Minnesota
| Minnesota Legislature | ||
Democrats |
Republicans |
|
| Senate | ||
| 2004 | 35 |
31 |
| 2006 | 38 |
29 |
| 2008 | 45 |
22 |
| Today | 46 |
21 |
| House | ||
| 2004 | 53 |
81 |
| 2006 | 66 |
68 |
| 2008 | 85 |
49 |
| Today | 87 |
47 |
Minnesota is home to many of the 20th century's most progressive leaders and most civic-minded citizens. Progressives from diverse backgrounds such as Hubert Humphrey, Eugene McCarty, Walter Mondale, Paul Wellstone, Betty McCollum and Keith Ellison have represented Minnesota. Yet, counter to that progressive tradition, there has been a long standing conservative movement, augmented in the last several decades by suburban population booms. In electing Rudy Boschwitz (U.S. Senate 1978-1990), Arne Carlson (Governor 1990-1998), and Jesse Ventura (Governor 1998-2002), to Norm Coleman (US Senate 2002-present) and Tim Pawlenty (Governor 2002-present), Minnesota voters demonstrated their willingness to choose conservatives when they are not given a strong progressive choice.
Recent elections have reflected a progressive trend, but a continued effort is necessary to nurture and sustain the strong and deeply-rooted progressive movement in the state. Progressive Majority is uniquely suited to the task of finding, training, and supporting progressive candidates who appeal to the state's rich progressive history. After all, we see our job to bring more "Paul Wellstones" into office.
Gail Kulick Jackson
Candidate for State Representative - District 16A (Challenger)
Sherburne, Mille Lacs, Benton and Morrison Counties
Gail Kulick Jackson is an attorney in Milaca, who was elected to the Minnesota State House in District 16A. Although Gail has been a candidate for the state House twice before (in 2004 and 2006), we actively recruited Gail to run again because of her strong progressive leadership in her community. The Republican was a six-term incumbent and was one of the most conservative members of the Minnesota House. Gail has been a progressive champion and will work to protect civil rights and expand vital investments in the state.
Gail Kulick Jackson is an attorney in Milaca, who was elected to the Minnesota State House in District 16A. Although Gail has been a candidate for the state House twice before (in 2004 and 2006), we actively recruited Gail to run again because of her strong progressive leadership in her community. The Republican was a six-term incumbent and was one of the most conservative members of the Minnesota House. Gail has been a progressive champion and will work to protect civil rights and expand vital investments in the state.
Mike Obermueller
Candidate for State Representative - District 38B (Challenger)
Eagan
Mike Obermueller is an attorney from Eagan, and was elected the Minnesota House of Representatives in District 38B. Although Mike ran in 2006 (and lost by just 163 votes), we actively recruited him to run again, this time emphasizing his core, progressive values. We have worked with him to develop a comprehensive campaign plan, a detailed financial strategy and a progressive message. Eagan is the home of Republican Governor Tim Pawlenty, and has been trending Democratic over the past three election cycles. The Republican three-term incumbent was increasingly vulnerable as his voting record diverges from the needs of the district, especially on education and transportation. Mike ran to help rebuild the Minnesota miracle, to ensure the economic, educational and civic success of our state.
Paul Rosenthal
Candidate for State Representative - District 41B (Open Seat)
South Edina and western Bloomington
Paul Rosenthal is a historic building preservation specialist and was elected to House District 41B (southern Edina and western Bloomington). Paul is a passionate progressive inspired by another Paul - Paul Wellstone. He ran to bring those progressive values back to the state legislature. Paul ran against two-term incumbent Neil Peterson.
Jerry Newton
Candidate for State Representative - District 49B (Open Seat)
Coon Rapids
Jerry Newton is a long time local leader in Coon Rapids, in western Anoka County. He served as a school board member in the Anoka-Hennepin School District for more than a decade and is well-known throughout District 49B. He ran to return traditional progressive values to the legislature. The seat opened up when Republican Kathy Tinglestad voted to override Governor Pawlenty's veto and was immediately rejected by the GOP. She opted not to run, rather than run as an independent.
Jan Callison
Candidate for Hennepin County Board - District 6 (Open Seat)
Jan Callison is the Mayor of Minnetonka and was elected to the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners. Jan was a three-term at-large city councilmember before being elected mayor in 2006. She is an attorney by training, but is better known in her community as a councilmember and mayor. She earned the support of AFSCME, WomenWinning and has bipartisan support from elected officials in the 14 communities represented in her commission district. Jan's opponent was conservative John Cooney, former aide to Republican Congressman Jim Ramstad. Callison's November victory will be a major victory and will ensure that a second woman's voice will be added to the Board.
Jen Peterson
Candidate for Cottage Grove City Council - At Large (Open Seat)
Jen Peterson is a mother of five and was a first-time candidate for city council from Cottage Grove, Minnesota (Washington County). Peterson is a former union member and currently runs a nonprofit, ACES, which focuses on child support enforcement. Jen's involvement in her community runs deep. She serves on the Women's Consortium Board, was appointed to the City's Human Services/Human Rights Commission and has served on the Cottage Grove Comprehensive Planning Committee. Peterson will bring a sensible voice to the city council and a November victory would shift the Cottage Grove City Council to a progressive majority.
Danna Elling-Schultz
Candidate for Hastings City Council - Ward 4 (Incumbent)
Danna Elling-Schultz is a DFL researcher in the Minnesota Senate and was re-elected to the City Council of Hastings. Danna has been a long-standing champion for public education funding and smart investment in suburban communities. She will continue to work against unfettered development and ensure fair and equal treatment of families in Hastings.
Michael Wojcik
Candidate for Rochester City Council - Ward 2 (Challenger)
Michael Wojcik is a 31-year-old and was a first time candidate that was elected to Rochester City Council, Ward 2. Michael is an electrical engineer by training and currently works as an adjunct professor of finance at St. Mary's University. Michael also services as Chair of the Olmsted County Environmental Commission. Michael ran to bring responsible and ethical leadership to the Rochester City Council. Currently, the Rochester City Council is one of the most conservative in the state. A victory in this race will begin the shift towards a progressive majority. In this non-partisan race, Michael is one of five challengers to conservative incumbent Marcia Marcoux. Michael knocked on thousands of doors, and wasthe only candidate known to have been door-knocking. This investment in Rochester politics is an essential first step in one of the most important progressive targets in the state.
Debbie White
Candidate for Winona City Council - At Large (Incumbent)
Debbie White was a first-term at-large Winona City Council member (Southeastern MN) running who was re-elected in 2008. Debbie has recently finished her master's degree in business administration. She also brings leadership to the region as a co-chair of the Community Bridge Coalition to address a faulty bridge connecting Winona to Bluff Siding, WI. White's re-election to the Winona City Council was imperative in strengthening a progressive base in Southern Minnesota.
Carla Bates
Candidate for Minneapolis School Board - At Large (Open Seat)
Carla Bates was a first-time candidate who was elected to the Minneapolis School Board. Carla is the first openly-GLBT person to serve on the Board. Carla is a mother of three children in Minneapolis public schools and currently works in information technology at the University of Minnesota. Carla successfully secured the Demoractic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) party endorsement with 80% of the vote this spring. She ran for one of three seats on the school board. She was endorsed by SEIU, Stonewall DFL, Regional Labor Union Council, Victory Fund and WomenWinning. The historic nature of Carla's candidacy and the fact that she has children in the public schools bodes well for her ability to drive a progressive agenda.