Labor Day is nearly here — the traditional start of the fall campaign season — and the national AFL-CIO has a big tele-town-hall meeting this afternoon (4pm) to get union members primed for battle. Minnesota AFL-CIO spokesman Chris Shields says, “Our role is to make sure that union members are educated when they go out and vote, and that they go out and vote. Union members always vote in higher proportion than most people and we want to make sure folks have all the information on the candidates who support us.”
Shields says for the first time in many years Minnesota’s elections are a top priority for the national AFL-CIO — particularly the race for governor. The union supports Democrat Tim Walz. The G-O-P candidate is Jeff Johnson, and Republicans are also trying to grab the 8th District U-S House seat as Democratic Congressman Rick Nolan retires. Meanwhile Democrats contend they have a shot at taking the 2nd and 3rd Congressional Districts, both currently represented by Republicans (Jason Lewis and Erik Paulsen).
More in this interview: