In the Know: November 7, 2018

727 days until the Nov. 3, 2020 election

Thank you candidates, volunteers and DFL staff! Together we are building a #MNforAll.

2018 Election
Complete election results, Star Tribune
Minnesota mid-terms winds up mostly in Dem column, Star Tribune
Suburban voters push Democrats to victory in Minnesota, Star Tribune
A divided nation – and Minnesota – turn a shade bluer, Star Tribune
Five takeaways from a divisive midterm election, The Hill
An ‘above average’ election night for Minnesota Democrats, MPR
Democratic control of the House trouble for Trump and six other election takeaways, MPR
A list of firsts for women in this year’s midterm elections, MPR
‘Revved up’: Minnesota voters pack polls for midterms, MPR
Democrats win top seats in many seat in Minnesota’s midterm elections, WCCO
Walz to be next governor; Ellison wins contentious AG race; DFL takes Minnesota House, MinnPost

Over 2.5 million votes were cast in the major statewide races. At over 61 percent, this is the highest midterm turnout in Minnesota since 2002. morning take

Republicans have a statewide problem. Despite a spirited campaign by state Sen. Karin Housley against U.S. Sen. Tina Smith — who was unknown to most Minnesotans when she was appointed to replace Al Franken — Housley was soundly beaten. As Republican operative Gina Countryman glumly noted, GOP candidates in statewide races all registered surprisingly similar vote totals this year. They managed to consolidate Republican support, but failed to reach the rest of the public. The last Republican to win a statewide race was former Gov. Tim Pawlenty — in 2006. If they are to win a statewide race again, Republicans need candidates who can appeal to a wider audience. The realignment of the state’s politics is nearly complete. Just five years ago, Democrats were strongest in the cities but also held congressional seats in more rural areas of southern and northeastern Minnesota, while Republicans were solidly entrenched in many suburbs. Those days are gone. Republicans are now the party of greater Minnesota, while the suburbs join the major cities in favoring Democrats. The problem for Republicans: The Democratic areas are growing faster. Star Tribune

The Grassroots Legalize Marijuana Now party received over 5 percent of the vote statewide in the Attorney General’s race. If they received one vote in each of Minnesota’s 87 counties they will become a major party in Minnesota eligible for public financing in state races in two years. morning take
2018 Election — U.S. Senate
Incumbent U.S. Sen. Tina Smith wins big v. Karin Housley; Amy Klobuchar re-elected, Star Tribune
Klobuchar, Smith keep US Senate seats, MPR

2018 Election — U.S. House of Representatives
GOP’s Hagedorn, Democrat Feehan locked in close First Congressional District race, Star Tribune
Dean Phillips defeats Rep. Erik Paulsen for Third District seat, Star Tribune
Democrats take control of U.S. House while Republicans add to Senate majority, Star Tribune
Ilhan Omar makes history, becoming the first Somali-American elected to the U.S. House, Star Tribune
DFLer Craig unseats GOP’s Lewis in Minnesota’s Second Congressional District, Star Tribune
Republican Stauber beats Joe Radinovich, flipping Minnesota’s Eighth District, Star Tribune
Democratic House victory could echo from Moscow to Riyadh, MPR
Phillips, Craig flip U.S. House seats to Dems; Omar’s historic win; Stauber wins 8th, MPR
Ilhan Omar, the 1st Somali-American elected to Congress, seeks to make the U.S. more welcoming, WCCO
Mirroring national realignment, Democrats sweep congressional races in suburbs, lose ground in rural Minnesota, MinnPost
‘She has earned this’: Trump praises Pelosi, warns Democrats, MPR

2018 Election — Governor
Tim Walz defeats Jeff Johnson in high-stakes election for governor, Star Tribune
Walz beats Johnson in Minnesota’s governor’s race, MPR

2018 Election — Attorney General
Keith Ellison defeats Doug Wardlow in Minnesota attorney general race, Star Tribune
Ellison beats Wardlow in heated attorney general’s race, MPR

2018 Election — Secretary of State
Steve Simon wins race for Secretary of State, WCCO

2018 Election — State Auditor
Julie Blaha declared winner in state auditor’s race, WCCO

2018 Election — Legislature
Minnesota Dems keep governor’s office, regain House majority, Star Tribune
DFLers retake control of the Minnesota House, MPR
Republicans keep control of the Minnesota Senate, KSTP

The DFL picked up 18 seats in the Minnesota House. Expect the DFL to have about a 16-seat advantage when all is said and done. morning take

Districts flipped include:

  • 44A – Ginny Klevorn
  • 49A – Heather Edelson
  • 34B – Kristin Bahner
  • 33B – Kelly Morrison
  • 36A – Zack Stephenson
  • 55A – Brad Tabke
  • 56A – Hunter Cantrell
  • 56B – Alice Mann
  • 57A – John Huot
  • 52B – Ruth Richardson
  • 48B – Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn
  • 53B – Steve Sandell
  • 42A – Kelly Moller
  • 54A – Anne Claflin
  • 38B – Ami Wazlawik
  • 14B – Dan Wolgamott
  • 39B – Shelly Christensen
  • 5A – John Persell (automatic recount)

2018 Election — Hennepin County Sheriff
Hennepin County sheriff’s race goes down to the wire, MPR

2018 Election — Schools
Minnesota school districts to get financial help through levies, bonds, WCCO

Immigration
White House asks Supreme Court to rule on DACA sooner, not later, MPR

Democrat Tony Evers narrowly defeats Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, Star Tribune
Barnes to become first black lieutenant governor, Star Tribune
Democrats defeat Walker and send Baldwin back to Senate, Star Tribune

Upcoming DFL Events

  • November 8
    • 7:00 PM — SD48 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Minnetonka Community Center, 14600 Minnetonka Blvd, Minnetonka, MN 55345 NOTE: DIFFERENT LOCATION FOR THIS MEETING
  • November 9
    • 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
  • November 11
    • 2:00 PM — SD40 DFL Book Club Meeting, contact the district for specifics
  • November 12
    • 7:00 PM 
      • SD44 DFL Central Committee Meeting, 14600 Minnetonka Blvd, Minnetonka, MN 55345
      • SD49 DFL Central Committee Meeting, 7001 Cahill Rd, Suite 21, Edina, MN
  • November 13
    • 7:00 PM — SD34 DFL Central Committee Meeting, more information as it becomes available
  • November 14
    • 6:30 PM
      • SD50 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Kennedy High School, 9701 Nicollet Ave, Bloomington, MN 55420.  Room C102
    • 7:00 PM
      • CD3 DFL Central Committee Meeting, 14600 Minnetonka Blvd, Minnetonka, MN 55345  NOTE:  THIS MEETING IS ONE WEEK EARLIER THAN USUAL DUE TO THE THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY
      • SD45 DFL Central Committee Meeting, City of Crystal, 4141 Douglas Dr N, Crystal, MN 55422
  • November 15
    • 5:00 PM — Only One More State! ERA Minnesota Annual Fundraiser, 1203 Scheffer Ave, Saint Paul MN 55116. RSVP here.
    • 7:00 PM — SD40 DFL Central Committee Meeting, Brookdale Library, 6125 Shingle Creek Parkway, Room C, Brooklyn Center MN 55430