Dean Barkley

Dean Malcolm Barkley (born August 31, 1950) is an American attorney and politician from Minnesota who served briefly as a United States Senator from that state from November 4, 2002, to January 3, 2003. Appointed by Governor Jesse Ventura to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Senator Paul Wellstone, Barkley represented the Independence Party during his short tenure in the Senate.

Barkley founded the Independence Party of Minnesota, originally emerging from the Reform Party, and managed Ventura's successful gubernatorial campaign as its candidate. He ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate three times as the party's nominee, in 1994, 2002 (before his appointment), and 2008, emphasizing fiscal responsibility and criticism of the two major parties' polarization. Earlier in his career, Barkley earned a B.S. and J.D. from the University of Minnesota and worked as a small businessman and attorney in Plymouth. In 2012, he sought election to the Minnesota Supreme Court but did not advance.