by Dennis Dalman
State House Rep. Lisa Demuth (R-Cold Spring) has been honored as a 2025 “Woman of the Year” by USA TODAY, a national daily newspaper and broadcasting company.
She is one of 61 women nationwide recognized by USA TODAY for “breaking barriers, pushing for change and making communities better.”
Demuth represents District 13A in the Minnesota Legislature’s House of Representatives, which includes the city of St. Joseph. In February, Demuth was selected to become Speaker of the House, the first person of color to achieve that position. Previously, she was also the first biracial (African-American) person to become House minority leader two years ago. She has also served since 2023 as leader of the House Republican Caucus.
In an interview with USA TODAY, Demuth talked about her political life that began in 2007. She was first elected as a write-in candidate to the ROCORI (Rockville-Cold Spring-Richmond) School Board. In 2018, she filed to run for the State House after then-member Jeff Howe (R-Rockville) decided to compete in the State Senate race. He won that race, and so did Demuth for her House seat. She is now serving her third term.
On Nov. 5 of last year, Demuth was re-elected to her second House term by a majority vote of 75 percent.
Demuth said her mother inspired in her the values of hard work, independence and integrity – the very values Demuth said she believes are the foundations for successful leadership.
Born in Paynesville, Demuth, 58, owns/manages commercial property with her husband, Nick. They have four children. Demuth is a survivor of breast cancer.
A fervid abortion opponent, Demuth has been considered a moderate conservative. Among the issues she is fighting for is prevention of waste, fraud and abuse in state grant funds managed by non-profit programs. Another of her legislative efforts, with other colleagues, is a “Make Minnesota Affordable” strategy to lower taxes and the cost of living for families. Yet another effort is to ensure a strengthened support for Minnesota law-enforcement personnel and emergency medical workers.
