Politics In Minnesota

Is state Rep. Laura Brod still mulling a bid for governor? The Republican from New Prague previously dropped out of the race, citing health concerns, but has long been rumored to be eyeing a return to the contest.
Earlier today, though, Politics in Minnesota reported that Brod is definitely out of the contest and speculated that [...]

Politics in Minnesota has posted a lovely new infographic chart showing DFL candidates for governor and the endorsements they’ve earned.

Could the U.S. Senate contest finally be over tomorrow? Politics in Minnesota’s Dan Feidt, citing information from two sources on both sides of the legal tussle, suggests that Thursday is the day the Minnesota Supreme Court will rule on Norm Coleman’s appeal. The ruling is expected to be released between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. [...]

Al Franken’s lawyers take a lashing from Politics in Minnesota (PIM) — mostly on style points — for their impolitic memorandum in response to an opinion from the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office that the State Canvassing Board needn’t take up the issue of improperly rejected absentee ballots:
And smart lawyers never impugn the integrity of the [...]

Heard beneath Friday’s hubbub over the vote count in Mountain Iron, Minn., was the advancement of a related Republican argument — that by offering reasons why a recount in the U.S. Senate election should go forward Democrats are insulting Minnesota’s election system and its election officials. What was implicit in U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman’s remarks Nov. 5, prominent Republican commentator Sarah Janecek made explicit Nov. 7, first by writing that when Democrats say they want to “ensure votes properly cast are properly counted,” they’re really out to “smear our elections process.” Later, she told a public television audience, “I’m pretty sickened by that.” In the meantime, Coleman’s campaign manager applied words like “dubious” and “tainted” to the current canvassing process.

After a tough 2006 electoral battle in which Democrat Ken Tschumper prevailed over incumbent Gregory Davids, the opponents will face off again this year. It is perhaps the most intriguing rematch of the electoral season, but it’s far from the only one. There are at least seven other competitive state House contests that pit foes against each other for a second — or even third — time.

Two publishers of the influential political e-newsletter Politics in Minnesota abruptly left the publication on Friday, according to its remaining publisher, Sarah Janecek. Blois Olson and David Erickson left “to pursue other endeavors,” according to a June 18 note on the site. Reached Tuesday afternoon, Janecek confirmed the departures, but wouldn’t say what led to [...]