DFL , CD3 DFL

DFL Party Statement on Representative Thompson’s Recent Actions

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA — Yesterdayday, DFL Party Chairman Ken Martin released the following statement:

“Nobody is above the law, including our elected officials. We expect all of our elected officials, regardless of party, to not only follow the law, but to hold themselves to the highest standards. Whether they like it or not, their words, actions, and behavior are going to be scrutinized by the public. As such it is important for people in positions of power and influence to model the type of behavior we expect from everyone. Representative John Thompson fell short of that standard, and I am disappointed by his recent actions.”

DFL Party Hires New Finance Director

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – Today, the Minnesota DFL Party is pleased to announce the hiring of Nora Ptacek to serve as the party’s next Finance Director. Ptacek will be taking over for the DFL Party’s current Finance Director, Tyler Blackmon, who will be leaving the party to attend law school at the end of the month.

Ptacek currently serves as the DFL Party’s Deputy Finance Director and has a deep familiarity with Minnesota’s political landscape and the DFL Party specifically as a result. Her political experience also includes time on Secretary Clinton’s Campaign in 2016, Senator Baldwin’s campaign in 2018, Senator Tina Smith’s state office, and independent political research at the University of Minnesota. Ptacek is a graduate of the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities.

DFL Party Chairman Ken Martin released the following statement:

“During my tenure at the DFL Party, we have built a reputation as the strongest fundraiser in Minnesota politics, and I have every confidence that will continue with the incredibly talented Nora Ptacek at the helm of our finance department. When she served as the DFL Party’s Deputy Finance Director, Nora played a big role in the fundraising success the party enjoyed during this last election cycle. I know that Nora will continue to accomplish great things as the DFL Party’s Finance Director and I look forward to another cycle of the DFL Party as a strong, well-funded organization.”

DFL Party and DNC Announce Historic Agreement

Agreement includes over $23 million in direct investments to state parties and grassroots infrastructure during 2022 election cycle

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – Today, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and state parties including the DFL Party announced a historic four-year agreement that will guarantee more investment into Democratic state parties and grassroots infrastructure than ever before. At a minimum, this investment will provide $23 million to state parties as part of Democrats’ 2022 midterm strategy, and creates a first-of-its-kind program to focus additional investments in historically red states to build on Democrats’ 57 states and territories strategy.

The agreement will establish a brand-new, seven-figure “Red State Fund” to put Republicans on defense and build tailored programs for traditionally Republican states. The Red State Fund includes $2 million in direct investments and grants for states that meet two of the following criteria: no Democratic senator or governor, less than 25% of the congressional delegation are Democrats, and a supermajority of Republicans in their state legislature.

The contract also includes a data sharing agreement that increases investment in down-ballot races, solidifies another four years of historic investment in Democratic data, and anchors the DNC and state parties as the central hub of the Democratic data ecosystem.

DFL Party Postpones Founders Day Dinner

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – Today, the Minnesota DFL Party announced it will be postponing its Founders Day Dinner, originally scheduled for April 15th. DFL Party Chairman Ken Martin released the following statement:

“Minnesota is once again overcome with grief and anger at yet another senseless and tragic murder of a Black man at the hands of law enforcement. The ongoing trauma that Black and brown communities face at the hands of those who are supposed to protect and serve us deserves our full attention and most importantly, it deserves immediate action. Events of the last few days have underscored the need for Minnesota to enact further police reform and accountability measures in order to build a public safety system that serves and protects every single Minnesotan.

“As a result, the DFL Party has decided to postpone its Founders Day Dinner in order to stand in solidarity with our community seeking answers and justice for Daunte Wright. The ongoing pursuit of justice and fairness has been at the heart of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party since its founding almost 77 years ago. Those values continue to drive our movement to this day, and we are committed to delivering a more fair and just public safety system for the Minnesotans rightly calling out for reform.”

DFL Party Hires New Executive Director

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – The Minnesota DFL Party is pleased to announce the hiring of Heidi Kraus Kaplan to serve as the party’s new Executive Director. Kraus Kaplan has over two decades worth of political and campaign experience, including working for U.S. Senator Mark Dayton, Senate Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller, as well as working on five different presidential campaigns through the years.

Most recently, Kraus Kaplan served as the National Operations Director on U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar’s presidential campaign. A veteran of Minnesota and national politics, Kraus Kaplan was the first person that DFL Chairman Ken Martin hired when he was first elected to lead the Minnesota DFL back in 2011.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer to Keynote DFL Founders Day Dinner

DFL Party to Host Dinner on 77th Anniversary of Party’s Founding

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – Today, the DFL Party is announcing that Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer will keynote the party’s 2021 Founders Day Dinner. The virtual dinner will take place on the evening of April 15th, which marks the 77th anniversary of the DFL Party’s founding.

Senators Klobuchar and Smith and Governor Walz will also be speaking during the event. Members of the media will be able to tune in to the virtual dinner. Those looking for more information and to order tickets can visit www.dflfoundersday.com.

Trump, Biden rev up their campaigns in Minnesota

In the final month, both sides have been forced to confront the COVID-19 pandemic in new and surprising ways.

Even the cars were socially distanced in a Woodbury parking lot on Tuesday night as Democrats filed into every other parking spot for a pandemic-era drive-in debate watch party. Instead of cheers, they laid on their horns when Joe Biden turned to President Donald Trump and asked: “Will you shut up, man?”

“As a Minnesotan, honking makes me really nervous, but I’m into it,” DFL Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan said to scores of windshields, pivoting to a plea for volunteers. “We’re not knocking on a lot of doors, but you have to call people. You have to have conversations with your neighbors about what’s at stake.”

Two days later, Eric Trump asked a crowd gathered in person outside a Becker, Minn., trucking facility how they’d rate his dad’s performance in the debate. Hundreds wearing MAGA swag — but few face masks — raised their hands and cheered. “We lost this state by 1% in 2016, I’m very mad at all of you,” Trump’s son told the crowd. “But I’m telling you, we’re going to win it this time.” Continue reading.

Tickets to Hear Sen. Harris at the October 1 Humphrey-Mondale Dinner

This year’s Humphrey-Mondale dinner will be held virtually on Thursday, October 1, 2020 at 5:30 PM. The party is pleased to welcome Sen. Kamala Harris, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Sen. Tina Smith, Gov. Tim Walz, Sen. Elizabeth Warren and many more special guests. Click on the graphic above for more information.

Sen. Kamala Harris to Keynote 9th Annual Humphrey-Mondale Dinner

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – The Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party is pleased to announce Senator Kamala Harris will be the keynote speaker at the Party’s Ninth Annual Humphrey-Mondale Dinner on Thursday, October 1st, at 5:30 PM. In addition to Senator Harris, the DFL Party will be joined by Senators Amy Klobuchar, Tina Smith, Elizabeth Warren, and Governor Tim Walz.

In keeping with the DFL Party’s ongoing work to limit the spread of COVID-19, this year’s dinner will be entirely virtual. Tickets are available here and the event will be livestreamed for members of the media.

“I’m honored that Senator Harris will be our keynote speaker for the DFL Party’s Ninth Annual Humphrey-Mondale Dinner,” said DFL Party Chairman Ken Martin. “Our Humphrey-Mondale Dinner is a celebration of the accomplishments of leaders and activists within our party and Kamala Harris has a tremendous record of delivering real change for the American people.

DFL Party Endorsed Candidates Triumph

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – Though some results are still outstanding, it looks as though almost every DFL Party-endorsed candidate won their primary election tonight. DFL Party Chairman Ken Martin released the following statement on the strength of the DFL Party endorsement:

“Tonight, the grassroots democracy at the heart of the Minnesota DFL Party triumphed. With most results in, it appears that the candidates endorsed by the DFL Party won almost all of their primary elections.

“Our endorsement process is unique among state parties and I’m proud that it allows DFL Party supporters, activists, and concerned citizens to have a voice in the candidates we support and the values we champion. In the past few weeks, the DFL Party has made almost 1 million phone calls on behalf of our endorsed candidates and that organizing work has paid off in a major way tonight. Thanks to our grassroots endorsement process, the DFL Party is and will always remain a party of, by, and for the people of Minnesota.”

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DFL Party to Host Dinner on 77th Anniversary of Party’s Founding

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