Minnesotans who didn’t vote early go to the polls today to elect two U-S Senators, a governor and lieutenant governor, attorney general and other statewide constitutional officers (secretary of state and auditor). All eight U-S House seats in Minnesota are up for election and analysts say some could switch from Republican to Democrat, or vice versa.
All seats in the Minnesota House of Representatives are also on the ballot today, and a special election in state Senate District 13 in central Minnesota will determine whether Republicans retain control of that chamber or Democrats take the majority.
Several seats on the Minnesota Supreme Court and the Courts of Appeals are up for election, as are district judge seats. There are also mayor and city council races in a number of Minnesota municipalities.
********GOVERNOR***********
The latest polls showed Democrat Tim Walz leading Republican Jeff Johnson in the governor’s race, and Hamline University analyst David Schultz says no visit from President Trump just before the election probably confirms that. “A seat in Tennessee or a governorship let us say in Florida or Georgia might be something that they have a better chance at,” Schultz says. “The fact that we’re not seeing any presence here from Trump or Mike Pence in terms of a governor’s race is probably suggesting… that the national Republicans don’t believe that this is a governorship that they can flip [from Democrat to Republican].” Schultz says another indication that Johnson might still be behind, is that he’s been campaigning in areas which should be his strongholds. “The fact that he’s still heavily campaigning in those areas suggests that he may not have the votes to be able to win,” Schultz says.
************U-S SENATE**************
Recent polls showed Democrat Tina Smith leading the U-S Senate race over Republican Karin Housley. Hamline University analyst David Schultz says lack of a presidential visit in recent days probably confirms that — and even though the Smith-Housley race probably is still competitive, “In a state like Minnesota, Trump’s visit or Pence’s visit may not be as valuable or as certain as in place for example such as Tennessee.” Schultz says the White House focusing on U-S Senate and governor’s races — although in places other than Minnesota — probably indicates they believe Democrats could take control of the U-S House.
In the other U-S Senate race in Minnesota, polls predict incumbent Democrat Amy Klobuchar will handily defeat Republican challenger Jim Newberger.
********MN ATTORNEY GENERAL**********
Republican Doug Wardlow and Democrat Keith Ellison have been in a fierce battle for Minnesota attorney general. Hamline University Professor David Schultz says up until this weekend it looked like Wardlow would win, but there’s been an “enormous” last-minute push by Democrats. Schultz says, “Mainly what it has to do [is] persuade those suburban women to say that, yeah, I may not like some of the allegations against Keith Ellison, but he’s a better alternative than Wardlow.”
Among many issues in the attorney general campaign: unsubstantiated allegations against Ellison of domestic abuse, which Wardlow says make his opponent unfit to be attorney general. Ellison says Wardlow’s work for a conservative group encouraged hate and discrimination against the LGBTQ community.
**************U-S HOUSE – 8TH DISTRICT************
There’s a heated battle for U-S House in the 8th Congressional District in northeast Minnesota, with Republican Pete Stauber up against Democrat Joe Radinovich. Hamline University analyst David Schultz says the 8th went for Trump two years ago and leans Republican and “at this point Stauber, unless we’re completely surprised, will probably be the victor up in that one there.”
*****************U-S HOUSE – 1ST DISTRICT*****************
Hamline University Professor David Schultz says the 1st District in southern Minnesota is one of the closest U-S House races in the country — and slightly leans Republican. Schultz says, “The only thing that would change it would be if there’s a very high turnout in Winona and Rochester, which would be going for Democrats. That might push it in the other direction, but I think that one is gonna flip [from Democratic to Republican].”
Republican Jim Hagedorn is up against Democrat Dan Feehan.
****************U-S HOUSE – 2ND DISTRICT***************
The U-S House race in the 2nd Congressional District (southeast Twin Cities suburbs plus communities along the Mississippi River) is a replay of two years ago, with Democrat Angie Craig trying to unseat Republican Jason Lewis. Hamline University analyst David Schultz notes President Trump won that district by less than two points in 2016. “The polls are suggesting Angie Craig is in the lead, and I suspect she probably is in the driver’s seat right now,” he says.
*****************U-S HOUSE – 3RD DISTRICT**************
In the 3rd Congressional District (Minneapolis and near suburbs), Democrat Dean Phillips is challenging Republican incumbent Erik Paulsen. Hamline University’s David Schultz says, as the best-educated congressional district in the country, the 3rd is a bellwether for what might happen in the U-S House. He says there are a “very high percentage of college-educated women who this year seem to be motivated to send a message about Donald Trump and the Republican Party. Given all that, I think that flips [from Republican to Democratic].”
Schultz says across the country the battlegrounds are in educated, affluent suburbs because polls suggest President Trump is not doing very well in those areas.
Much more in this interview — MNN’s Bill Werner interviews Schultz: