Politics Friday

Two hundred and one separate races will determine two very big things: control of the Minnesota House and the Minnesota Senate. Prior elections produced the tightest margins at the Capitol in recent memory. For a time, both chambers were tied between the parties. Coming into this election, a single seat favored Democrats in the Senate and the House was all knotted up. With a new governor coming in, the stakes are pretty high. With the majorities comes the power to set the agenda on spending, taxes and so many other policies. MPR News politics editor Brian Bakst discusses the campaign with the caucus leaders of both parties trying to push the outcome in their direction. The debates are in the rearview mirror in races for governor and U.S. Senate. We’ll check in with our politics reporters on what the end game looks like. Guests:Sen. Erin Murphy, of St. Paul, is the DFL Senate majority leader.Sen. Mark Johnson, of East Grand Forks, is the Republican Senate minority leader.Rep. Harry Niska, of Ramsey, is the Republican caucus leader for the Minnesota House. Rep. Zack Stephenson, of Coon Rapids, is the DFL caucus leader for the Minnesota House.Dana Ferguson is a political correspondent for MPR News.Peter Cox is a senior politics reporter for MPR News.Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation or subscribe to the Politics Friday podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or RSS.

Editor’s note: Ahead of a Friday debate between U.S. Senate candidates Michele Tafoya and Peggy Flanagan hosted by MPR News, politics editor Brian Bakst asked each to talk about how their lives helped form their politics. On this special episode of Politics Friday, we feature conversations in a series we’re calling “In Your Backyard.” MPR News politics editor Brian Bakst recently met with U.S. Senate candidates Peggy Flanagan and Michele Tafoya at significant places to each of them for a personal conversation about their lives.Lt. Gov. Flanagan, the Democratic nominee, invited Brian to a cultural center in a bustling Minneapolis neighborhood. Tafoya, the Republican nominee, asked to meet at a small-town ballpark.Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation or subscribe to the Politics Friday podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or RSS.

Two candidates vying to be Minnesota’s attorney general met Friday in their first debate.DFL incumbent Keith Ellison, who is after a third term, and Republican Ron Schutz, an attorney, went head-to-head over issues defining their intense and increasingly expensive race.Republicans last won a Minnesota attorney general’s race in 1966, although Ellison won by small margins in his past two elections.On this special edition of Politics Friday, MPR News politics editor Brian Bakst moderated the Minnesota attorney general debate. Guests:Keith Ellison is a DFLer and a two-term attorney general. Ron Schutz is a Twin Cities attorney who is prominent in GOP circles. Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation or subscribe to the Politics Friday podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or RSS.

Mark Dayton held a career in public service in Minnesota that spanned five decades. He is well known for serving two terms the state’s governor, leaving office in 2019. Before that, Dayton’s career included stints as a state agency official, state auditor and U.S. senator. Dayton talked with MPR News politics editor Brian Bakst to reflect on his career and discuss his new memoir, titled "Perseverance." In this conversation, Dayton recounts his personal challenges and his time as governor. He also revisits his call to increase taxes on the wealthiest Minnesotans — a campaign promise he fulfilled— and his role in legalizing gay marriage in the state. Also on this episode: election season is underway in Minnesota. On the ticket is an open governor’s race, an open U.S. Senate seat and the full state legislature. Both of the state's major party chairs join the conversation to share their political lay of the land as voting begins.Guests:Mark Dayton served as the 40th governor of Minnesota. He also served as U.S. senator and Minnesota state auditor. Alex Plechash is chair of the Minnesota Republican Party. Richard Carlbom is chair of the Minnesota DFL Party. Dana Ferguson is a politics correspondent for MPR News.Peter Cox is a senior politics reporter for MPR News.Subscribe to the Politics Friday podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or RSS.

The pace will crank up at the Minnesota Capitol next week. With fewer than six weeks before the required legislative adjournment, packages of policy and spending measures will set the tone for the end-of-session negotiations that aren’t all that far off. What’s still in play and what has taken a back seat? How prickly will those floor debates get? MPR News politics editor Brian Bakst speaks with two leaders of the Minnesota House of Representatives to talk about session priorities. Later in the program, we continue our conversations with candidates running for Congress in Minnesota’s 2nd District. Republican Eric Pratt will discuss his bid in that congressional district. Guests: DFL Rep. Jamie Long of Minneapolis.Republican Rep. Harry Niska of Ramsey.Eric Pratt is a Republican senator for Prior Lake and a candidate for 2nd Congressional District.Dana Ferguson, political correspondent for MPR NewsPeter Cox, correspondent for MPR NewsUse the audio player above to listen to the full conversation or subscribe to the Politics Friday podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or RSS.

Local party conventions around Minnesota are shaping top political races. Delegates are being selected for the state endorsing conventions at the end of May. So candidates are making the rounds — especially for Minnesota’s open U.S. Senate seat and an open governor’s race. Democrats will be trying to hang onto the seats, while Republicans will be trying to break a statewide election dry spell. The GOP has a very competitive race for the governor spot on the ballot. House Speaker Lisa Demuth and businessman Kendall Qualls are part of a top tier of hopefuls. But MyPillow founder Mike Lindell contends he is too. MPR News politics editor Brian Bakst talks with Lindell about his governor campaign. Also, the Senate made a significant rule change this week that could make public service more attractive to candidates with young families. We’ll hear from the lawmakers who pushed for change in the Senate. Plus, a recap from this week at the Capitol as the Legislature adjourns for a week-long recess. Guests: Mike Lindell is the founder of MyPillow and a Republican candidate running for Minnesota governor. Clay Masters is the host All Things Considered for MPR News.Dana Ferguson is a political correspondent for MPR News.Peter Cox is a correspondent for MPR News.

It’s been about a month since White House Official Tom Homan announced a drawdown of federal immigration officers in Minnesota, but the news from a fearful public and growing concern for those impacted remains. Lawmakers at the state Capitol are responding to the fallout from “Operation Metro Surge” through a variety of bills. They’re also holding press conferences and speaking on the floor of the House and Senate about what happened during the surge, from federal agents using unmarked vehicles and wearing masks, to whether the state should provide rental assistance for those afraid to leave their homes. MPR News host Catharine Richert talks with two lawmakers about the immigration legislation at the state Capitol, and what may or may not get done with a tied House. Later, U.S. Sen. Tina Smith has been outspoken on Capitol Hill. In the year from her announcement to not run for reelection, Smith has been quick to criticize the White House from the ICE surge to the war in Iran. Smith details those events and how she plans to close out her term with MPR News political correspondent Dana Ferguson.Guests:DFL Sen. Zaynab Mohamed of Minneapolis Republican Rep. Max Rymer of North Branch Democratic U.S. Sen. Tina SmithDana Ferguson, political correspondent for MPR NewsPeter Cox, correspondent for MPR NewsUse the audio player above to listen to the full conversation or subscribe to the Politics Friday podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or RSS.

There’s been a strong focus on an issue of ongoing concern in the state: Fraud, and what to do about it. Lots of fraud-fighting ideas are floating around the Capitol. Several have bipartisan support, but that doesn’t mean their travels through the Legislature will be smooth. MPR News politics editor Brian Bakst talks with a pair of lawmakers with a similar goal but competing visions for a proposed investigatory unit. Later in the hour, MPR News’ senior economics contributor Chris Farrell breaks down the state’s new budget and economic forecast. Guests: DFL state Rep. Matt Norris, of Blaine. Republican state Rep. Patti Anderson, of Dellwood. Chris Farrell is a senior economics contributor for MPR News and Marketplace.

Minnesota lawmakers will face constituent pressure to take action on some potent issues from guns control, immigration, fraud, taxes and more as the convene the 2026 session on Tuesday.The Capitol also remains deeply split, with legislative seats almost evenly divided between the parties in the House and Senate. Progress will be a challenge in an election year when some key players are looking up the political ladder or worried about the political winds back home.MPR News politics editor Brian Bakst talks with the Minnesota’s four caucus leaders about what’s in store for the session and what could get accomplished.Guests:Republican Speaker of the Minnesota House Lisa Demuth, of Cold Spring.House DFL Caucus Leader Rep. Zack Stephenson, of Coon Rapids.DFL Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy, of St. Paul.Republican Senate Minority Leader Mark Johnson, of East Grand Forks.Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation or subscribe to the Politics Friday podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or RSS.