Coya Knutson

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Coya Knutson
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Minnesota's 9th district
In office January 3, 1955 – January 3, 1959
Preceded by	Harold Hagen
Succeeded by	Odin Langen
Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives
In office 1951-1955
Personal details
Born	Cornelia Genevive Gjesdal (1912-08-22)August 22, 1912 Edmore, North Dakota, U.S.
Died	October 10, 1996(1996-10-10) (aged 84) Edina, Minnesota, U.S.[1]
Political party	DFL
Spouse	Andy Knutson

Cornelia Genevive Gjesdal "Coya" Knutson (née Gjesdal; August 22, 1912 – October 10, 1996) was an American politician from the U.S. state of Minnesota. She served two terms in the Minnesota House of Representatives, from 1951 to 1955, before winning election to the U.S. House of Representatives from Minnesota's 9th congressional district as a member of the Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL). She served two terms there, in the 84th and 85th Congresses, (from January 3, 1955, to January 3, 1959).

Knutson was the first woman elected to Congress from Minnesota, and is remembered today for the notorious "Coya, Come Home" letter supposedly written by her then-estranged husband, Andy, urging her to give up her seat and not seek reelection in 1958. Political rivals had put him up to it, and it was seen as instrumental in her ensuing defeat. The incident is often cited as an example of sexism in American politics.