37 days until the Aug. 14 primary
76 days until no excuse absentee balloting opens for the Nov. 6 election
122 days until Election Day
2018 Election — Primary
Early voting now open. Go to dfl.org/voteearly to fill out an application to vote by mail. You can vote in person at your county courthouse or government center. Click here for a list of cities where you can vote early in person.
2018 Election — General
DNC announces organizing investment in Minnesota base communities ahead of November elections, Insight News
Simple name recognition often the key to winning elections in Minnesota, Star Tribune
GOP enthusiasm fueled by Trump may undercut Dems mid-term hopes, MPR
Congress
Dan Feehan, the DFL-endorsed candidate in the First Congressional District, is getting some national – and international – attention. Feehan, an Army veteran who served in Iraq and worked in former President Barack Obama’s Pentagon, has been featured by CNN twice recently. First came a June 23 piece about the competition for rural voters, followed by a June 30 story about Democratic efforts nationwide to recruit military veterans as candidates. On Tuesday, Germany’s ZDF filmed a July 4th parade in Albert Lea where Feehan marched, then interviewed him about rural consternation over President Donald Trump’s tariffs. He told them that southern Minnesota’s pork, soybean and corn farmers will be affected – and so could election results. Star Tribune
Democratic Party
70 years ago, Mayor Humbert Humphrey changed the Democratic Party, Boston Globe
Environment
Farm Bill
Minnesota lawmakers in D.C. hope to settle farm bill soon, Star Tribune
Klobuchar touts farm bill on Southern Minnesota tour, Rochester Post Bulletin
Governor
System shocker? Johnson takes new route in 2nd run, Mesabi Daily News
We shouldn’t forget to remember Tim Pawlenty, MinnPost
Rep. Erin Murphy talks campaign, WCCO
Health Care
U.S. opposition to breast-feeding resolution stuns world health officials, Star Tribune
Trump administration takes another swipe at Affordable Care Act, Star Tribune
Trump freezes payments required by the Affordable Car Act, MPR
Immigrant Crisis
Immigrant PhD candidate rocked by sudden US Army discharge, Star Tribune
Defense contactor detained migrant children in vacant Phoenix office building, The Hill
Legislature
Candidate questions: State Representatives in Dist. 51, ThisWeek
Storm Damage
Dayton, state leaders tour flood damage, Star Tribune
Taxes
Trade War and Tariffs
For Minnesota, trade war with China is all about soy beans, Star Tribune
Trump has already started four trade wars, and counting, The Atlantic
Trump’s economic gamble: Strong job gains v. risky trade war, Star Tribune
Trump
Trump can expect raucous protests when he visits the U.K., Star Tribune
5 things to watch as Trump heads to the NATO summit, The Hill
Visit to Europe – from Axios
Senior European officials are worried about three things:
- Trump will spend the entire NATO summit beating up on America’s closest allies — especially Germany — for not spending enough on their defense. They’re worried he’ll make these deficiencies the focus of the summit rather than solidarity in face of the Russian threat. And that he’ll have a friendlier summit with Putin just a few days after a tense NATO gathering.
- Trump will say something that suggests America’s commitment to defend NATO allies against attacks is conditional upon the allies meeting their defense spending targets. They’re stressed about any suggestion from Trump that he’ll draw down U.S. troops stationed in Europe.
- Trump will side with the populist, Putin-friendly leaders at the expense of America’s closest allies.
Upcoming Events
- Today through August 13 — Primary early voting. More information here.
- July 9, 7:00 PM — SD44 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Minnetonka Community Center, 14600 Minnetonka Blvd., Minnetonka, MN 55345
- July 9, 7:00 PM — SD49 DFL Central Committee Meeting, 7001 Cahill Rd, Suite 21, Edina, MN
- July 10, 7:00 PM — SD34 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Maple Grove Library, 8001 Main St N, Osseo, MN 55369
- July 12, 6:00 PM — SD34 DFL Marching in the Maple Grove Days Parade
- July 12, 7:00 PM — SD48 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Glen Lake Activity Center, 14350 Excelsior Blvd, Minnetonka, MN 55345
- July 13, 12:00 PM — Stand Against Trump, SD40 DFL Treasurer John Schafer is holding a weekly hour of protest and resistance on Fridays from 12pm to 1pm at the corner of Brookdale & Xerxes in Brooklyn Park.
- July 14, 10:00 AM — SD34 DFL at the Maple Grove Business Expo, Maple Grove Community Center, 12951 Weaver Lake Rd, Maple Grove, MN 55369.
- July 16, 7:00 PM — Brooklyn Park DFL Meeting, Brooklyn Park Public Library, 6500 W Broadway, Brooklyn Park, MN
- July 20, 12:00 PM — Stand Against Trump, SD40 DFL Treasurer John Schafer is holding a weekly hour of protest and resistance on Fridays from 12pm to 1pm at the corner of Brookdale & Xerxes in Brooklyn Park.
- July 21, 10:00 AM — SD33 DFL marching in the Mound Spirit of the Lakes Parade
- July 21, 12:00 PM — SD49 DFL Annual Summer Picnic, Rosland Park, 4300 W 66th St, Edina, MN 55435
- July 24, 7:00 PM — SD34 DFL Executive Committee Meeting
- July 27, 12:00 PM — Stand Against Trump, SD40 DFL Treasurer John Schafer is holding a weekly hour of protest and resistance on Fridays from 12pm to 1pm at the corner of Brookdale & Xerxes in Brooklyn Park.
- July 31, 7:00 PM — SD37 DFL Central Committee Meeting, check their Facebook page for location