Deb Kiel


Debra L. Kiel is an American farmer and politician from Minnesota. Kiel is a Republican member of the Minnesota House of Representatives who represents District 1B, which includes portions of Marshall, Pennington, Polk and Red Lake counties in the northwestern part of the state.

Early life, education, and career

Kiel was born and raised south of Crookston. She graduated from Crookston High School, then attended Concordia College in Moorhead. She was a member of the Crookston School Board for seven years, serving as the board's chair and treasurer. Kiel and her husband are sugar beet farmers.

Minnesota House of Representatives

Elections

Kiel was first elected to the House in 2010, unseating longtime incumbent Rep. Bernard Lieder by just 131 votes. She was re-elected in 2012 and 2014.

Committee Assignments

For the 89th Legislative Session, Kiel is a part of:
For the 88th Legislative Session, Kiel was a part of:
For the 87th Legislative Session, Kiel was a part of:
Kiel was sworn in on January 4, 2011. She has severed in the 87th, 88th, and 89th Minnesota Legislatures. For the 89th Legislative Session, Kiel is serving as Assistant Majority Leader. Current legislative action, co-author of a discriminatory "bathroom bill" introduced to the legislature in March 2016.https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?b=House&f=HF3396&ssn=0&y=2016
On 4/14/2020, Rep.Kiel voted against insulin affordability for diabetics in Minnesota.

Personal life

Kiel married her husband Lonn in 1977. They have four children, Christian, Katheryn, Stephanie, and Alexander. Three of her children are married and she has 12 grandchildren. Kiel is active at her home church, Our Savior’s Lutheran where she sings in the choir, teaches Sunday school, has served as the youth group leader, and taught music in Our Saviors’ Lutheran school. Kiel helps with the knowledge bowl group at Crookston Public schools; she is on the SPOKES group for the Villa St Vincent Foundation. Lonn ran 3 unsuccessful campaigns against Rep. Bernard Lieder before Deb succeeded in unseating him. Her great grandfather, John Perry, a Crookston farmer, represented Polk County in the Minnesota House during the 1921-1922 biennium.