DFL

A Republican running for state House who also serves on the Blaine City Council received photos of middle fingers pasted on her car, prompting DFL House Leader Zack Stephenson and Leslie Larson to condemn the vandalism. The article notes that former DFL House Speaker Melissa Hortman was assassinated in June 2025, and other lawmakers have faced threats. Additional news covers library budget issues in St. Paul and rising restrictions on vacation rentals in Duluth.

Cedrick Frazier and Anders Folk advanced through Tuesday’s nonpartisan primary for Hennepin County Attorney, setting up a November race. Frazier took first place with 35.95% of the vote, while Folk brought in 22.86%. The election is framed as potentially serving as a referendum on Mary Moriarty's progressive policies.

Hundreds of thousands of voters participated in primaries in Minnesota and Wisconsin, leading to victories for candidates like Lisa Demuth and Peggy Flanagan in various races. Matt Little easily outpaced rivals in the 2nd Congressional District, while other individuals advanced through both states for upcoming contests.

Matt Little handily defeated his rivals in the 2nd Congressional District primary, marking a win for progressives aiming to increase their influence. The highly mixed district includes urban, suburban, and rural voters and was previously represented by Angie Craig. For the general election, Little will face Eric Pratt.

The Farmfest gubernatorial debate featured Amy Klobuchar and three GOP candidates, discussing topics like fraud, property taxes, and immigration enforcement. This debate was the last public forum before the primary election on Tuesday.

Andrea Zupancich, a Republican, and Grant Hauschild, a DFL state senator, are competing for Minnesota's Senate District 3, a rural area facing economic and healthcare challenges. Hauschild holds a financial advantage, while Zupancich highlights local issues like the dentist shortage in Babbitt. Wildfires and their impact on Ely are also influencing the race.

Angie Craig, a DFL candidate for U.S. Senate, discusses her priorities including revising the 'Big Beautiful Bill' to focus on middle-class tax cuts, reforming healthcare to reduce costs, opposing Social Security benefit cuts without raising the retirement age, ending the war in Iran, and restructuring ICE and Border Patrol operations. She criticizes current policies for favoring the wealthy and lacking transparency.

Cynthia Martin was sentenced to 364 days in jail for felony criminal vehicular homicide after hitting and killing 19-year-old Carter Haithcock in a 2024 crash in Itasca County. She must also serve five years of probation and complete 100 hours of community service.

Early in-person voting for Minnesota’s August primary election has begun, allowing voters to cast ballots in person at local sites. Key races include the Republican governor primary with Kendall Qualls, Lisa Demuth, and Mike Lindell, and the DFL Senate primary between Angie Craig and Peggy Flanagan. U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar leads Democrats in the gubernatorial race, while Keith Ellison is ahead of Ron Schutz in the attorney general race.

Governor Tim Walz's approval rating has dropped to -12, with 16% strong approval and 39% strong disapproval. President Donald Trump's approval rebounded slightly to -20, with 17% strong approval and 47% strong disapproval. Other Minnesota leaders like Amy Klobuchar and Keith Ellison also show declining approval ratings, while the state legislature's rating fell to -15.

Minnesota Democrats are divided over healthcare reform, with centrists like Jake Johnson supporting a public option and progressives like Matt Little advocating for Medicare for All. The debate reflects broader national tensions within the Democratic Party as candidates adjust their positions based on district politics and voter priorities.

A Minnesota Senate committee reported that two-thirds of reviewed Medicaid providers received disenrollment notices, though officials clarified this does not confirm fraud. Brian Nicholson, running mate for Kendall Qualls, defended his Jan. 6, 2021, presence at the U.S. Capitol, stating he left when violence erupted. Qualls dismissed a critical report as a 'hit piece.' Peggy Flanagan, a U.S. Senate candidate, discussed her stance on fraud and ICE in a studio interview.

Dominion Voting Systems, now Liberty Vote, has settled a defamation lawsuit against Mike Lindell and dropped its $1.3 billion claim. Lindell, who falsely claimed the company rigged the 2020 election in favor of Joe Biden, remains a political figure running for Minnesota governor. The article also mentions unrelated stories, including a Minnesota DFL candidate's criticism of the party's neglect of farmers and ICE cooperation concerns in Crow Wing County.

Residents in Minnesota, led by activists like Aubree Derksen, are opposing the construction of hyperscale data centers by companies like Google, citing health, environmental, and resource risks. Despite local protests and failed legislative efforts to regulate these projects, data centers have become a key election issue, with activists urging candidates to address concerns through moratoriums and transparency.

Minnesota lawmakers and officials marked the one-year anniversary of attacks on lawmakers, including the deaths of Mark and Melissa Hortman and injuries to John and Yvette Hoffman. Vance Boelter pleaded guilty to the attacks and will serve two life sentences. Tributes were shared by lawmakers, community leaders, and political groups.