Thankful for moral clarity in the face of social media’s uglinessIn response to disturbing posts about the Minnesota shootings, some Republicans offered a roadmap for political courage on social media. Jun 24 25June 24, 2025Article at MinnPost
Amid glee over DFL ‘disarray,’ the Minnesota GOP will have to deal with its own discordThe first few days of June were a time of celebration for Minnesota Republicans. After Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson was not endorsed on the first ballot for re-election at the DFL State Convention on June 2, she withdrew her name from… Jun 20 18June 20, 2018Article at MinnPost
Why looking at Ventura’s term as governor isn’t likely to offer any insights into Trump’s presidencyOver the last 20 years of being involved in politics, I’ve spent hours watching returns trickle in on Election Day. Usually, I’m either happy or disappointed with the results. But there have been two times when my reaction was something else: shock.… Dec 19 16December 19, 2016Article at MinnPost
How long should Keith Ellison have to answer for his past writings?When a person announces they will be a candidate for public office, one of the standard reactions from the media or political rivals is to examine their record for any past newsworthy statements or conduct. During the presidential campaign, of… Dec 09 16December 09, 2016Article at MinnPost
Why both Democrats and Republicans could be happy with Ellison as DNC chairIn the wake of the dumpster fire that was the 2016 election for Democrats, the next chair of the Democratic National Committee will have to do more than work on the party platform or fund-raise. Democrats need a complete makeover, an overhaul of… Nov 30 16November 30, 2016Article at MinnPost
Against Trump before he was for him: the wisdom of Daudt’s delicate danceFive weeks ago, Donald Trump’s presidential campaign was on life support. After the release of a shocking video of Trump making vulgar remarks about women in 2005, numerous Republicans in Minnesota announced they could no longer support Trump’s… Nov 14 16November 14, 2016Article at MinnPost
How campaign staffers actually spend Election DayIt’s become cliché to talk about how candidates and campaign staff preparing for Election Day is are like athletes and coaches preparing for a big game. But after having been involved in politics and political campaigns for decades, I can tell you:… Nov 07 16November 07, 2016Article at MinnPost
Latest Clinton email story probably won’t divide Democrats, but that won’t stop Republicans from tryingIt’s no secret that Hillary Clinton is not popular with many Republicans. And Donald Trump certainly isn’t popular with many Democrats. Even before Trump became the Republican nominee for president, Democrats attempted to connect Trump to nearly… Oct 31 16October 31, 2016Article at MinnPost
Why some political mailers are so much more effective than othersThe election is less than two weeks away, and voters across Minnesota are opening their mailboxes to find it overflowing with political mailings. Despite all the advancements in technology, mailers remain one of the most cost-effective ways to target… Oct 27 16October 27, 2016Article at MinnPost
Why campaigns spend so much time debating debatesDebates between political candidates campaigning for an office provide one of the best opportunities for voters to contrast the positions of candidates. But there are different ways campaigns approach the planning of debates, which brings us to… Oct 17 16October 17, 2016Article at MinnPost
Why it’s so easy for Minnesota Republicans to quit TrumpAfter the release of shocking video of Trump making vulgar remarks about women in 2005, numerous Republicans in Minnesota announced they were no longer supporting Donald Trump’s candidacy for the presidency. Trump lost the support of former Gov. Tim… Oct 10 16October 10, 2016Article at MinnPost
How political activists who don’t want to vote for Trump or Clinton look at the presidential raceAs a lifelong fan of the Vikings, I know what it’s like to watch your team come up short. Republican Jeff Johnson and Democrat Steve Timmer can empathize. As early supporters of presidential candidates not named Trump or Clinton, Johnson, a Hennepin… Oct 06 16October 06, 2016Article at MinnPost
I watched the first presidential debate three times: Hillary Clinton wonAfter watching the first presidential debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump three times — yes three — there is no question Clinton won the night with a strong performance. While the election as a whole may be focused on the differences in… Sep 27 16September 27, 2016Article at MinnPost
Why Republican candidates in Minnesota — yes, Republicans — bash Abraham LincolnNolan West is a 25-year-old Republican candidate for the Minnesota House of Representatives. On paper, he has all the ingredients needed to be a successful candidate. A graduate of the University of Minnesota, he was raised in Blaine, where he is… Sep 20 16September 20, 2016Article at MinnPost
Yeah, the DFL’s lawsuit to bar Trump from the ballot is kind of dumb. Here’s why they’re doing itMinnesota isn’t a swing state in the presidential election, but it has been thrust into the presidential campaign thanks to the DFL’s decision to file a legal challenge over the process used by the Republican Party of Minnesota in placing Donald… Sep 12 16September 12, 2016Article at MinnPost
The Republican Party of Minnesota complicates the simple. Again.For an election to be successful, a campaign or political party needs to complete a series of tasks to ensure its candidate can win. Some of those tasks are difficult, like making sure the campaign raises the necessary money to run a credible effort.… Sep 08 16September 08, 2016Article at MinnPost
A good day of turbulence for the Minnesota Republican PartyA sign of growing turbulence inside the Republican Party of Minnesota was on display Saturday, as two members of the Republican Party of Minnesota’s State Executive Committee lost their bids for re-election. Dave Thul, a member of the committee from… Mar 23 15March 23, 2015Article at MinnPost
Jeff Johnson complicates a cup of coffeeThis post is not just about coffee, but it will start out with a discussion on coffee. Let me begin by telling you that I do not currently drink coffee. Three years ago, I tried it for a week. I liked the first few cups, but then stopped. I try and… Oct 14 14October 14, 2014Article at MinnPost
Christie’s Minnesota visit is about ChristieGovernor Chris Christie (R-NJ), the head of the Republican Governor’s Association, will make a stop in Minnesota next month for Republican candidate for governor Jeff Johnson. Christie appeared at an event in Hudson, Wisconsin Monday for Governor… Oct 01 14October 01, 2014Article at MinnPost
Balls & Strikes: Johnson’s tongue-tied about Tea Party supportJeff Johnson, the Republican endorsed candidate for governor, has spent the last week trying to explain his involvement with Tea Party groups. Both the candidate and his campaign staff have been unable to articulate a consistent message about… Sep 15 14September 15, 2014Article at MinnPost
