Amy Klobuchar Biography

Amy Jean Klobuchar was born on May 25, 1960, in Plymouth, Minnesota, U.S., to Rose Heuberger, a former elementary school teacher, and Jim Klobuchar, a former 'Star Tribune' newspaper columnist. She has a younger sister.

Klobuchar was 15 when her parents got divorced. Her tumultuous relationship with her father due to his alcoholism was highly publicized. They reconciled after he quit drinking.

An exemplary student, Klobuchar was a valedictorian in her graduating class of the 'Wayzata High School.' She then graduated from 'Yale University' in 1982. While at 'Yale,' she interned at the office of the then-vice president and former senator Walter Mondale. Klobuchar earned her law degree from the 'University of Chicago' in 1985, after which started a career as a lawyer.

Amy Klobuchar was the legal advisor to former vice president Walter Mondale. She also worked as a corporate lawyer and was a partner at the Minnesota law firms 'Dorsey & Whitney' and 'Gray Plant Moody.'

In 1986, her senior thesis, 'Uncovering the Dome,' which was about the ‘Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome’ in Minneapolis, was published as a book.

She developed an interest in politics after her daughter was born. Her baby had some serious medical issues soon after birth, but the hospital asked Klobuchar to leave, since her one-day contract of staying there had ended. The incident infuriated her against the system, and she appeared before the ‘Minnesota State Legislature.’ She was successful in extending the hospital stay for new mothers to 48 hours. Impressed by her strong advocacy skills, President Bill Clinton added the clause to federal law. Walter Mondale also encouraged her to join politics.

In 1994, Amy Klobuchar ran for the position of the Hennepin County attorney but dropped out later. She supported many ‘Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party’ (DFL) candidates, including Orville Freeman.

In 1998, Klobuchar again ran for the attorney’s position of Hennepin County and won. In 2002, she successfully ran again, without any opposition. She served the post until 2006 and was then voted to the ‘U.S. Senate.’ From November 2002 to November 2003, Klobuchar served as the president of the ‘Minnesota County Attorneys Association.’

In 2006, ‘DFL’ nominated her for the ‘US Senate,’ and she had an easy win, becoming the first elected woman senator from Minnesota. Klobuchar assumed office in 2007. Even though she presented herself as a liberal, she showed interest in bipartisan negotiations, too.

She was associated with a highway bridge project. The bridge collapsed into the Mississippi River in August 2007.

In the 110th congress (2007–2009), Klobuchar was appointed to the committees on ‘Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry,’ ‘Commerce, Science, and Transportation,’ and ‘Environment and Public Works.’ She was also part of the ‘Joint Economic Committee’ and a member of the 'Congressional NextGen 9-1-1 Caucus.'

Amy Klobuchar earned accolades for maintaining transparency in her administration. In 2012, she began her second term as a senator.

In 2015, she was appointed as the chairperson of the ‘U.S. Senate Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee.’ That year, her autobiography, 'The Senator Next Door: A Memoir from the Heartland,' was released.

By the end of the 114th congress, Klobuchar had passed the maximum number of legislations. She also had the highest annual staff turnover rate. In February 2017, she set up an independent, bipartisan commission to investigate Russia's involvement in the election of President Donald Trump and his administration.

In 2018, Klobuchar began her third term as a senator. Her term will end on January 3, 2025.

As part of the 116th congress (2019–2021), Amy Klobuchar serves the subcommittees on ‘Conservation, Forestry, and Natural Resources,’ ‘Livestock, Marketing, and Agriculture Security,’ ‘Rural Development and Energy,’ Communication, Technology, Innovation, and the Internet,’ ‘Manufacturing, Trade, and Consumer Protection,’ ‘Transportation and Safety,’ ‘Security,’ ‘Antitrust, Competition Policy, and Consumer Rights’ (ranking member), ‘Crime and Terrorism,’ ‘Border Security and Immigration,’ and ‘Oversight, Agency Action, Federal Rights, and Federal Courts.’ She is also a member of the joint committees on the ‘Library’ (ex officio) and ‘Printing’ (ex officio) and the 'Joint Economic Committee.'

On February 10, 2019, Klobuchar announced her campaign for the 2020 'Democratic Party' presidential primaries. On March 2, 2020, she withdrew her candidature and endorsed Joe Biden instead.

In 2018, during the hearings on Brett Kavanaugh's ‘Supreme Court’ nomination, he had a heated argument with Amy Klobuchar (as a ‘Senate Judiciary Committee’ member) after she asked if he had ever lost his memory after consuming alcohol. He later apologized for his behavior.

According to a 'BuzzFeed News' report released in February 2019, Klobuchar often misbehaved and humiliated her employees. The article also mentioned the employees that labeled her a "good boss." A 'Huffington Post' article, too, accused her of the same, to which 61 of her former staffers praised her in an open letter to the journal.

In 2001, 'Minnesota Lawyer' named Amy Klobuchar the "Attorney of the Year" and 'Mothers Against Drunk Driving' presented her a leadership award for her role in passing Minnesota's first felony DWI law.

In 2012, the 'American Recreation Coalition' presented her the 'Sheldon Coleman Great Outdoors Award.' The 'Agricultural Retailers Association' presented her the 'Legislator of the Year Award.'

In 2013, the 'Service Women's Action Network' (SWAN) acknowledged her efforts against sexual assault in the military. The 'National Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) Sponsors Association' recognized her efforts in passing the 'Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act' by presenting her a 'Friend of CACFP' award.

The Minnesota chapter of the 'American Farm Bureau Federation' presented her the 2014 ‘Friends of Farm Bureau Award,' which Klobuchar shared with senator Al Franken. In 2015, the 'American Bar Association' honored her with the 'Congressional Justice Award,' while the 'National Consumers League' presented her the 'Trumpeter Award.'

Klobuchar led the 'Nonprofit Energy Efficiency Act,' for which she received the 'Goodwill Policymaker Award.' In 2017, the 'National Association of Women Lawyers' honored her with the 'Arabella Babb Mansfield Award.' The 'Iowa State University' chose her as the “Mary Louise Smith Chair in 'Women and Politics” for the ‘Carrie Chapman Catt Center.'

Amy Klobuchar has been married to attorney John Bessler since 1993. John teaches at the 'University of Baltimore School of Law.' They have a daughter, Abigail Klobuchar Bessler. Abigail grew up to be a legislative director for New York councilman Keith Powers.

Klobuchar is a 'United Church of Christ' member.

In March 2020, Klobuchar declared that John Bessler had tested positive for COVID-19 and was hospitalized.

Amy Klobuchar once held the record for most appearances on a single episode of "Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me!" with a total of six appearances.