33 days until the Aug. 14 primary
72 days until no excuse absentee balloting opens for the Nov. 6 election
118 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
Navigator Research poll:
- Across party lines, Americans are most concerned about maintaining Affordable Care Act (ACA) coverage for patients with pre-existing conditions.
- Although the next Justice’s support for abortion rights is important to a wide majority of Americans, they also care deeply about other issues, like gun laws and protecting the ACA.
- Many Americans are concerned that a Trump-appointed Justice will create a tilted, partisan Court that won’t hold Trump accountable for his abuses of power.
- Crucially, many Americans need facts and context on what’s at stake in the Supreme Court debate. For example, rather than simply citing Citizens United, explaining the implications of the case can go a long way toward making an effective argument.
2018 Election — Congress, CD3
2018 congressional races, Cook Political Report
Dean Phillips, the DFL-endorsed candidate for CD 3, responded to Erik Paulsen’s TV ad:
- Erik Paulsen has taken more special interest money than nearly any other member of Congress, and that buys him nice TV ads.
- Unfortunately, this is just another misrepresentation of truth from Rep. Paulsen – who has consistently voted against environmental protections during his 30 year political career.
- To understand why, you just have to follow the money. I believe voters will see through this election year posturing and vote this November for someone who is not beholden to special interests or party leadership.
- FACTS: League of Conservation Voters: Erik Paulsen has a 16 percent lifetime score. Clean Water Action 2016 Scorecard: Erik Paulsen 0 percent. Environment America: Erik Paulsen has a 15 percent score for 2017. FiveThirtyEight: Erik Paulsen votes with President Trump 97.6 percent of the time. Open Secrets: Erik Paulsen has taken the 8th most PAC money in the US House of Representatives.
2018 Election — Erik Paulsen (CD3)
With seat in jeopardy, Erik Paulsen suddenly becomes an environmentalist, City Pages
2018 Election — Governor
In Winona, Erin Murphy, DFL candidate for governor, shares vision for health care, Winona Daily News
Pawlenty pokes Johnson as the gubernatorial race heats up, MPR
Erin Murphy talks health care, KIMT
In visit to Winona, gubernatorial candidate Jeff Johnson talks of cultural change in state government, Winona Daily News
Tim Pawlenty takes on GOP opponent Jeff Johnson in first ad, Star Tribune
GOP governor candidate Johnson calls for a halt on refugees, MPR
Economy
Minnesota’s July economic update shows higher state revenue but mixed economic news, Minnesota Budget Project
Elections
Voting machine vendors under pressure, Politico
Environment
A Minnesota stalwart for climate research may disappear, MPR
Farm Bill
Klobuchar touts farm bill, Rochester Agri News
Minnesota farmers ask congressman to keep CSP in final farm bill, WNAX
Farmfest
Political candidates commit to Farmfest, Rochester Post Bulletin
Great Britain
At a time when Prime Minister Theresa May is so weak there’s speculation about whether her government will fall over softness on Brexit, Trump knifed her in an interview that the tabloid Sun (Britain’s biggest paper) ran under the headline, “I told May how to do Brexit but she wrecked it — the US trade deal is off.”
In what the Rupert Murdoch paper called “his incendiary verdict on her negotiating strategy,” Trump even suggested that her nemesis Boris Johnson, the conservative who resigned from her government this week, would “make a great Prime Minister.”
The paper said the comments “pour nitroglycerine on the already raging Tory Brexiteer revolt against the PM.”
The New York. Times’ online headline: “With May’s Government Teetering, Trump Gives It a Shove.” Axios
Health Care
Community members share their frustration at “Health Care Cost Listening Tour,” KVSC
U.S Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minn.) continued her push to make health care more affordable for Minnesotans by deploying her staff to kick off their statewide “Health Care Cost Listening Tour.”
- The listening sessions will include Minnesota residents, as well as health experts and care providers in discussions of how to make health care more affordable and accessible in Minnesota and across the country.
- Sen. Smith, a member of the Senate Health Committee, has made bringing down health care costs a top priority. Her first bill took aim at a big pharma tactic that keeps affordable generic drugs out of the hands of Minnesota families and seniors.
- She’s also questioned major pharmaceutical executives who are using billions in tax cut dollars to enrich their investors instead of prioritizing lower prescription drug prices.
- And she’s introduced legislation to require pharmaceutical companies to disclose how they’re using the billions in tax breaks they’ve received.
Immigration Crisis
Detaining immigrant kids is now a billion dollar industry, Star Tribune
Trump administration reunites just over half of migrant children under 5, says others are ‘ineligible,’ LA Times
Refugees
Economic benefits of admitting refugees outweigh costs, Norte Dame
Tariffs
Higher tariffs will affect 50 types of medical products, including MRI machines and a variety of surgical tools. All told, that’s about $1.8 billion worth of imports, AAF says.
- New tariffs will increase the cost of those products by about $400 million. Doctors and hospitals will see those costs when they buy medical tools, and will most likely pass those costs on to patients and insurance companies.
- People who are uninsured or who have high deductibles will feel the effects the most, while insurance companies will build the cost into their premiums. Axios
Trump
After NATO chaos, Trump met by protestors, pomp in Britain, Star Tribune
Trump relations with May ‘strong’ after bombshell interview, Star Tribune
U.S. Supreme Court
DFL chair predicts that Trump Supreme Court pick could rally voters, KXRA
Upcoming DFL Events
- Today through August 13 — Primary early voting. More information here.
- 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 14, 11:00 PM — DFL Feminist Caucus Annual Meeting, SEIU Local 26, 825 18th Ave NE, Minneapolis, MN 55418
- 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