Carl Jensen

Who was Carl Jensen?

Carl Arthur Jensen was a Minnesota politician and a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives and the Minnesota Senate from southwestern Minnesota. He first ran for the House in 1950, when the District 14 seat for Brown County became vacant due to the unexpected death of Rep. William V. Burroughs. He was re-elected to the House in 1952, 1954, 1956 and 1958.

In 1966, after several years away from public service, Jensen ran successfully for the District 17 state senate seat being vacated by John M. Zwach, Sr., who was running for the U.S. Congress. District 17 later became District 28 after redistricting in 1970, and included all or portions of Brown, Cottonwood, Murray, Nicollet and Redwood counties. He was reelected in 1970, 1972 and 1976.

From the city of Sleepy Eye, Jensen was a local attorney and military veteran. He served in the United States Air Force during World War II. After returning from the war, he attended law school at the University of Minnesota and graduated With Honors in 1949. Once admitted to the bar, he engaged in private practice, and also served as attorney for the Sleepy Eye School District for nine years, and for the City of Sleepy Eye for 14 years.