| Lyle Koenen | |
| State Senate: | Minnesota |
| District: | 17th |
| Term Start: | April 18, 2012 |
| Term End: | January 2, 2017 |
| Prior Term: | 20th (2012–2013) |
| Preceded: | Gary Kubly |
| Succeeded: | Andrew Lang |
| State House2: | Minnesota |
| District2: | 20B |
| Term Start2: | January 7, 2003 |
| Term End2: | April 17, 2012 |
| Preceded2: | Gary Kubly (District 15B) |
| Succeeded2: | Andrew Falk (District 17A) |
| Party: | Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party |
| Birth Date: | 16 June 1956 |
| Birth Place: | Willmar, Minnesota |
| Alma Mater: | Willmar Technical College |
| Spouse: | Sandy |
| Children: | 4 |
Lyle J. Koenen (born June 16, 1956) is a Minnesota politician and former member of the Minnesota Senate. A member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL), he represented District 17, which included portions of Chippewa, Kandiyohi, Renville, and Swift counties in the southwestern part of the state.[1]
Koenen attended Maynard High School in Maynard, then Willmar Technical College in Willmar, earning his A.A. in agriculture. He has worked as a dairy farmer and was also a milk truck and school bus driver. He has co-chaired the Chippewa County National Farmers Union since 1996.[1] [2]
Koenen was first elected in 2002, and was reelected four times. He chaired the House Agriculture, Rural Economies and Veterans Affairs subcommittee for the Veterans Affairs Division.[3] On May 21, 2011, he was one of two DFL representatives who voted with a majority of Republicans to send a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage to a 2012 referendum.[4]
Koenen was elected to the Senate in a special election in 2012 to fill the seat left vacant after the death of Gary Kubly. He was sworn in on April 18, 2012.[5] Koenen ran for reelection to the newly drawn District 17 in 2012, defeating incumbent Willmar Republican Joseph Gimse.[6] He lost reelection to Republican Andrew Lang.