Walz and Simon opt out of campaign public funds program; Ellison opts in
GOP candidates Scott Jensen and Kim Crockett have also submitted applications to the Campaign Finance Board for public funds.
Peter Callaghan
Peter Callaghan covers state government for MinnPost. Follow him on Twitter or email him at pcallaghan(at)minnpost(dot)com.
Marijuana advocates in Minnesota campaigning against legalization parties, infiltrators, in key swing districts
Winning major party status had unintended results. As a minor party, organizers have control over who runs under their party name by gathering signatures on a nominating petition. Major parties do not. In 2020, anyone with a filing fee could run under one of the two legalization parties.
With legalization of THC in Minnesota, what happens to the state’s medical marijuana program?
An expected increase in patients of the medical marijuana program in three weeks when edibles first become available might be blunted by the surprise July 1 legalization of hemp-based edibles in the state.
For the record: Where do Walz and Ellison stand on abortion?
Do the DFL incumbents support third-trimester abortion “for any reason?” Both say they do not and neither of their political opponents produced evidence that they do or have supported no-restriction abortion.
Was a bill to legalize THC edibles in Minnesota intentionally kept under wraps to ensure passage?
The strategy of keeping the impact of the bill quiet to assure passage should have ended after it was signed by Gov. Tim Walz. But even after it passed, there was little explanation of the sweep of the bill.
So, does the overturning of Roe help Democrats or Republicans come November?
Polling taken before the ruling and after the ruling does suggest voters are more likely to change their minds about how to vote now that the ruling is official and not speculative.
Gov. Walz says he won’t call for a special session to put checks in Minnesotans hands unless GOP pledges no more commissioner firings
But Senate Majority Leader Jeremy Miller says GOP has no intention of taking confirmation votes and hasn’t for months.
A whole lot of nothing: A divided Minnesota Legislature can’t find a way to spend a record surplus
With all 201 seats in the Legislature and all four constitutional offices on the ballot, much of the campaign rhetoric related to this session will be on the things one side wanted to pass but the other side blocked.
A renewed call for universal free lunch in Minnesota: COVID-related program ends June 30
What is the Community Eligibility Provision program and should students get it for free?
Even Minnesota’s state economist isn’t so sure about the economy right now
Laura Kalambokidis, Minnesota government’s top economist for the last decade, said she worries not only about looming economic threats but the uncertainty of what’s to come.
Expiration of Minnesota’s historic preservation tax credit looms after lack of action at Legislature
As with dozens of other provisions never voted on at the Capitol, the preservation credit is a victim of bigger disagreements over bigger issues. Unlike other issues, however, the credit faces a deadline.
Wait, wasn’t there going to be a special session of the Minnesota Legislature?
The session ended with a whimper two weeks ago, and the only actual meeting between Walz and legislative leaders came last Friday. There were few encouraging words. So what happened?
With redistricting decided in Minnesota, judicial panel now faces a trickier decision: How much to pay the lawyers?
Three of the four private plaintiffs in the case have asked the special five-judge panel that drew the state’s new political maps to award them a little more than $1 million to cover attorney fees and costs.
Who’s running in Minnesota in 2022: Statewide offices and U.S. House
Tracking all the declared candidates.
Minnesota isn’t likely to see many hotly contested primaries for statewide office. That’s exactly the way the parties want it.
“The value is not only to the candidates themselves but to the party writ large, to unify behind a candidate as early as possible and save our resources for a general election campaign,” says DFL Chair Ken Martin.
How providing more money for special education would actually mean more money for all Minnesota public school students
Because special education services are mandated by the federal government — and because federal and state funding doesn’t actually cover the cost of them — districts move money from other budget areas to cover the costs.
Minnesota Legislature adjourns 2022 regular session without passing tax cut, spending bills
Gov. Tim Walz’s threat that he would not call a special session may have served as a catalyst for action, but in the end, it didn’t push lawmakers toward success — and may not have actually been true.
Minnesota lawmakers say they have a deal on what would be largest tax cut in state history
The tax bill is a major part of a so-called “4-4-4” deal to spend $4 billion of Minnesota’s historic surplus over the next three years on tax cuts, $4 billion on new spending and leave $4 billion remaining in reserves.
Walz, Flanagan endorsed by DFLers for second term
Due to a lack of contested races, the party’s state convention was sparsely attended and tepid in tone. It took all of six minutes for delegates to nominate and endorse both Walz and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan by acclamation.
Not so vice: Minnesota lawmakers reach deal on growler sales while bill to legalize sports betting hits major hurdle
House Commerce Committee Chair Zack Stephenson, who has been in the middle of both issues, said he is not giving up on the gambling legislation — and is ecstatic about the proposed liquor law changes.
