DFL Archives - The Minnesota Sun

DFL Party Bans Minneapolis City Council Candidate After Endorsing Convention Melee

June 2, 2023June 1, 2023 Minnesota Sun Staff

The DFL has officially banned a Minneapolis City Council candidate from seeking future endorsement from the political party, two weeks after his supporters were allegedly involved in starting a melee that broke out at a local endorsing convention.

On Tuesday evening, longtime DFL Party Chair Ken Martin released a statement announcing the organization had utilized a pair of newly-approved bylaws that allowed its state central committee to ban Nasri Warsame, a Minneapolis resident, from “seeking the DFL Party endorsement for any office.”

DFL-Controlled Legislature Hands $8 Billion Transportation Bill to Walz for Signature

May 23, 2023May 22, 2023 Admin

A nearly $8 billion finalized transportation bill has cleared the House and Senate and is on its way to the desk of Gov. Tim Walz to be signed into law.

On Sunday, the DFL-controlled House and Senate voted along party lines to pass the conference committee report for HF2887. That omnibus transportation finance bill includes nearly $1 billion in new taxes and fees dedicated to transit and roads that will come from three sources: a new metropolitan area sales tax increase of 0.75 percent, a 50-cent fee for all deliveries of retail goods over $100 and a gas tax increase indexed to inflation. An increase in fees for automobile registrations and a sales tax increase for purchase of automobiles will also add more than $340 million in new revenues for transportation expenditures over the next two years.

Chaos Leads to Melee, Local Minneapolis DFL Convention Shut Down

May 15, 2023May 14, 2023 Admin

The Minneapolis DFL Ward 10 convention ended in chaos Saturday afternoon as fights broke out and a large police presence responded to the scene.

The convention was gaveled to a close before either City Council Member Aisha Chughtai or candidate Nasri Warsame received the endorsement.

DFL Scales Back Rebate Checks, Social Security Tax Elimination in Minnesota Tax Bill

April 19, 2023April 18, 2023 Minnesota Sun Staff

With under six weeks remaining in the 2023 legislative session, budget bills are making their way to the floors of the House and Senate. And so is a way to pay for them.

House DFLers who unveiled their tax bill on Monday said it represents the largest tax cut in state history and is aimed at helping those who need it most. Senate Republicans returned serve and claimed that provisions Democrats have touted — if approved without any concessions — would add up to nearly $10 billion in tax hikes on Minnesotans over the next four years.

Republicans Shine a Light on Swiss Billionaire’s Role in U.S. Elections During House Debate

April 17, 2023April 16, 2023 Admin

How did a Swiss billionaire who has donated hundreds of millions of dollars to left-leaning American nonprofit political advocacy groups become a topic of debate over an elections bill on the floor of the Minnesota House of Representatives?

Republican legislators allege that Hansjörg Wyss, a former medical device industry executive turned political activist, has his fingerprints on a provision included in a sweeping elections reform bill the DFL House majority passed on a party-line vote late Thursday night.

DFLer Carrying Ranked Choice Voting Bill ‘Confident’ He’ll Get GOP Support, Despite Having None

March 21, 2023March 20, 2023 Admin

A Democrat lawmaker carrying a bill that would make Minnesota only the third state in the nation to adopt statewide ranked choice voting in its elections said he’s confident he will garner support from Republicans.

That’s despite the fact that Republicans in a House Elections Committee on Friday told Rep. Cedrick Frazier, DFL-New Hope, that his RCV bill has no support from among the 64 Republican members of the House of Representatives.

Twin Cities Legislators Introduce Bill to Block Mining Facility in Northeast Minnesota

January 24, 2023January 23, 2023 Admin

More than two dozen DFL legislators — nearly all from the suburbs — have signed onto a bill that would attempt to put permanent brakes on a highly contentious, planned copper-nickel mining facility near Ely that could bring upwards of 2,000 new jobs to northeast Minnesota. Critics of what would be Minnesota’s first copper-nickel facility, proposed by Twin Metals, argue that copper-nickel mining in the area would irreversibly pollute the environment in the nearby Boundary Waters Canoe Area. Supporters have said that Twin Metals has demonstrated its plant will use the best available technology to mitigate and prevent such pollution. The project remains up in the air as Twin Metals has sued the Biden administration over lease rights to the project.

Democrats Push Bill to Make Minnesota a ‘Carbon-Free’ State

January 23, 2023January 22, 2023 Admin

Minnesota Democrats are attempting to push through the legislature a bill to make the state 100 percent carbon-free by 2040.

Minnesota Planned Parenthood Names Sitting DFL Legislator New CEO

September 11, 2022September 10, 2022 Admin

A sitting DFL legislator plans to continue serving in the Minnesota House despite just being named the new CEO of Planned Parenthood North Central States, which provides abortions to women in the Upper Midwest.

Rep. Ruth Richardson defended her new position in a statement Wednesday, saying she won’t “oversee political work or lobbying for Planned Parenthood while I hold this legislative seat.”

DFL Party Chair Appointed to Minnesota Arts Board That Gives Out Taxpayer Dollars

May 24, 2022May 23, 2022 Minnesota Sun Staff

The chairman of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL) is now sitting on a state government board that hands out taxpayer-funded arts and culture grants.

On Monday, Ken Martin was appointed as a member of the State Arts Board by Gov. Tim Walz. Martin occupies the seat previously held by Sean Dowse, former mayor of Red Wing in southeast Minnesota, who recently resigned from the post.

Democrat State Legislator Complains About Having to ‘Look at President Lincoln’ Painting

May 10, 2022May 9, 2022 Admin

“We have to look at President Lincoln every day we’re in this space,” DFL Minnesota Rep. Jamie Becker-Finn recently bemoaned on the House floor.

The progressive lawmaker’s anti-Lincoln position came up during debate on an education bill as she critiqued the way indigenous history is taught in Minnesota schools.

Her specific complaint regarding America’s 16th president centered around a series of executions that saw 38 Dakota men hanged in Mankato under Lincoln’s approval. Becker-Finn retold the story on the House floor, upset that the executions drew a bloodthirsty crowd that reportedly clashed with law enforcement and cheered when the gallows dropped.

Consulting Firm Co-Owned by Omar’s Husband Received Money from DFL Committee

April 19, 2022April 18, 2022 Admin

A consulting firm co-owned by the husband of Rep. Ilhan Omar is “back in business,” a new report says.

According to Federal Election Commission paperwork, E Street Group received $15,000 from the Minnesota DFL Party’s federal committee on Feb. 25, just two days after Rep. Omar’s campaign paid the DFL committee the same amount on Feb. 23.

Minnesota State House Democrats Urge Republicans to ‘Repent’ for Their ‘Foolish statements’

January 12, 2021January 11, 2021 Minnesota Sun Staff

Minnesota State House Democrats recently filed a complaint against their Republican colleagues who raised concerns about changes to Minnesota’s election laws, urging them to “repent of their foolish statements.”

Concerns about the complaint were brought up by Republicans during a Thursday House session.

Minnesota Lawmaker Calls Protest Outside of His Home ‘Terrorism’

January 5, 2021January 4, 2021 Admin

Minnesota Rep. Carlos Mariani, DFL-Saint Paul, called an anti-lockdown protest outside of his home “terrorism.”

Anti-shutdown protesters held a demonstration Saturday outside of Mariani’s home, using a similar tactic as the left-leaning Sunrise Movement, which has endorsed several DFL lawmakers.

During the protest, attendees blocked the street with vehicles and chanted for the representative to come outside to meet them. Some of the protesters arrived with body armor and firearms, including handguns and rifles.

Over 90 Percent of Minnesota University’s Top Faculty Donations Went to Democrats, Study Finds

December 14, 2020December 13, 2020 Minnesota Sun Staff

Data from the Federal Election Commission show that 90.8 percent of the top 100 donations to political candidates and committees from University of Minnesota employees and affiliates went to Democrats, according to a recent report by Minnesota Business Daily.

The analysis found that UMN employees and affiliates donated $201,383 to political candidates and committees. Of that amount, $182,919 went to Democrats. Another $11,125 went to the Minnesota Democratic Farmer Labor Party.

‘Really Bad News’: DFL on Edge After Poll Has Lewis Trailing Smith by One Point

October 23, 2020October 22, 2020 Minnesota Sun Staff

U.S. Senate candidate Jason Lewis has closed the gap between him and his opponent, Sen. Tina Smith, to only one point, putting Democrats on edge.

A survey released Wednesday by KSTP shows the margin between former congressman Lewis and Sen. Smith has closed to just one point in their race for the Senate. A MinnPost poll released Tuesday had Lewis trailing by four points.

Ilhan Omar Uses Misinformation in Interview to Push Abolishing Police

September 14, 2020September 13, 2020 Corinne Murdock

Representative Ilhan Omar (DFL-MN-5) stated that the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) hasn’t solved half the homicides and destroys rape kits. Because of this, she says, the MPD should be dismantled.
“We can reimagine a public safety system that empowers and provides safety for every person in our city regardless of the color fo their skin or zip code,” the freshman congresswoman tweeted. “Dismantling the Minneapolis Police Department is necessary in order to heal and move forward as a community.”

DFL House Leaders Postpone Event with Pro-Riot Candidate Thompson After Widespread Pushback

September 9, 2020September 8, 2020 Corinne Murdock

The Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) Party has officially postponed its event with Democratic candidate John Thompson due to widespread pushback. A reporter with The Star Tribune announced the fundraiser’s indefinite delay.
However, DFL House Speaker Melissa Hortman did not initially want to remove Thompson from the event.

Minnesota DFL House Leaders Will Host Fundraiser with Candidate Who Threatened to Burn Down Hugo

September 7, 2020September 6, 2020 Minnesota Sun Staff

The DFL House Caucus plans to host an official fundraising event this week with John Thompson, Alpha News has learned.

Thompson was at the center of a viral video captured by Alpha News last month in which he screamed profanities at a group of young girls and threatened to burn down a neighborhood. At one point he told a man holding a blue lives matter sign to “take that sign” and “stick it in your ass.”

Commentary: Can Trump Win Minnesota?

September 1, 2020August 31, 2020 Minnesota Sun Staff

How bad do things look for Joe Biden’s campaign right now? Consider this: Democrats are worried about Minnesota, a state no Republican presidential candidate has carried since Richard Nixon’s 1972 landslide. Yet polls show President Trump gaining ground in Minnesota, and Democrats are worried because they haven’t seen any appearances by Biden or his running mate Kamala Harris. “Why aren’t they here?” one Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) Party official told Minnesota Public Radio last week. “We need to hear from them. We need to see their presence on the ground.”

Biden’s peril in Minnesota is in many ways emblematic of everything that’s gone wrong for Democrats in this campaign. While the Real Clear Politics average of Minnesota polls still shows Biden leading Trump by more than five points, a poll by Emerson College earlier this month had Trump within three points, and a poll by the GOP-affiliated Trafalgar Group two weeks ago showed a tie in Minnesota. How could a state that twice gave majorities to Barack Obama, a state that not even Ronald Reagan could win in his 1984 landslide, be in play for Trump this year? Well, in a word, riots.

St. Paul Primary Winner John Thompson Leads BLM Protest to Police Union Leader’s Neighborhood, Calls for Violence

August 17, 2020August 17, 2020 Corinne Murdock

Over the weekend, Democratic candidate John Thompson spoke at a Black Lives Matter protest by the home of police union leader Lt. Bob Kroll. Thompson recently won the Democratic primary for District 62A in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Multiple video coverages of Thompson’s seven-minute speech show him calling for violence against the “racists” of Hugo, Minnesota.

DFL Files Campaign Finance Complaint Against Ilhan Omar’s Challenger Melton-Meaux

August 7, 2020August 6, 2020 Corinne Murdock

Minnesota’s Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL) filed a complaint against Democratic challenger Antone Melton-Meaux, claiming that his campaign created LLCs to shield the identity of several consultants and donors. The DFL filed the complaint exactly one week before the upcoming primary on August 11.

DFL Targets State Senate Republicans on Police Reform in New Ad Campaign

July 11, 2020July 10, 2020 Anthony Gockowski

The Minnesota DFL Party launched a new ad campaign this week targeting key Republican state senators who are accused of “standing in the way of passing real police reform.”

Jason Lewis, a Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, said in a recent interview that Democrats don’t “want reform” so much as they “want a political issue.”

Minnesota Lawmakers Unveil $300M Plan to Rebuild from George Floyd Riots

June 16, 2020June 16, 2020 The Associated Press

Democrats who control the Minnesota House announced a $300 million economic aid proposal Monday for businesses that were damaged or destroyed during the civil unrest over the death of George Floyd.

The legislation is aimed at commercial corridors in lower income neighborhoods that were hardest hit as protests over Floyd’s May 25 death while in Minneapolis police custody turned violent. Many of the affected small businesses along Lake Street and Broadway Avenue in Minneapolis, and University Avenue in St. Paul, are owned by people of color and immigrants.

DFL Lawmaker Wants Portrait of Lincoln Removed from Minnesota House Chamber

June 13, 2020June 12, 2020 Anthony Gockowski

A DFL lawmaker revealed on Twitter this week that she’s “tried a bunch of times” to get a portrait of President Abraham Lincoln removed from the Minnesota House chamber.

State Rep. Mary Kunesh-Podein (DFL-New Brighton) said it’s “hard to look at” House Speaker Melissa Hortman (DFL-Brooklyn Park) when she’s “standing in front of Lincoln.”

DFL Lawmakers Want State and Federal Aid to Rebuild Minneapolis

June 6, 2020June 5, 2020 Anthony Gockowski

DFL lawmakers want the state and federal governments to chip in to help repair the estimated $55 million in damage caused to Minneapolis in the wake of George Floyd’s death.

Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman (DFL-Brooklyn Park) and the Legislature’s People of Color and Indigenous Caucus called for “immediate legislative funding for Minneapolis and St. Paul rebuilding efforts” in a joint statement.

After Backing Alleged Domestic Abuser Keith Ellison, Minnesota Dems Say State Rep Is ‘Trivializing’ Domestic Abuse

May 22, 2020May 21, 2020 Anthony Gockowski

The Minnesota DFL Party, which supported accused domestic abuser Keith Ellison in his run for attorney general, criticized a Republican lawmaker Thursday for “trivializing the severity of domestic abuse.”

Keith Ellison Stands by Omar After Strong DFL Challenger Emerges

May 10, 2020May 9, 2020 Anthony Gockowski

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison has endorsed Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN-05) for a second term in Congress.

“I see U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar as a leader who is disrupting conventional wisdom and challenging 50 years of thinking that has brought us stunning inequality, weakened public institutions and an utter lack of preparedness for a global pandemic,” Ellison said in an endorsement of Omar in The Star Tribune.

After Mocking ‘Liberate Minnesota’ Protest, State Media, Politicians Silent on Minneapolis Gun Violence Demonstration

April 21, 2020 Anthony Gockowski

Minnesota’s political establishment and mainstream media mocked and condemned the Trump-backed protesters who gathered outside the Governor’s Residence Friday, but were silent just two days later when hundreds gathered for a demonstration in Minneapolis.

According to the St. Paul Police Department, an estimated 800 people were in attendance at Friday’s “Liberate Minnesota” protest, which called for an end to Gov. Tim Walz’s stay-at-home order issued in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Klobuchar Calls for National Vote by Mail in New York Times Op-Ed

April 19, 2020April 18, 2020 Anthony Gockowski

Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) called for nationwide mail-in voting in a recent op-ed published in The New York Times.

Minnesota Democrats Push for Ballot Harvesting, Drop Boxes in COVID-19 Response

April 13, 2020April 12, 2020 Anthony Gockowski

Minnesota Democrats are pushing for several sweeping election changes to adapt to the coronavirus pandemic, including universal mail-in ballots and even ballot drop-boxes.

Bill Seeks to Close Minnesota’s ‘Gender Wage Gap’ by Banning Employers from Asking About Pay History

March 15, 2020March 14, 2020 Anthony Gockowski

A DFL bill seeks to close Minnesota’s “gender wage gap” by prohibiting employers from asking about an applicant’s past pay.

DFL Proposes Constitutional Amendment on Voting in Response to GOP Push for Voter ID

March 8, 2020March 7, 2020 Anthony Gockowski

Minnesota Democrats have proposed an amendment to the state constitution guaranteeing the right to “free, fair, and equal” elections in response to Republican efforts to pass a voter ID law.

Archbishop Hebda Tells Priests Not to Vote in Primary Because of Privacy Concerns

March 1, 2020February 29, 2020 Anthony Gockowski

Archbishop Bernard Hebda urged clergy in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis to “abstain from voting” in Minnesota’s March 3 presidential primary.

Minnesota Dems Seek to Repeal Informed Consent Requirements for Abortions

February 27, 2020February 26, 2020 Anthony Gockowski

A Democrat-backed bill making its way through the Minnesota Legislature seeks to repeal the state’s informed consent laws for abortion.

DFL Bill Would Prohibit Minnesota Jails From Contracting With ICE

February 21, 2020February 20, 2020 Anthony Gockowski

A new DFL-backed bill would prohibit local governments from contracting with federal agencies like ICE for the purpose of detaining illegal immigrants.

‘Gun-Free’ Businesses Would Be Held Responsible for Shootings Under New Minnesota Bill

February 18, 2020February 17, 2020 Anthony Gockowski

A new bill introduced in the Minnesota House would allow gun owners to pursue civil litigation if they suffer an injury, or worse, while in a gun-free zone.

House DFL Unveils Bill to Use Nearly $500 Million of Budget Surplus for Early Childhood Education

February 16, 2020February 15, 2020 Anthony Gockowski

Minnesota House DFLers unveiled their “Great Start for All Minnesota Children Act” this week, a nearly $500 million investment in early childhood education.

What Is the Minnesota DFL Party?

February 15, 2020February 15, 2020 Anthony Gockowski

Since many of our stories receive national attention, readers are often confused by the odd acronym frequently appearing in our headlines. What the heck is the DFL? And who is a DFLer?

Minnesota Democrats Introduce Bill Mandating What Drinks Restaurants Can Serve with Children’s Meals

February 14, 2020February 13, 2020 Anthony Gockowski

A group of Minnesota House Democrats introduced a bill this week that would require restaurants to serve certain drinks as the “default beverage” for children’s meals.

State Senator Accuses DFL of Sending ‘Mixed Messages’ on Weed and Vaping

February 10, 2020February 11, 2020 Anthony Gockowski

A Minnesota Republican thinks his Democratic colleagues are sending “mixed messages” to Minnesotans on the impact of substance use.

Minnesota Lawmaker Introduces Bill to Ban Hair-Based Discrimination

February 6, 2020February 11, 2020 Anthony Gockowski

A Minnesota Democrat introduced a bill last week that would ban discrimination based on “hair texture and hair styles.”

Tim Walz Raised $1 Million for Reelection During First Year in Office

February 1, 2020January 31, 2020 Anthony Gockowski

Gov. Tim Walz announced Friday that he raised more than $1 million in 2019 for his reelection, but he won’t face voters again until 2022.

Tim Walz Raised $1 Million for Reelection During First Year in Office

February 1, 2020 Anthony Gockowski

Gov. Tim Walz announced Friday that he raised more than $1 million in 2019 for his reelection, but he won’t face voters again until 2022.

Keith Ellison Goes on Rant Against Voter ID Laws: ‘Clearly a Bad Thing’

January 27, 2020January 27, 2020 Anthony Gockowski

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said laws requiring voters to present a photo ID are “clearly a bad thing” in a Sunday Twitter rant. “If you believe that elections should be decided by We the People, then photo ID is clearly a bad thing. In Minnesota, we beat the…

Accusations Fly in Fight Over Voter Data from Minnesota Primary

January 26, 2020January 25, 2020 Anthony Gockowski

State party leaders exchanged a number of accusations throughout the week regarding the release of voter data under Minnesota’s presidential primary law.

DFL Lawmakers Announce ‘Religious Freedom Day’ Resolution Condemning ‘Islamophobia,’ Promoting ‘Religious Pluralism’

January 17, 2020January 16, 2020 Anthony Gockowski

Two DFL lawmakers plan to introduce a “Religious Freedom Day” resolution that condemns “Islamophobia” and celebrates “religious pluralism.”

Minnesota State Senator ‘Deeply Disturbed’ by DFL Leader’s Threat to Cut Funding from County Over Refugees

January 11, 2020January 10, 2020 Anthony Gockowski

A Minnesota senator said he is “deeply disturbed” by House Majority Leader Ryan Winkler’s (DFL-Golden Valley) threat to cut state aid from Beltrami County after it voted to opt out of refugee resettlement.

Ilhan Omar Goes After Rural Minnesota County for Rejecting Refugees

January 11, 2020May 21, 2020 Anthony Gockowski

Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN-05) accused Beltrami County of “denying refugees a chance at a better life” after it voted to opt out of refugee resettlement.

Omar Says She Feels ‘Stricken with PTSD’ Over Iran Tensions, Then Laughs and Jokes While Colleague Discusses Dead Soldiers

January 10, 2020January 9, 2020 Anthony Gockowski

Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN-05) said she feels “ill” and “stricken with PTSD” in response to the conflict with Iran before she laughed and joked with her peers while a colleague discussed U.S. casualties in Iraq just moments later.