Category: 2018 Elections

Former Republican Senator David Durenberger Endorses Dean Phillips

Durenberger laments the loss of trust and pragmatic problem solving, is optimistic about its return with Dean Phillips in Congress

By Jonathunder – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link

EXCELSIOR, MN – Today, former Republican Senator David Durenberger endorsed Dean Phillips for Congress, saying:

“We are desperate for representatives we can trust. A leader who inspires rather than degrades. A Congress which pulls the nation together to solve our toughest problems. Dean Phillips’s success in life has been about inspiring trust. Send him to Washington with his inclusive ‘everyone’s invited’ message for America.”

Senator Durenberger served in the U.S. Senate between 1978 and 1995, making him the only Republican senator from Minnesota to be elected to three terms. Senator Durenberger was a leader in bipartisan health care reform during his time in the Senate, and chaired the National Institute of Health Policy after he left public office.

Senator Durenberger joins Republican MN Governor Arne Carlson and thousands of former Paulsen supporters who are now supporting Dean Phillips. The Star Tribune also endorsed Phillips after five consecutive endorsements for Paulsen. A recent KSTP SurveyUSA Poll showed that 17% of people who voted for Erik Paulsen in 2016 plan to vote for Dean Phillips in 2018.

Former Republican Gov. Arne Carlson Endorses Dean Phillips

Carlson cites the need for a return of decency and respect

EXCELSIOR, MN – Former Republican Governor Arne Carlson enthusiastically endorsed Dean Phillips for Congress this week. Carlson joins thousands of Republicans and former Paulsen supporters who are now supporting Dean, as well as the Star Tribune, which endorsed Phillips after five consecutive endorsements for Paulsen. A recent KSTP SurveyUSA Poll showed that 17% of people who voted for Erik Paulsen in 2016 plan to vote for Dean Phillips in 2018.

In rolling out the endorsement, Phillips’s campaign released a new online video of a conversation with Gov. Carlson, former Vice President Walter Mondale and Dean. In it, Governor Carlson says, “Extreme partisanship doesn’t get anything done… it produces the kind of divisiveness that we have now in our society. You [Phillips] have the ability to bring people together towards a positive solution.”

In addition to the online video advertisement, Phillips for Congress also announced the placement of outdoor advertising that highlights Governor Carlson’s endorsement:

Continue reading “Former Republican Gov. Arne Carlson Endorses Dean Phillips”

Karin Housley’s Record on Women and Economic Issues

Here are two elements of Housley’s record on women and economic issues.

Housley has made clear through her votes and her own comments that not only will she oppose legislative efforts to help women, she doesn’t think it’s worth her or Congress’ time.

Karin Housley voted against ensuring equal pay for women and expanding paid family and sick leave

Housley voted against the Women’s Economic Security Act (WESA), which was signed into law on Mother’s Day in 2014 and is considered landmark bipartisan legislation. WESA helps to close the gender pay gap by ensuring equal pay for equal work, expand paid family and sick leave, and strengthens workplace protections for women. More than 30 Republicans in the House and Senate voted for WESA. Despite this bipartisan effort, Housley voted against it.

Karin Housley said legislation to help women makes them look “weaker”

Earlier this year, Housley was asked about “what legislation she is putting forth to make things better or easier for women.” Her response? Housley said, “I believe that when you’re doing that, you make us look weaker.” She continued: “I think sometimes when we legislate to help women, we actually aren’t helping them.”

Millions of women have been helped by legislation:  the 19th Amendment, the Equal Pay Act, the Civil Rights Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, and Minnesota’s Women’s Economic Security Act.

Return Steve Simon as Minnesota secretary of state

Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon toured the Ramsey County elections office in 2016 with elections manager Joe Mansky. Simon seeks re-election this year.

Steve Simon likes to say that he’s in the “democracy business.”

Business is brisk under Simon’s watch as Minnesota’s secretary of state, with voter turnout among the highest nationwide for nearly every election. For that and other key reasons, Minnesotans should re-elect Simon on Nov. 6.

Of course, some will have already voted before Election Day during the “no-excuses” absentee voting period. That expanded capability to engage in our democracy can be credited in part to a bill sponsored by Simon during his days as a DFL legislator from St. Louis Park. Those efforts have paid off, with 2018 vote totals already far surpassing the pace of the 2014 midterms and even the hotly contested 2016 presidential election.

The expanded access reflects Simon’s belief in bolstering participation in elections, and by extension our collective civic life. It’s an ethos that stands in stark contrast to the disgraceful, antidemocratic attempts to suppress voting through onerous, often racially motivated restrictions enacted in North Dakota, Georgia and several other states this year.

View the complete October 26 editorial by the Star Tribune Editorial Board October 26, 2018 here.

Tim Walz, a uniter, for governor

Minnesota needs a uniter in the governor’s office over the next four years. This state’s success was built on its people’s capacity to come together to solve problems and seize opportunities. That capacity has eroded, in part because two decades of divide-and-conquer politics have pitted regions, races, genders and generations against one other.

Rebuilding a “One Minnesota” ethos in this state’s politics and government is crucial to sustaining prosperity and quality of life. DFLer Tim Walz’s aptitude and enthusiasm for that work make him better-suited than Republican Jeff Johnson to be Minnesota’s next governor. We recommend Walz’s election on Nov. 6.

“One Minnesota” is more than a slogan for Walz. His personal story, public record, policy positions and campaign performance all buttress his promise to bring bridge-building leadership to the governor’s office.

View the complete October 26 editorial by the Star Tribune Editorial Board on their website here.

DFL GOTV Bus Tour kicks off Thursday, Nov. 1 at 8:30 a.m. at State Capitol

A Minnesota for All

Minnesota is the epicenter of the 2018 election. With two U.S. Senate seats up, Minnesota has its longest ballot in about 50 years. On Nov. 6, Minnesotans will not only decide who controls state government and the constitutional offices, but candidates for Congress will impact political control on the national level.

DFL Chairman Ken Martin said to build on the energy and excitement DFL candidates are generating across the state, the DFL will host a 2018 DFL GOTV Bus Tour. The 5-day tour kicks off Thursday, Nov. 1 at 8:30 a.m. on the State Capitol Aurora Promenade.        

“During the tour, our candidates will encourage people to volunteer and vote,” Martin said. “With affordable and accessible health care, a world-class education for our children and making sure all voice are heard on the line, the stakes of an election have never been higher. Voters are responding to our candidates’ messages of building a Minnesota where everyone has opportunities to succeed. We look forward to taking that message across the state.” Continue reading “DFL GOTV Bus Tour kicks off Thursday, Nov. 1 at 8:30 a.m. at State Capitol”

DNC Launches New Campaign: ‘Vote For Me’

Today, the DNC launched a new campaign to urge Democratic voters to vote in the midterm elections. Watch and see what’s at stake through the eyes of kids, who could stand to lose the most in the midterm elections. They can’t vote – but you can.

This is the vote of our lifetime. It is an election like no other we’ve seen and there is so much at stake. Make a plan today for how you’re going to vote and visit IWillVote.com for help. To reach the DNC Voter Hotline: call 833-336-8683 or text QUESTION to 43367.

Alaya, age 10: “If I had lost my medicine, I don’t know what I would ever do. That would lead me to death, and I don’t understand why people would think to do that.”

Belia, age 13: “When I see them on TV taking kids away from their parents, it’s scary.”

Austin, age 15: “I heard if you zigzag when you run, like the shooter’s less likely to shoot you. So I’ve always been thinking, like, if a shooter ever comes into a classroom, like, I would like run through the back door and like zigzag out of the school. So like, I think about that on a daily basis.” Continue reading “DNC Launches New Campaign: ‘Vote For Me’”

Sheldon Adelson Breaks Spending Record on Midterm Elections, Surpassing $100M

Conservative megadonor outpaces his 2016 spending

Sheldon Adelson Credit: Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call file photo

Conservative megadonors Sheldon Adelson and Miriam Adelson have doled out more than $100 million to aid Republicans in the midterm election, far outpacing their giving during the 2016 presidential cycle.

A new $25 million donation puts the billionaire benefactors’ total spending toward helping Republicans hold on to both chambers of Congress at $113 million, Bloomberg reported. The donation was to the Senate Leadership Fund, a super PAC with ties to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.

That total surpasses the $82.6 million the couple spent on the 2016 cycle.

View the complete October 22 article by Emily Kopp on the Roll Call  website here.