flash," said Klobuchar, a longtime Dziedzic constituent. "She was just so smart and got things done."

Out front or behind the scenes, Klobuchar said Dziedzic was practical and had her finger on the pulse of what was happening in the world. "She would see the whole 3D picture of it," Klobuchar said.

In a 2022 interview, Dziedzic said she learned about commitment to her community from her parents. She lived in the district where she grew up and still attended the family church. She recalled meeting former Vice President Hubert Humphrey, whom she said her father worshiped.

"It was always, 'How can we help people? How can we make lives better for people?' " she said.

After graduating from the University of Minnesota with a degree in mathematics, she worked on the congressional campaign of Minneapolis City Council President Lou DeMars. He lost, and Dziedzic went on to work as a scheduler for U.S. Sen. Paul Wellstone.

Dziedzic called Wellstone, who died in a plane crash in 2002 while running for reelection, a hero.

"He just had such energy and enthusiasm and was able to just draw people in and have conversations with people that didn't agree with him," she said. "But they were able to find common ground and get things done."

A difficult chapter in Dziedzic's life began when she returned to Minnesota and got a job as executive assistant to Minnesota North Stars owner Norm Green. In March 1993, Dziedzic filed a lawsuit against Green, saying he had forced her and others to endure verbal and physical abuse of a sexual nature.

The suit alleged that Green kissed female employees and commented on their physical appearance and makeup. Several times, according to the suit, Green slapped Dziedzic as she was about to eat, warning her that she would get fat and be less attractive.

At the time, Green said his behavior had been "misunderstood or misinterpreted." The case was settled out of court for an undisclosed amount.

Dziedzic said she spent a lot of time trying to put the lawsuit behind her. But she said it also grounded her, and she said it was important as a leader to make sure "people feel welcome coming to work [and] feel respected."

Services are pending. In addition to her mother, Dziedzic is survived by sisters Anne of Waldorf, Minn.; and Kelly, of Minneapolis; and brothers Stephen , of Minneapolis; Timothy , of Stillwater; and Joe , of Roseville. She is also survived by 10 nieces and nephews.

When she was taking over the Senate leadership position, Dziedzic was asked what advice her father might have given her.

"Just listen to people," she said. "Keep your head down and do your work. People want you to get things done."