Introduction
Tony Cornish (born May 3, 1951) is a Minnesota politician and member of the Minnesota House of Representatives. A member of the Republican Party of Minnesota, he represents District 23B, which includes portions of Blue Earth, Le Sueur, Waseca, and Watonwan counties in the southern part of the state. Cornish was considering a 2016 run against U.S. Rep. Tim Walz.
Early life, education, and career
Cornish was educated at Garden City High School in Garden City Township, Minnesota and has received secondary education. From 1975 to 1977 he served as a police officer for the city of Amboy. From 1977 to 1980 he served as a deputy sheriff for Blue Earth County. In 1980 he became a conservation officer for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, serving 22 years before retiring in 2002.
Minnesota House of Representatives
Cornish was elected to the House as a Republican in 2002. He was re-elected in 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, and 2014.
Electoral history
Election Results and Statistics
2010 Minnesota State Representative District 24B
Statewide Voter Turnout TBD %
Tony Cornish (R), 9621 votes, 63%
Joan Muth-Milks (DFL), 3417 votes, 22%
Mark D. Meyer (I), 2242 votes, 15%
Write-In, 9 votes, 0.05%
2008 Minnesota State Representative District 24B
Statewide Voter Turnout 78.49%
Tony Cornish (R), 10275 votes, 51.18%
John Branstad (DFL), 9781 votes, 48.72%
Write-In, 10 votes, 0.10%
2006 Minnesota State Representative District 24B
Statewide Voter Turnout 60.46%
Tony Cornish (R), 9108 votes, 54.34%
Jim Peterson (DFL), 7636 votes, 45.56%
Write-In, 16 votes, 0.10%
2004 Minnesota State Representative District 24B
Statewide Voter Turnout 78.77%
Tony Cornish (R), 12416 votes, 60.27%
Terry Clodfelter (DFL), 8172 votes, 39.67%
Write-In, 13 votes, 0.06%
2002 Minnesota State Representative District 24B
Statewide Voter Turnout 64.89%
Tony Cornish (R), 8959 votes, 51.60%
Sandy Lorenz (DFL), 8388 votes, 48.31%
Write-In, 16 votes, 0.09%
Personal life
Cornish currently resides in Vernon Center, and is the police chief of the city of Lake Crystal. He is single, has three children, and is affiliated with the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod. He is the uncle of former Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura's wife, Terry.