From 1972 to 1982, he represented District 57, the southeast part of Minneapolis, including the University of Minnesota's main campus.

[citation needed] Spear was instrumental in passing the 1993 Minnesota Human Rights Act, which guaranteed protection from discrimination in education, employment, and housing to LGBT[4] Minnesotans.

His personal connections with other senators during his years in office were important in gaining the votes of Republican colleagues.

Allan Spear died on October 11, 2008, from complications following heart surgery earlier that week.

[7] He had partially completed an autobiography (Crossing the Barriers ISBN 9780816670406) at his death; a colleague of his in the Senate, John Watson Milton, provided an afterword listing the accomplishments of his later years.