Donald M. Fraser - Political Career

Political Career

In 1954, Fraser was elected to the Minnesota Senate and served for eight years ending in 1962 when he was elected to the United States House of Representatives from Minnesota's Fifth District. He served there in the 88th, 89th, 90th, 91st, 92nd, 93rd, 94th, and 95th congresses, from January 3, 1963 until January 3, 1979, giving up his seat to run for the U.S. Senate. He narrowly lost the 1978 Senate primary election to Bob Short, who then lost in the general election to David Durenberger.

Fraser played a critical role in making human rights an important part of U.S. policy. When President Gerald Ford requested $222 million in foreign aid for Cambodia to combat the Khmer Rouge, during Congressional debate acting Secretary of State Robert Ingersoll asked Fraser if he were "demanding that the Lon Nol government surrender to the Khmer Rouge," and Fraser said: "Yes, under controlled circumstances to minimize the loss of life."

Fraser served as president of Americans for Democratic Action from 1974 to 1976. He was elected mayor of Minneapolis in 1979, taking office on January 1, 1980. His first mayoral term was two years in length, and he was subsequently reelected to three four-year terms. He was the longest-serving mayor in Minneapolis history. Fraser left office on December 31, 1993, succeeded by the city's first female and first African-American mayor, Sharon Sayles Belton.

Fraser served as a member of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party. Arvonne Fraser ran for lieutenant governor of Minnesota in 1986.