On November 3, 1998, Jesse Ventura was elected Minnesota's governor with only 37 percent of the votes cast. The first statewide Reform Party victory was also an upset victory, against Attorney General Hubert H. (Skip) Humphrey III and St. Paul Mayor Norm Coleman. Governor Ventura has since renounced his affiliation with the Reform Party and became an Independent.

Governor Ventura was born on July 15, 1951, in Minneapolis, MN, and grew up in the south Minneapolis Longfellow neighborhood, where he attended Cooper Elementary School and graduated from Roosevelt Senior High School in 1969. He then joined the U.S. Navy and became a SEAL. He served in the Navy for six years, four on active duty and two in the Reserves, and spent some time in Vietnam. On his release from the Navy in 1973, Ventura used the GI Bill to attend North Hennepin Community College in 1974 and 1975.

Ventura is Lutheran and is married to Terry, who operates a riding school at their Maple Grove horse farm. The Venturas have two children, Tyrel and Jade.

Before entering politics, Ventura was a professional wrestler and actor, starring in such movies as Predator with Arnold Schwarzenegger. He later became a radio talk show host. In 1990 Ventura successfully ran for mayor of Brooklyn Park, where he served until 1995. In 1998, with running mate Mae Schunk, a 36-year teaching veteran, Ventura surprised all of his critics by winning the governship. During the campaign, he attracted enough new voters while earning some Democratic and Republican votes to win, spending only $400,000 in the process.

While staying active in certain charitable causes and volunteering as a football coach at Champlin Park High School, Ventura still has an active entertainment career. He recently served as referee at a WWF wrestling tournament, and he has been a commentator for the new XFL football league.