Betty McCollum

Betty McCollum
Born	Betty Louise Dierich 12 7, 1954
Birthplace	Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, U.S. Representative
Known for	U.S. Representative for Minnesota's 4th congressional district; advocacy for Palestinian human rights; Dean of Minnesota's congressional delegation
Education	St. Catherine University (BA)
Website	[mccollum.house.gov Official site]

Betty Louise McCollum (Template:IPAc-en; born July 12, 1954) is an American politician who has served as the U.S. representative for Minnesota's 4th congressional district since January 2001. A member of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL), McCollum represents a district centered on St. Paul, the capital city of Minnesota. She is the second woman elected to Congress from the state of Minnesota and has served as the dean of Minnesota's congressional delegation since 2021, following the departure of Representative Collin Peterson. Before entering federal office, McCollum served eight years in the Minnesota House of Representatives, representing District 55B from 1993 to 2001. Throughout her congressional tenure, she has focused on issues including appropriations, Native American affairs, defense spending oversight, environmental protection, and human rights in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In recent legislative sessions, McCollum has been an outspoken critic of voter suppression measures and executive overreach on tariff authority, and she has repeatedly introduced legislation aimed at protecting Palestinian children and families living under military occupation.

Early Life

Betty Louise Dierich was born on July 12, 1954, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She grew up in the Minneapolis–St. Paul metropolitan area during a period of significant social and political change in Minnesota. The state had a well-established tradition of progressive politics through its Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, which had been formed in 1944 through a merger of the Minnesota Democratic Party and the Farmer-Labor Party.

McCollum's early life in Minnesota shaped her later political engagement. She grew up in a working-class environment and became involved in community affairs at a relatively young age. Her initial entry into public service came not through electoral politics but through local civic engagement, including work as a retail sales manager and community volunteer. McCollum's path to political life was reportedly catalyzed by her involvement in local issues affecting her community, including public safety and education matters in the St. Paul area.

Her early engagement with community organizations and local government provided her with the foundation for what would become a multi-decade career in elected office. Before seeking office in the Minnesota House of Representatives, McCollum built connections within the DFL Party structure and gained experience with the policy concerns of residents in the eastern portions of the Twin Cities metropolitan area.

Education

McCollum attended St. Catherine University (formerly the College of St. Catherine), a private Catholic women's university located in St. Paul, Minnesota, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. St. Catherine University, founded in 1905 by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, is the largest private women's university in the United States. McCollum's educational background at the institution provided her with grounding in the liberal arts tradition. Her academic experience at St. Catherine University preceded her entry into both community work and eventually elected politics.

Career

Minnesota House of Representatives (1993–2001)

McCollum began her career in elected office when she won a seat in the Minnesota House of Representatives, representing District 55B. She took office on January 5, 1993, succeeding Harriet McPherson in the seat. District 55B encompassed portions of the St. Paul area and its surrounding communities.

During her eight years in the Minnesota House, McCollum established herself within the DFL caucus and worked on a range of state-level policy issues. Her tenure in the state legislature provided her with legislative experience and name recognition that would prove instrumental in her subsequent campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives. She served in the state House until January 3, 2001, when she departed to take her seat in Congress. McCollum was succeeded in the Minnesota House by Scott Wasiluk.

Election to Congress

McCollum ran for the U.S. House of Representatives in 2000, seeking to represent Minnesota's 4th congressional district. The seat had been held by Bruce Vento, a Democrat who had represented the district since 1977. Vento's departure from the seat opened the way for McCollum's candidacy. She won the election and took office on January 3, 2001, becoming the second woman elected to Congress from Minnesota.

Her victory in the 4th district was consistent with the area's longstanding support for DFL candidates. The district, centered on St. Paul and including surrounding suburban communities in Ramsey County and portions of Washington County, has been a Democratic stronghold for decades. McCollum has won reelection in every subsequent cycle, maintaining her hold on the seat for more than two decades.

Congressional Tenure

Since entering Congress, McCollum has served on several key committees and has built a legislative record focused on appropriations, Native American affairs, environmental issues, human rights, and defense spending. She has been a consistent member of the House Appropriations Committee, one of the most influential committees in the House, which controls federal spending allocations.

McCollum became the dean of Minnesota's congressional delegation in 2021, following the electoral defeat of Representative Collin Peterson, who had represented Minnesota's 7th congressional district since 1991. As dean, McCollum serves as the most senior member of the state's House delegation and plays a coordinating role among Minnesota's representatives.

Throughout her tenure, McCollum has compiled a progressive voting record. Interest group ratings from organizations across the political spectrum have reflected her alignment with liberal and progressive policy positions on issues including labor rights, environmental protection, healthcare, and civil liberties. The Human Rights Campaign, which advocates for LGBTQ rights, has given McCollum high ratings for her voting record on issues related to sexual orientation and gender identity.

Palestinian Human Rights Legislation

One of the most prominent aspects of McCollum's congressional career has been her legislative work on Palestinian human rights. She has been the primary sponsor of legislation titled the "Defending the Human Rights of Palestinian Children and Families Living Under Israeli Military Occupation Act," which she has introduced in multiple sessions of Congress.

In February 2025, McCollum re-introduced this legislation, which she described as promoting "human rights, peace, and justice for Palestinians living in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem." The bill has drawn both support and criticism from various advocacy organizations and political figures. McCollum has been one of the most prominent voices in Congress on the issue of conditions faced by Palestinian civilians, particularly children, in territories under Israeli military control.

The legislation has been a defining element of McCollum's profile in Congress, distinguishing her from many of her colleagues on Middle East policy. Her consistent reintroduction of the bill across multiple congressional sessions reflects her sustained engagement with the issue.

Voter Rights and Election Policy

McCollum has been an outspoken opponent of what she characterizes as voter suppression efforts. In February 2025, she voted against S. 1383, the SAVE America Act, which passed the U.S. House of Representatives. McCollum described the legislation as "yet another attempt from Republicans to nationalize elections" and argued it would suppress voter participation.

Her opposition to the SAVE America Act was consistent with her broader record on election policy, in which she has generally supported expanded access to voting and opposed measures that impose additional requirements on voters, such as stricter identification mandates.

Tariff Authority and Executive Power

In February 2025, McCollum issued a statement in response to a U.S. Supreme Court decision regarding presidential tariff authority. She stated that the Court had "sided with the Constitution in striking down tariff authority," framing the decision as a reassertion of congressional prerogatives over trade and taxation policy. McCollum's position reflected her broader concern with maintaining the separation of powers and limiting executive branch overreach on economic and trade matters.

Collaboration with Minnesota Delegation

McCollum has maintained an active collaborative relationship with other members of Minnesota's congressional delegation, particularly fellow DFL members. In February 2025, she joined with Congresswomen Ilhan Omar and Angie Craig to host a press conference ahead of the State of the Union address. She also partnered with Congresswoman Kelly Morrison to host guests Colin Hortman and Alina Bachman Hortman at the State of the Union Address, a tradition in which members of Congress invite constituents or notable individuals to attend the annual presidential address.

These collaborative efforts are consistent with McCollum's role as dean of the state's delegation, in which she helps coordinate messaging and joint activities among Minnesota's members of Congress.

Small Business and Economic Policy

McCollum's record on economic and small business policy has been assessed by various advocacy organizations. The Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council included McCollum in its ratings of members of Congress on issues relevant to small business owners and entrepreneurs. Her voting record on economic issues has generally aligned with the positions of organized labor and consumer advocacy groups rather than with business-oriented organizations that favor deregulation and tax reduction.

Progressive Voting Record

McCollum's overall voting record has been tracked by Progressive Punch, a database that rates members of Congress on their adherence to progressive policy positions. Her scores have consistently placed her among the more progressive members of the House. This positioning is consistent with the political preferences of her district, which has been a reliably progressive constituency in Minnesota politics.

Her positions on social issues, as documented by Vote Smart's National Political Awareness Test (NPAT), have reflected support for progressive stances on healthcare, education, environmental regulation, and civil rights.

Personal Life

Betty McCollum was born Betty Louise Dierich in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She has lived in the St. Paul area for much of her adult life, residing within the congressional district she represents. McCollum's personal life has remained relatively private compared to some of her congressional colleagues, and she has generally focused public attention on her policy work rather than personal matters.

McCollum has maintained strong ties to the communities within Minnesota's 4th congressional district throughout her time in office. Her long tenure representing the district—spanning more than two decades in Congress and an additional eight years in the state legislature—reflects deep roots in the area. She has been a consistent presence at local events and community gatherings in the St. Paul metropolitan area.

Recognition

McCollum's career in public service has earned her recognition from a variety of organizations and advocacy groups. Her legislative work has been rated by numerous interest groups spanning the political spectrum, including organizations focused on labor rights, environmental protection, LGBTQ rights, civil liberties, and small business policy.

The Human Rights Campaign has recognized McCollum's voting record on LGBTQ issues, reflecting her consistent support for legislation protecting the rights of LGBTQ individuals. Environmental organizations have similarly rated her favorably for her positions on climate change, conservation, and environmental regulation.

As the second woman elected to Congress from Minnesota and the current dean of the state's congressional delegation, McCollum holds a distinctive position in the history of Minnesota politics. Her longevity in office—more than three decades of continuous service between the state legislature and Congress—places her among the longer-serving members of Minnesota's political establishment.

Her work on Palestinian human rights legislation has drawn international attention and has been covered by media outlets both within the United States and abroad. The repeated introduction of her bill on Palestinian children and families has made the issue a recurring topic of congressional debate and has contributed to broader discussions about U.S. policy in the Middle East.

Legacy

Betty McCollum's legacy in Minnesota and national politics is shaped by several defining aspects of her career. As only the second woman elected to Congress from Minnesota, she occupies a notable place in the state's political history. Her continuous service in elected office since 1993—first in the Minnesota House of Representatives and then in the U.S. House of Representatives—represents one of the longer unbroken tenures among Minnesota's elected officials.

Her role as dean of Minnesota's congressional delegation since 2021 has placed her in a position of seniority and influence within the state's political infrastructure. The dean position carries informal authority in coordinating the delegation's activities and presenting a unified front on issues of particular importance to Minnesota.

McCollum's legislative focus on Palestinian human rights has been among her most distinctive contributions to congressional debate. Her repeated introduction of legislation addressing the treatment of Palestinian children and families has placed the issue on the congressional agenda in a way that few other members have achieved. Regardless of the legislative fate of these bills, they have contributed to ongoing discourse about U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East and the role of human rights considerations in that policy.

On domestic matters, McCollum's progressive voting record and her consistent positions on voter access, environmental protection, labor rights, and healthcare have aligned her with the liberal wing of the Democratic Party. Her service on the House Appropriations Committee has given her influence over federal spending decisions, allowing her to advocate for funding priorities important to her district and to the policy areas she has emphasized throughout her career.

McCollum's career trajectory—from community involvement to state legislative service to more than two decades in Congress—reflects a model of gradual political ascent rooted in constituent service and sustained engagement with a consistent set of policy priorities.