WARMER WEDNESDAY
Another warmer day with some rain and lower temps yesterday. Holiday Happy Hour season in full swing. Rest will come before New Years. Inbox zero is in sight.
Wild win, hard to not be very excited for this team, even some NBA’ers were there for it. Timberwolves host Memphis tonight. A Snoop Dog Christmas coming to Minnesota.
DFLers trying to make gun control the topic of the day, but they froze licenses for new adult day care because of fraud concerns on the same day. Last night seen on TikTok, a full-autism center for sale in Bloomington.
We’ll release the next MNSider analyzing the DFL US Senate race today – where primary turnout happens will be the key for each candidate.
Cargill still #1 on the Forbes 500. Anoka-Hennepin teachers voting on a strike starting today.
Minnesota toy stores say holiday traffic is picking up, but tariffs leave them worried. STRIB: https://fluence-media.co/49ezpZM
The DNR may change the statewide walleye possession limit from six fish to four in 2027 — the first change to the rule since 1956. VNL: https://fluence-media.co/4pIjlFK
A suspect has been arrested after online threats shut down some Twin Cities schools. MPR: https://fluence-media.co/48Jp4VL
Happy National Maple Syrup Day.
Blois - tips: bloisolson@gmail.com
Sunday Take featured analysis of who Republicans want for governor and Anders Folk discussing his run for Hennepin County Attorney. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4oTaKic
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The latest insight from Fluence Advisory on the loss of institutional knowledge from the Minnesota Legislature. READ:https://fluence-advisory.com/insights/
SPECIALS
PRIMARIES: Preliminary results from the DFL special primaries for House Districts 47A and 64A are below. The primary winners are likely to win the special elections on Jan. 27 due to their left-leaning districts. No Republicans are running in 47A, but Republican Dan Walsh is running in 64A. DATA: https://fluence-media.co/4oZeyhR
47A
Shelley Buck: 87.5%
David Azcona: 8.1%
Juli Servatius: 4.4%
64A
Meg Luger-Nikolai: 29.9%
Dan McGrath: 25.8%
Lois Quam: 21.6%
Beth Fraser: 15.4%
Matt Hill: 6.2%
John Zwier: 1.1%
NUMBERS
WALZ/TRUMP: Via KSTP, Gov. Tim Walz and Pres. Donald Trump both have the approval of less than half of Minnesota’s voters. Walz is 6% more popular than Trump statewide, but Trump is 3% more popular in the GOP than Walz is in the DFL. DATA: https://fluence-media.co/4pKVHbF
WALZ — 48% approve (21% strongly, 27% somewhat), 48% disapprove (38% strongly, 10% somewhat), 4% unsure
TRUMP — 42% approve (21% strongly, 21% somewhat), 55% disapprove (46% strongly, 9% somewhat), 3% unsure
LT GOV: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Rep. Kelly Morrison put rumors to rest that she’s being courted to be Gov. Tim Walz’s lieutenant governor: ‘I’m not gonna be the lieutenant governor, but I am going to support [Walz] with everything I have.’ … [But] Morrison, who’s running for a second term to her Third District seat, also avoided saying whether she’s been vetted by the Walz Administration. … Morrison’s office [said] the congresswoman does not discuss private conversations. … Brooklyn Park Mayor Hollies Winston [wouldn’t say] if he’s interested in the job and whether he’s being vetted. … St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter [said] he wasn’t a candidate and has not spoken to the governor about the job. … Former Sen. Melisa López Franzen [said] she isn’t being vetted, but would not say if she’s interested.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3MI8DAk
NOTE: Rep. Kelly Morrison is scheduled to be the guest on this week’s Sunday Take at 9AM on Sunday Take.
EMMER/OMAR: Via KSTP, GOP Rep. Tom Emmer and DFL Rep. Ilhan Omar both have negative approval ratings statewide among Minnesota voters. Notably, Omar has the support of 59% of Democrats and 24% of Independents. DATA: https://fluence-media.co/3L0JhwW
EMMER — 29% approve (8% strongly, 21% somewhat), 33% disapprove (17% strongly, 16% somewhat), 38% unsure
OMAR — 29% approve (10% strongly, 19% somewhat), 52% disapprove (37% strongly, 15% somewhat), 19% unsure
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NEXT YEAR
US SENATE: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “It’s been nearly a year since Sen. Tina Smith announced her retirement from the U.S. Senate, and Republicans have struggled to find [candidates]. … Retired sports broadcaster Michele Tafoya has been in the mix of possible GOP candidates since shortly after Smith’s announcement, [and] she recently met with the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) as she gears up for a possible run. … David Hann, [a] former Minnesota Republican Party chair, [said] he’s also weighing a Senate run and plans to make a decision ‘relatively soon.’ … Kathleen Fowke [was] being encouraged to run. But a source familiar with her thinking [said] she’s no longer going to. … A GOP source [said] Rep. Jim Nash is no longer planning to run, either.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3MI8DAk
SOS: via MPR, VERBATIM: “Another Republican has filed to join the race for Minnesota secretary of state. Wendy Phillips filed paperwork with the Minnesota Campaign Finance Board to run. Former state lawmaker and ex-judge Tad Jude is also running as a Republican. … Phillips ran for a southern Minnesota House seat in 2022. … While serving as Olmsted County GOP chair, she became embroiled in a state party dispute that ended with her being kicked off the party’s state executive committee.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4aeOUlA
CLEAN | RELIABLE | AFFORDABLE: via Xcel Energy, VERBATIM: “We’re powering the Upper Midwest with clean, reliable, and affordable nuclear energy. For more than 50 years, our Prairie Island Nuclear Plant, located near Red Wing, MN, has been a workhorse of reliable, carbon-free energy. With two pressurized water reactors producing about 1,100 megawatts, Prairie Island generates enough electricity to power 1.5 million homes across the Upper Midwest. Unlike sources that depend on weather, nuclear energy delivers 24/7 reliability — providing the power we need today while protecting the environment for tomorrow.” LEARN MORE: https://fluence-media.co/4oCHdK9 (SPONSORED: Xcel Energy)
GUNS
WALZ: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “Gov. Tim Walz on Tuesday took some modest steps on guns through executive measures after being unable to muster legislative support to pass restrictions on firearms and ammunition. Walz signed two executive orders [to] create a statewide safety council [and] track the cost of gun violence and add funding to educate gun owners on safe storage. … Walz [invited] the families of several victims of the Annunciation shooting. … The Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus said it has concerns with the makeup of the safety council, which the gun rights group said will likely arrive at a predetermined outcome. [But] Chair Bryan Strawser said the [orders] were short of the sweeping actions that might have provoked a lawsuit.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/49gRYww
MORE: via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “The statewide safety council [will] bring together leaders from law enforcement, education, mental health and community organizations ‘to develop a blueprint for preventing mass violence, domestic terrorism, and politically motivated attacks.’ … The Department of Commerce is directed to work with insurers to collect and analyze firearm-related claims. … The Department of Public Safety is directed to expand education and training surrounding Extreme Risk Protection Orders. … The Department of Education [will] provide families with access to education, gun locks and safes.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4p1aAFE
RESPONSES: GOP caucus leaders Speaker Lisa Demuth and Sen. Mark Johnson responded harshly to Gov. Tim Walz’s new executive orders on guns. Demuth accused Walz of “lies” due to his claim at a press conference that she’s the “only one standing in the way of a vote” on gun bans in the legislature.
DEMUTH: “Once the Governor saw that even his own legislators weren’t on board with his gun bans, he pivoted to political rallies and insulting Republicans. … Now, he’s pushing an advisory council and PSA campaigns for laws we already have. … The ban was never actually the goal – the talking point is. If the Governor wants a special session, he should call one. Shame on the Governor for politicizing tragedy, and shame on him for ignoring bipartisan safety solutions in favor of mockery and lies.”
JOHNSON: “Executive action to study and educate the public on gun safety are not actual solutions to keeping kids safe in school. Addressing mental health, intervening before a crisis turns violent, and active safety protocols are real solutions that Republicans support to keep our kids safe. … The actions today will do nothing to actually keep people safe.”
ICYMI: Yesterday’s lunch take had more coverage of Gov. Tim Walz’s executive orders. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4akILEp
ISSUES
PAID LEAVE: via DEED advisory, VERBATIM: “DEED has launched a marketing campaign designed to inform Minnesotans about Paid Leave. … Marketing began last week on social media channels, and in January, when Paid Leave begins, the campaign will grow to include streaming video, billboards, movie theatres, medical offices and diverse community media. … DEED is also announcing the recipients of the Paid Leave Public Outreach Grants. Recipients will engage workers, families and employers about the new program. … DEED awarded nearly $1.9 million to 20 organizations.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4q0nipv
TAXES: via KARE 11, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Department of Revenue [has] released the brackets and deductions for tax year 2026, for returns filed in 2027. For tax year 2026, the state’s individual income tax brackets will drop by 2.369% from tax year 2025. … Tax brackets are adjusted annually by an inflation factor, rounded to the nearest $10, based on the change in the U.S. Chained Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4s272p6
HEMP/THC: via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “Since Congress approved a federal ban on all intoxicating hemp-derived products in the bill that ended the federal shutdown last month, a reeling industry is hoping its friends on Capitol Hill will succeed in an effort to convince lawmakers to impose federal regulations on their products, instead of outlawing them. … Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, two Democrats from Oregon, [have] a bill they introduced last week. The senators’ bill would set THC limits on hemp products for states that do not enact their own caps. … It may be difficult for Oregon’s Democratic senators to have a vote on their legislation in a GOP-led Senate. So, there’s talk of trying to include it in another ‘must pass’ spending bill [on] Jan. 31.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4pHh1P7
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USPS: via Sen. Tina Smith advisory, VERBATIM: “U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-MN), John Hoeven (R-ND), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Kevin Cramer (R-ND) urged the Postmaster General to take action to improve postal services in the Minnesota-North Dakota Postal District. As the holiday season continues and the volume of mail increases, it’s especially important to ensure there aren’t delivery delays across the two states.” LETTER: https://fluence-media.co/4pO0o4y
AWARD: via CEEM advisory, VERBATIM: “Clean Energy Economy MN (CEEM) is proud to present the 2025 Clean Energy Legislative Champion Award to Assistant Majority Leader Sen. Grant Hauschild (DFL-Hermantown) for his leadership on clean energy jobs, permitting reform, transmission and energy infrastructure, and policies that strengthen economic development in northern Minnesota.”
BUSINESS EXCELLENCE: Flint Hills Resources was just awarded the 2025 Large Business of the Year award from the Dakota County Regional Chamber of Commerce at their annual Business Excellence Awards celebration. The award celebrates the outstanding achievements of businesses that exemplify the thriving and growing spirit of Dakota County. The businesses honored make an impact and contribute to the continued success of our community. LEARN MORE: https://fluence-media.co/46lTpIs (SPONSORED: Flint Hills Resources)
LOCALS
COUNTIES: Via Pioneer Press, a trio of reports on metro county budgets. VERBATIM: “Dakota County residents can brace for rising costs as a nearly 10% property tax increase is approved for the second year in a row. … The Ramsey County board unanimously approved its 2026 tax levy and 2026-2027 operating budget Tuesday, both decreases from previous proposals. The board passed an 8.25% 2026 tax levy increase. … The Washington County Board on Tuesday unanimously approved the property tax levy and budget for 2026. The $148.9 million levy represents a 6.95% increase over 2025 — the lowest county levy increase proposed in the metro area.” DAKOTA: https://fluence-media.co/4iWK12I RAMSEY: https://fluence-media.co/4qjnoIx WASH: https://fluence-media.co/3MNRpS2
OLMSTED CTY: via Rochester Post Bulletin, VERBATIM: “Olmsted County commissioners adopted a proposed $389.2 million budget Tuesday, which includes a 6.8% property tax levy [increase] for 2026. … Included in the budget is $115.7 million in planned infrastructure and improvement projects, which are part of a $461 million five-year spending plan that is tweaked on an annual basis.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3KVmm6m
MPLS: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “One week ago, the Minneapolis City Council approved a $2 billion 2026 budget. But behind the scenes, council leaders and Mayor Jacob Frey’s administration have been negotiating several sticking points that nearly ended in a veto. On Tuesday, the council and Frey came to an agreement to avoid that veto. … Frey said the resulting spending blueprint is ‘not a perfect budget,’ [but] it preserves core city services, avoids layoffs, limits new ongoing spending and reflects the shared responsibility to ‘govern responsibly.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4oXr8y0
NEXT UP
TODAY: Governor Tim Walz will chair a meeting of the Minnesota Board of Pardons and attend a community Hanukkah event.
TODAY: The House fraud prevention committee will meet at 10:00 a.m. to discuss assisted living and adult day services with representatives from the Dept. of Health and Dept. of Human Services.
TOMORROW: The Senate subcommittee on federal impacts will meet at 10:00 a.m. with an unannounced agenda.
BDAYS: lobbyist Nancy Haas, cyclist Tess Hohman, PR pro Kathleen McClung, attorney Jacqueline Kuiper
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