Minnesota Independent

Sworn in as 40th governor, Mark Dayton pledges progressive taxation

By Andy Birkey | 01.03.11 | 1:33 pm

Mark Dayton was sworn in Monday as Minnesota’s 40th governor; he’s the first Democrat to hold the post since the 1980s. Dayton said he’s committed to progressive taxation in Minnesota and carrying through on his campaign promise to deal with the state’s budget problems in part by increasing taxes on wealthy Minnesotans, a group he says isn’t paying its fair share.

Emmer concedes

By Andy Birkey | 12.08.10 | 11:06 am

“It’s time for us today to be gracious,” said Republican Tom Emmer at a press conference at his Delano home Wednesday morning. “The next governor of Minnesota will be Mark Dayton.”

Tom Emmer to concede in governor’s race

By Andy Birkey | 12.08.10 | 8:30 am

At his home in Delano this morning, Republican Tom Emmer is expected to concede the governor’s race. An unfavorable Minnesota Supreme Court opinion released Tuesday as well as a new poll showing a vast majority of voters want him to concede preceded the announcement.But more insurmountable for Emmer is the math: The State Canvassing Board will meet Wednesday morning to go over challenged ballots, but that number has shrunk to 181, far short of the approximately 9,000 Emmer would need to overcome Mark Dayton and win the governor’s mansion.

Tom Emmer drops 2,580 frivolous ballot challenges

By Andy Birkey | 12.06.10 | 8:01 am

Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer withdrew 2,580 ballot challenges over the weekend after the State Canvassing Board gave the go-ahead for the campaigns to evaluate those frivolous ballots. In the end, the Emmer team narrowed the number of frivolous challenges that it will send to the board to just 24. Meanwhile, as the recount process draws to a close, CNN has become the first media outlet to call the race for DFLer Mark Dayton.

Emmer team: Frivolous challenges could reach 8,700

By Andy Birkey | 12.03.10 | 8:01 am

By Thursday evening, 93 percent of ballots had been counted in the Minnesota gubernatorial recount, but the State Canvassing Board will meet on Friday to deal with thousands of frivolous ballot challenges made by the team of Republican Tom Emmer, whose lawyer said the number could reach 8,700 by 2 pm today. Dayton’s team withdrew all its frivolous challenges and in a letter to the canvassing board chastised Emmer.

Mark Dayton picks up votes on first day of gubernatorial recount

By Andy Birkey | 11.30.10 | 9:02 am

By the end of the first day of the recount in Minnesota’s gubernatorial race, DFLer Mark Dayton picked up 20 votes while Republican Tom Emmer lost four after less than half of ballots were recounted Monday. The Emmer team launched an aggressive campaign to challenge ballots, although many challenges were rejected as “frivolous” by election officials. The recount was not without humor, though, as some voters made some interesting write-in choices. One voter, for instance, wrote in “Who farted?” for Ramsey County Sheriff — sure to be the recount’s version of the infamous 2008 write-in candidate “Lizard People.”

Gubernatorial election officially heads to automatic recount

By Patrick Caldwell | 11.24.10 | 8:34 am

The race between gubernatorial candidates Democrat Mark Dayton and Republican Tom Emmer is officially headed to a recount after the State Canvassing Board met Tuesday to certify election results, as expected since election night. Emmer did not make headway in overcoming Dayton’s lead in the final pre-recount tally, but Tuesday’s board meeting indicated that legalese could drag out the process of certifying the winner of the election.

Facing pressure, Emmer event in Latino community canceled

By Andy Birkey | 10.25.10 | 8:46 am

A rally for Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer at a Lake Street Mexican restaurant was canceled on Thursday after pressure from members of Minnesota’s Latino community and supporters. The rally, to be held at a popular Lake Street restaurant, was canceled after the owner was told the event was for Emmer. He told Spanish-language radio station La Invasora 1400 that the organizers failed to tell him it was a political rally.

Ventura endorses Horner for governor

By Andy Birkey | 10.22.10 | 12:51 pm

Former Gov. Jesse Ventura told the Pioneer Press Friday that he backs Independence Party candidate Tom Horner for governor. Horner has secured the endorsements of three of the five living governors, including former Republicans Arne Carlson and Al Quie. Gov. Tim Pawlenty is backing Republican Tom Emmer, while former DFL governor Wendell Anderson hasn’t yet announced his support for a candidate. Ventura was the first and only Independence Party candidate to win the governor’s election.

Former Republican Gov. Quie backs Horner

By Andy Birkey | 10.21.10 | 4:20 pm

Former Gov. Al Quie, a Republican, told reporters on Thursday that he’s backing Independence Party candidate Tom Horner for governor. Quie is the second former Republican governor to back Horner; the first was former Gov. Arne Carlson. The only other living Republican governor in Minnesota, Gov. Tim Pawlenty announced on Thursday that he’d be campaigning for Republican Tom Emmer in the waning weeks before the election.