2018 Election — Primary
Voting is now open! Go to dfl.org/voteearly to request an absentee ballot to vote by mail or vote in person at your county courthouse or government center. Check here for a list of cities that provide in-person early voting.
Julie Blaha, the DFL-endorsed candidate for state auditor, is voting to move Minnesota forward for her grandkids. How about you? #mnvotesearly #OurMN
2018 Election — Congress
Craig will fight for Minnesotans, ThisWeek
See a video of Mrs. Obama (“Call Lin-Manuel Miranda”) in support of When We All Vote, a new, nonpartisan non-profit (co-chairs: Mrs. Obama, Tom Hanks, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Janelle Monáe, Chris Paul, Faith Hill and Tim McGraw). Axios
2018 Election — Governor
Pawlenty? We’ve had plenty, Timberjay
2020 Election
5 hard questions Democrats need to answer before 2020 CNN
- Do Democrats want to endorse their own version of Trump? Or the opposite? If the former, outsider candidates like Mark Cuban or Howard Schultz are more intriguing. If the latter, then an institutionalist (Joe Biden is at the front of that pack) might hold some allure. Or maybe a woman (Elizabeth Warren, Kirsten Gillibrand, Kamala Harris) to shine a bright light on the incumbent’s past statements and behavior.
- Is there a “too liberal” candidate in the field? At the moment, the way to win in the Democratic Party is to get as far to the left as possible. It’s why you’ve seen several likely 2020ers get beyond Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s pledge to abolish the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE). The question is whether that produces a candidate who might not be the party’s best chance of beating Trump.
- A senator? Really? The top of the Democratic field is absolutely lousy with senators — and former senators, like Biden. But only two presidents since 1960 have been elected straight from the Senate: John F. Kennedy and Barack Obama. And the 2020 field doesn’t look to have someone with that natural political ability just yet.
- Trade wars. In the 2008 primary fight between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, one of the main points of disagreement was their views on trade. Obama bashed Clinton on her past support for NAFTA while she sought to distance herself from it. Where is the party now on trade — particularly with Trump’s oft-stated suspicion about international trade agreements and the fact that he is president now because of three Midwestern states where free trade has hurt the economy.
Fresh faces or trusted hands? The three candidates polling best right now in hypothetical Democratic primary surveys are Biden (age 75), Bernie Sanders (76) and Elizabeth Warren (69). Is that the right contrast with the 72-year-old Trump? Or would Democrats be better off skewing younger and more in line with their party’s base? If so, keep an eye on New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker (49) or Gillibrand (51).
Economy
Minnesota adds 6,600 jobs in June. A show of momentum after big gain in May, Star Tribune
New report: ‘Upskilling the immigrant workforces to meet employer demand for skilled workers,’ Workday Minnesota
Elections
“A generation ago, Democrats represented much of the country’s manufacturing base. Now, it’s in GOP hands, a swing remaking both parties,” the Wall Street Journal’s Bob Davis and Dante Chinni writes.
What’s new: “The Republican Party has become the party of blue-collar America.”
The data: “After the 1992 election, 15 of the 20 most manufacturing-intensive Congressional districts in America were represented by Democrats. Today, all 20 are held by Republicans.”
Why it matters: “The shift of manufacturing from a Democratic stronghold to a Republican one is a major force remaking the two parties. It helps explain Donald Trump’s political success, the rise of Republican protectionism and the nation’s polarized politics. It will help shape this year’s midterm elections.” Axios
Endangered Species Act
Trump administration introduces proposal to roll back Endangered Species Act protections, The Hill
Health Care
Dems wrestled with election year message on health care, Star Tribune
About 4 million more people would have insurance and premiums would be roughly 12 percent lower if every state passed its own version of the Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate, according to new research from the Commonwealth Fund and the Urban Institute, both liberal think tanks.
The effect on premiums would vary from state to state, from a 4 percent reduction in Alaska up to 21 percent in New Mexico, the study says.
Kentucky, Montana, North Dakota and West Virginia would each see more than a 20 percent drop in the number of uninsured residents. Axios
Lewis, Jason
Rep. Jason Lewis stands by his ‘sluts’ comment, ‘I was paid to be provocative,’ CNN
With ‘slut’ comment, Lewis’ radio career flares up again, MPR
Minnesota Congressman under fire for comments made in 2012, New York Times
Nolan, Rick
Rep. Nolan faces questions about dismissed staffer, MPR
Minnesota congressman faces questions over dismissed staffer, Star Tribune
Fallout reaches Nolan, Radnovich, Duluth News Tribune
Polling
Navigator – July 6 – 9, 2018
The Trump Administration policy of separating children from their families is overwhelmingly unpopular. Beyond simple opposition, Americans believe the policy is “cruel” and “inhumane.”
Many Americans are struggling to afford essential basics, as prices of health care and gas continue to rise. Across party lines, most Americans want government to do more to keep those costs down — and trust Democrats more to advocate for consumers.
The American public worries that America First foreign policy may really mean Trump First, and America Alone. Many respondents expressed concern that America is alienating allies and losing respect around the world.
Trade War
President Trump told CNBC’s Joe Kernen he’s “ready” to put tariffs on every Chinese good imported to the U.S. — worth $505 billion. Dow futures fell 120 points on the news. President Trump’s tariffs are introducing a new, wildly unpredictable issue into the midterms, with heavy impact on states with critical Senate races. Axios
Trump
White House invites Putin to D.C. for fall meeting, MPR
Many Anoka County voters still back Trump, but doubt grows, Star Tribune
Today is 18 months since inauguration, a wild and historic ride that has produced record White House turnover.
- 61 percent of President Trump’s senior-most aides have left the White House, the White House Transition Project’s Martha Joynt Kumar tells AP.
- That’s much higher attrition at this point than the last five presidents, with Bill Clinton in second at 42 percent. Axios
Upcoming DFL Events
- Today through August 13 — Primary early voting. More information here.
- 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-CANCELLED
- 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, 6:30 PM — State DFL OIC Meeting, DFL Headquarters, 255 Plato Blvd, St. Paul, MN 55107.
- July 31, 7:00 PM — SD37 DFL Central Committee Meeting, check their Facebook page for location
- August 1, 7:00 PM — SD33 DFL Central Committee Meeting, location TBD
- August 3, 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.
- August 4 — SD34 DFL at Lions’ Park, Maple Grove, MN, more information as it becomes available.