Howard D. Olson (August 25, 1937 – November 23, 1996) was a Minnesota politician and a member of the Minnesota Senate. A Democrat, Olson was first elected in 1970, and was re-elected in 1972 and 1976. During his first six years, he caucused with the Liberal Caucus, as the Minnesota Legislature was officially nonpartisan until 1976. He represented the old districts 18 and 27, which changed somewhat through redistricting in 1972, and included all or portions of Cottonwood, Jackson, Martin, Nobles and Watonwan counties in the southwestern part of the state.