Tarryl Clark

Office Seeking: U.S. House, Minnesota-6th District

Position Held: Minnesota State Senate-15th District

Progressive Credentials:

• Advanced affordable, high-quality health care for all by supporting health care legislation

• Worked with labor and industry to create green jobs

• Proposed legislation that pressed for land protection and renewable energy

• Proposed legislation that funded programs to foster early childhood education and literacy

Primary Election Opponent: Maureen Reed

Primary Election Date: August 10, 2010

Primary Election Results: TBD

General Election Opponents: Michele Bachmann

General Election Date: November 2, 2010

General Election Result: TBD

Why we like her: Tarryl Clark is a rising star within Progressive politics. Her bold challenge to the darling of the Tea Party crowd, Michele Bachmann, speaks for itself.

Tarryl has been a tireless champion for our values and on the issues that matter, from health care and education to jobs and the economy. Her desire to work hand in hand with labor to establish green jobs represents her ability to work across sectors to benefit our economy.

Candidate Quote: "Being a Democrat is about standing up for what's right and creating a world of opportunity for the generations that will follow us. I'm proud to have the support of our next generation of progressive leaders. Working together, on issues from creating good-paying jobs and restoring the economy to reforming healthcare and investing in education, we can ensure that our country's best days are still ahead."

Candidate website: http://tarrylclark.com/


Tarryl Clark is a State Senator representing the St. Cloud area in the Minnesota State Senate. She was elected to office in a surprise 2005 special election victory, winning a previously Republican Senate seat. She was re-elected in 2006 by double-digit margins. Her colleagues then elected her Assistant Majority Leader, the number two position in Senate leadership.

Before being elected to public office, Clark spent her career devoted to public service. She served as Executive Director of the Minnesota Community Action Partnership, working with communities statewide to implement efforts including Meals on Wheels and Head Start. She worked locally as Executive Director of Central Minnesota Habitat for Humanity, helping families succeed through home ownership and growing the volunteer base from 0 to 400. At the YWCA and the Girl Scouts, she created teen mentorship programs and led teen pregnancy prevention efforts.

Clark attended Drake University and graduated with a B.A. in Sociology. She later earned a Master's Degree in Education from Arizona State University. Clark then graduated cum laude from the William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul, Minnesota and is a licensed attorney. Clark and her husband Doug live in St. Cloud. They have two sons, Colin and Nathan.

Race Type: Democratic Challenge