Walker Orenstein reports on the state Legislature for MinnPost, with a particular focus on covering issues affecting Greater Minnesota. He can be reached at worenstein@minnpost.com, and you can follow him on Twitter at @walkerorenstein.
With all the votes in, Omar defeated Samuels by a narrow margin. Finstad won his primary for a spot on the November ballot. He’ll also be the incumbent after winning a special election for the remainder of the late Rep. Jim Hagedorn’s seat.
In many legislative races, anti-establishment firebrand Republicans are challenging incumbent lawmakers or more conventional conservatives.
The GOP and DFL were mostly successful in having their endorsements clear the field of challengers, but there are exceptions.
Chief Justice Lorie Gildea said the people investigating Sen. Gene Dornink waited “long periods” between visiting his homes and waited too long before submitting their complaint ahead of the Tuesday primary election.
Reps. Angie Craig and Dean Phillips are among the first members of Congress to suggest a candidate other than President Biden should be on the presidential ticket in 2024.
Secretary of State Steve Simon also weighed in, saying the petition questioning Dornink’s residency should be “procedurally barred” because it was filed less than two weeks before the primary.
Primary opponent’s former campaign manager says he suspected Republican state Sen. Gene Dornink wasn’t living in the district and went to investigate, leading to a petition with the Minnesota Supreme Court.
The veteran DFL state senator who recently turned independent was tapped to help lead the Legislature’s efforts to finance public construction projects across the state. So far, there’s been no deal.
Walz said troopers have been focused on traffic violations they deem a threat to public safety.
Democrats in recent weeks have raised the possibility of a statewide referendum in 2024 on abortion, saying Republicans are likely to try such a maneuver if they control the Minnesota House and Senate after the fall elections. So far, Republicans have not talked about it.
Democrats at the Minnesota Legislature have called for voters in November to elect a “pro-choice majority” to the state Capitol. That request includes flipping the Senate and changing the makeup of the state House, where the DFL already has a narrow majority.
The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission Thursday ordered an investigation of LTD to determine if the small company has the ability to deliver fiber internet to Minnesota’s rural areas.
In law, the word “viable” was defined as being able to live outside the womb, even with artificial aid. But, crucially, the law also says a fetus in the second half of a roughly 40-week gestation period is considered “potentially viable.”
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.
The potential change in ideology is notable because the state Senate has been, in many ways, the political face of the Republican party over the past four years.
Any legislation significantly curtailing existing abortion access would likely fail if Walz is reelected or if Democrats are in control the state House or Senate next year. But if Republicans win full control of state government, the political picture would be different and abortion foes would have more power.
In total, the deal struck over the energy budget would have spent about $46.5 million from the state’s general fund over the next three years and another $36 million from the Renewable Development Account
In Greater Minnesota, where more people live in rural areas, 79 percent of respondents to a MinnPost poll said they felt their incomes were falling behind the cost of living.
We’re planning to crisscross the state to bring smart, tough, in-depth coverage to all readers on our paywall-free site.
The state will give grants up to $15,000 per eligible farmer, which the person has to match.
