John Lesch was first elected Minnesota State Representative from Saint Paul in November of 2002, and has been reelected eight times. He represents the diverse neighborhoods of Como Park, Hamline Midway, the North End and the East Side. His focus in the legislature is on consumer protection, public safety, and economic justice issues. Legislative committees on which he has served include: Taxes, Public Safety, Regulated Industries, Governmental Operations, and Veterans Affairs. As Chair of the House Judiciary Committee, John shepherded through 2013’s historic marriage equality law for Minnesota.

John’s passions on policy include fair consumer protection laws, corporate accountability, and efforts to safeguard peoples’ right to seek justice.

For 15 years John prosecuted domestic assault and misdemeanor crimes for the City of Saint Paul. In this role, he was an active member of AFSCME Local #3757, and a delegate to the St. Paul Trades and Labor Assembly. Prior to his job as a prosecutor, John worked for two years as Legislative Aide to then Saint Paul Councilmember Chris Coleman where he addressed affordable housing issues, traffic and safety initiatives, and neighborhood environmental concerns. John currently operates his own law practice in Saint Paul which specializes in criminal defense, family law, and miscellaneous civil litigation. In 2009, John enlisted in the Minnesota National Guard, where he served for 8 years as an infantry officer. He retired in 2017 with the rank of Captain.

John earned his B.A. from Saint Louis University in 1995 with a double major in Philosophy and Psychology, and a J.D. from Hamline University School of Law in 1998 with a concentration in Government and Regulatory Affairs. John lives in Como Park with his wife Melissa, and daughters: Alice, Eleanor, and Eilah.