Former Minnesota Governor and US Senator Mark Dayton to Release Memoir

“Perseverance” reveals personal details and insight on contemporary politics

For immediate release

Dated: August 13, 2026

Contacts:

ST. PAUL, Minn (August 13, 2026) – Mark Dayton, who devoted his career to public service as a US senator and two-term Minnesota governor, will release his memoir next month. Perseverance, published by the Minnesota Historical Society Press, provides an inside look on Dayton’s life and pulls back the curtain on contemporary politics in the state and the nation.

Dayton was born into the legendary Dayton's department store family (whose company launched the Target Corporation). His career in politics stretched from 1990 to 2019 and included pivotal moments such as 9/11, the Iraq War, the economic recovery following the crash of 2008, the passage of the Marriage Equality act in Minnesota, and much more.

Perseverance features a foreword by Hillary Clinton and ends with an author’s postscript that directly addresses our current moment in public life.

About the Minnesota Historical Society
The Minnesota Historical Society is a non-profit educational and cultural institution established in 1849. MNHS collects, preserves and tells the story of Minnesota’s past through museum exhibits, libraries and collections, historic sites, educational programs, and book publishing. Using the power of history to transform lives, MNHS preserves our past, shares our state’s stories, and connects people with history.