169 Days
24 weeks from today is the general election.
Fires are mostly under control in Northern Minnesota.
Minnesota will host the 2028 NFL Draft. ESPN: https://fluence-media.co/4uXM5MN
Timberwolves Pres. Tim Connelly has end-of-season media availability at 12:30 p.m.
The Wild announced a multi-year ECHL affiliation agreement with the Jacksonville Icemen starting this season. DETAILS: https://fluence-media.co/4uXL3QV
AAA projects that in Minnesota, average Memorial Day gas prices will be around $4.40/gal. One year ago, the national average for the holiday was $3.17/gal.
Home prices in the Twin Cities last month posted the biggest annual decline in more than a decade amid a stubbornly sluggish start to the spring home buying season. STRIB: https://fluence-media.co/42MV07N
One of the most common things Americans associate with being a good news consumer is a sense of skepticism or discernment. PEW: https://fluence-media.co/49diQgG
Session Daily has links to every retirement speech in the Minnesota House yesterday, including Speaker Lisa Demuth’s. WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/49b4KMK
Happy National Devil’s Food Cake Day.
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Get smarter… Long Term Care – Is Minnesota Ready? Care Providers Minnesota and LeadingAge Minnesota hosted providers, Senator Grant Hauschild (03, DFL), Representative Natalie Zeleznikar (03B, GOP), and Representative Nathan Nelson (11B, GOP) for a conversation about the future of careing for our seniors. This coming week the conversation moves to St. Cloud. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4ue3YXA
Sunday Take covered the final days of session and the lack of a 340B bill with Rahul Koranne of the Minnesota Hospital Association. LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4wGysn4
MNSIDER: sunday send, where we wonder why MPR is sponsoring political group Take Action. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ue401r
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For all the working together, the battle for the legislature is shaping up and in many cases DFLers seem to have recruited better candidates than Republicans. The new trend to watch is the slippage in more rual areas. That could be a challenge too much for the GOP to overcome. Republicans in the Senate have their hopes set on flipping seats in Greater Minnesota, while DFLers see more opportunity in the suburbs including Maple Grove, Stillwater and even Chaska as called out by DFL Majority Leader Erin Murphy yesterday.
There are some dynamics in Minnesota that reflect 2006 when President George W. Bush was unpopular, and Gov. Tim Pawlenty won re-election. Minnesotans view Governor’s races different and fraud has been the issue, the reality is that there are imperatives that Minnesota must address on health care, economics, education and more. Those should be the themes of the next 169 days.
TODAY: Gov. Tim Walz will announce two appointments for the Minnesota Supreme Court today at 3:00 p.m. Only one justice is retiring — Chief Justice Natalie Hudson — which indicates that Walz plans to promote an associate justice to chief justice and then appoint a new associate justice to fill the ensuing vacancy.
NAMES: via MPR, the finalists include: Justice Anne McKeig, Justice Paul Thissen and Justice Theodora Gaitas to be Chief Judge, and Reynaldo Aligada, Jr., a district court judge in Ramsey County; Elizabeth Bentley of the Court of Appeals; Keala Ede of the Court of Appeals; and Juanita Freeman, a district court judge who sits on the Washington County bench for the open seat.
NOTE: Last time Walz ignored the reccomendations from the Judicial Selection process and named his general counsel Karl Procaccini to the bench. If this is his final appointment don’t be surprised if he does the same. One insider suggested he appoints an Appeals Court Judge, giving him the chance to appoint another high-level judge in the future. Walz interviewed candidates last week.
MIDTERMS: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota House and Senate held ceremonial floor sessions Monday to allow dozens of lawmakers to make retirement speeches, [but] lawmakers who hope to be back are already focusing on the midterm elections. … Republicans scoff at the notion of Democrats claiming to be the party of ‘affordability’ after raising [taxes] in 2023. … [But] Democrats say they’re convinced Minnesotans know Republicans are making health care less affordable, along with blocking gun safety legislation and restrictions on the future actions of federal agents.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4uR1QoB
Via House DFL Leader Zack Stephenson, QUOTE: “I would predict that this election is primarily going to be about affordability. It’s going to be about people struggling with their health care costs.”
Via House GOP Floor Leader Harry Niska, QUOTE: “Republicans have been a firewall for Minnesota taxpayers against continued efforts to raise more and more taxes by Democrats.”
TRIFECTAS: via KARE 11, VERBATIM: “The outcome of the 2026 elections has enormous consequences for public policy. … If the DFL sweeps control of state government again by flipping back the House, the party could enact priorities that House Republicans blocked this past session, such as the assault weapons ban, limits on immigration enforcement, and a tax on large social media companies. … If Republicans were to flip just one seat in the House and one seat in the Senate — and win the governor’s office — they could pass bans on sanctuary cities and policies, slash corporate taxes and reverse mandates such as Paid Family Medical Leave. Or, voters [could] elect a divided legislature again.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4dvWM1R
IMPACTS: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Minnesotans will see savings on their property and vehicle registration taxes under the bipartisan agreement that passed the Legislature on Sunday. … Senate Republicans say a Minnesotan with a $50,000 vehicle would save about $145. The state will also issue one-time property tax refunds via a 12% increase to the homestead credit, which is available to homeowners whose 2025 income was less than about $143,000.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3PORdnu
TIPS/OVERTIME: Legislation to align Minnesota’s tax code with the new federal tax regulations passed in the “Big Beautiful Bill” did not pass this session, meaning workers will still have to pay state taxes on income from tips and overtime for the foreseeable future.
RESPONSE: via GOP Rep. Tom Emmer statement, EMMER: “[Gov.] Tim Walz and the DFL just blocked historic tax relief for hardworking Minnesotans for one reason and one reason only: they are sick with Trump Derangement Syndrome. … Out-of-touch Leftists hate to see the American people win.”
NUCLEAR: One of Sunday’s omnibus bills included provisions for a comprehensive study on using nuclear energy to meet the state’s long-term energy goals. The study will examine costs, benefits and drawbacks of new nuclear power plant construction in Minnesota to determine impacts on energy prices, reliability and carbon reduction.
RESPONSE: via Minnesota Nuclear Energy Alliance, STATEMENT: “The legislation [is] a meaningful step forward in the effort to ensure nuclear energy remains part of the conversation as Minnesota works toward its energy future. … The Alliance continues to advocate for lifting Minnesota’s longstanding moratorium on new nuclear energy development, a policy it believes limits the state’s ability to pursue reliable, carbon-free generation.”
FLINT HILLS FAMILY FESTIVAL: Kick off the summer in downtown Saint Paul with the Flint Hills Family Festival on May 29-30, one of the largest and longest-standing events of its kind. The Festival offers free fun for people of all ages in Rice Park and Landmark Plaza, with performances and activities that provide something for everyone, along with world-class shows inside the Ordway for just $8! Now in its 26th year, this year’s Festival lineup includes Cirque Mechanics: TILT!, NOOMA: an opera for babies, and Click Clack Moo! More than one million people have experienced the Festival, including hundreds of thousands of students who have visited on field trips during the Festival’s School Days. Join us this year! LEARN MORE: https://fluence-media.co/4dhpdBM (SPONSORED: Flint Hills Resources)
SESSION DEETS
UMN: The U of M shared a statement on what it plans to do with its funding from the 2026 bonding bill and what didn’t make the cut. VERBATIM: “$75 million in funding for the University of Minnesota [will] strengthen infrastructure, support workforce development and expand statewide impact. The legislation provides $40 million for Higher Education Asset Preservation & Replacement (HEAPR) projects for the Crookston, Duluth, Morris and Twin Cities campuses [and] $35 million for replacing both the existing St. Paul Student Center and Magrath Library buildings as part of a new St. Paul Campus Center. … [However], the University’s request for funding to modernize the School of Dentistry was not approved.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ePi6Su
BONDING: LIUNA-MN President Joel Smith shared a mixed reaction to the bonding bill due to missing priorities for the construction industry. SMITH: “Our leaders deserve credit for passing a $1.2 billion infrastructure jobs bill that will make progress towards fixing Minnesota’s crumbling roads and bridges, water infrastructure and public buildings. … [But] our leaders’ failure to prioritize lead drinking water pipe removal is unacceptable. In communities across the state, 90,000 lead lines need to be replaced by 2033. $15 million will remove only 1,200 pipes. At this rate, it would take 75 years to get the job done.”
BACKPAY: via the Long Term Care Imperative / SEIU, VERBATIM: “Leaders of SEIU Healthcare Minnesota & Iowa and the Long-Term Care Imperative applaud the passage of the legislative agreement that includes funding for Nursing Facility Wage Increase Back Pay with bipartisan support…The wage increase back pay provision was included in the final agreement at the end of the 2026 legislative session and will provide one-time direct payments to nursing home workers. The wage increases were originally set to take effect January 1, 2026, but implementation remains delayed pending federal approval…This is due to the fact that the Minnesota Department of Human Services was late in submitting the required state plan amendment to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. In addition, the Federal Center for Medicare and Medicaid Studies, after waiting three months, replied to the Minnesota request with questions that further delayed approval.” (DISCLOSURE: Long Term Care Imperative is a client of Fluence Advisory)
UNEMPLOYMENT: via MPR, VERBATIM: “Lawmakers also approved a measure that allows some iron industry workers laid off between November, 2025 and March 2026 to apply for up to 26 weeks of additional [unemployment] benefits. Last year, the Legislature approved benefits extensions for some 600 laid off Iron Range workers. Lawmakers say they’re moving to add workers laid off since that prior window closed.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4dkd9Qy
340B: via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “After a lobbying fight for the ages between the Pharmaceutical Researchers and Manufacturers of America and the Minnesota Hospital Association over [the] prescription drug discount program called 340B, word emerged from the state Capitol Sunday that House Republicans killed the bill that hospitals wanted. … The legislation died even after the Senate passed the bill in question on a 42-24 vote, with eight Republicans joining every DFLer.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4wyFJFn
(DISCLOSURE: Essentia, PhRMA and Community Action for Responsible Hospitals sponsored Fluence this session)
TRANSPARENCY: via MPR, VERBATIM: “The closing night [of session] produced frustrations from rank-and-file members of both parties about the closed-door negotiations involving mainly leaders. … Some lawmakers urged a change in practice when a new governor, and maybe new legislative leaders, arrive next year. … [But] House Speaker Lisa Demuth said more single-subject bills passed than in other years.” DEMUTH: “There’s always improvements that can be made, but we were as transparent as possible. I think we did a good job with transparency this year.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4dkd9Qy
SIGNED: via Office of the Governor, VERBATIM: “Governor Tim Walz signed eight bills. SF 4760 [is] the omnibus public safety policy bill. … HF 3404 increases penalties for impersonating a peace officer. SF 3210 amends the policy statement of the Minnesota Human Rights Act. HF 1141 funds housing programs. … HF 4239 updates campaign finance and political communication laws. … HF 4240 makes technical changes to election administration and absentee voting, classifies certain Campaign Finance Board data as private, and allows candidates and political parties to pay for security services. SF 3720 adopts the 2026 recommendations of the Workers’ Compensation Advisory Council. HF 3426 appropriates money from the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund.” LIST: https://fluence-media.co/4nxFg1S
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SD13: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Democratic leaders in the Minnesota Senate said a GOP-endorsed candidate from central Minnesota should drop out after a past incident of domestic assault came to light. Aaron Brutger, 42, was arrested in 2009 after his former fiancee told police he had slammed a car door on her legs and strangled her until she lost consciousness. … The Minnesota Senate Republican Caucus did not immediately respond to a request for comment. … Brutger called the ordeal an ‘incredibly difficult and painful chapter for our family.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3PeHiHM
ICE: via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office has brought charges against an ICE agent accused of [non-fatally] shooting a Venezuelan immigrant in north Minneapolis, then allegedly lying about what happened under oath. Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty announced Monday that Christian J. Castro, 52, has been charged with four counts of second-degree assault with a deadly weapon and one count of falsely reporting a crime in the Jan. 14 shooting of Julio Sosa-Celis during Operation Metro Surge. … A nationwide warrant has been issued for Castro’s arrest.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4uWSCr9
RESPONSE: via DFL Rep. Cedrick Frazier, Hennepin County Attorney candidate, FRAZIER: “I commend the Attorney General and County Attorney for their courage and leadership at this critical moment. At a time when too many people in power are unwilling to stand up to the brazen lawlessness of the federal government, they have made one principle unmistakably clear: no one is above the law — not Donald Trump, and not his federal agents.”
FORAGING: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “The growing number of people who hunt for mushrooms and berries in the wilds of Minnesota will need to wait at least one more year for clearer guidelines on foraging. … A bill that aimed to boost foraging on Minnesota public lands cleared a key Senate committee but stalled before the legislative session ended Sunday. There was less appetite to support foraging in the House.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4dRqyj1
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)
FEDS
US ATTY: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Aimee Bock should spend 50 years in prison for masterminding the biggest pandemic-era fraud in the U.S., according to a court filing made today by Minnesota U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen. … Bock’s sentencing will take place Thursday. … Under federal sentencing guidelines, Bock could be sent to prison for as long as 100 years, but Rosen said a 50-year sentence ‘appropriately reflects the seriousness of Bock’s crimes’ and creates an ‘adequate deterrence.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4dzzVCO
ICE: via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office has brought charges against an ICE agent accused of [non-fatally] shooting a Venezuelan immigrant in north Minneapolis, then allegedly lying about what happened under oath. Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty announced Monday that Christian J. Castro, 52, has been charged with four counts of second-degree assault with a deadly weapon and one count of falsely reporting a crime in the Jan. 14 shooting of Julio Sosa-Celis during Operation Metro Surge. … A nationwide warrant has been issued for Castro’s arrest.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4uWSCr9
RESPONSE: via DFL Rep. Cedrick Frazier, Hennepin County Attorney candidate, FRAZIER: “I commend the Attorney General and County Attorney for their courage and leadership at this critical moment. At a time when too many people in power are unwilling to stand up to the brazen lawlessness of the federal government, they have made one principle unmistakably clear: no one is above the law — not Donald Trump, and not his federal agents.”
DAYCARES: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “When federal agents forced their way inside Metro Learning Center in Minneapolis in late April, some neighbors wondered why investigators were not also taking a closer look at another business just steps away. … Taaj Day Care Center [and] Metro Learning Center are owned by the same person. … The Minnesota Department of Children, Youth and Families says it suspended payments to Metro Learning and the eight other child care centers raided by the FBI last month. But DHS will not say whether it has paused payments to Taaj Day Care Center. The agency previously identified ‘adult day services’ as one of 14 Medicaid programs at ‘high risk’ for fraud.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3R8Mc9Q
FRAUD: via Rep. Pete Stauber advisory, VERBATIM: “Congressman Pete Stauber (MN-08) introduced H.R. 8865, the Protecting Taxpayers from Fraudulent Providers Act, to defend taxpayer dollars. … This bill permanently bars a person, company, clinic, contractor, or other organization convicted of stealing money and committing fraud in government health care organizations, such as Medicare, Medicaid, or CHIP, from ever participating in those programs again.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Rfiujr
IMMIGRATION: Via MinnPost, out of all the Democratic-leaning states that were recently affected by increased immigration enforcement, Minnesota is one of the few that has not passed a law attempting to restrict what federal agents can do within the state’s borders. California, Illinois and Oregon have all done so — Minnesota did not due to its evenly divided legislature. READ: https://fluence-media.co/49YOZZx
REJECT 340B EXPANSION: A new Minnesota Department of Health report shows hospitals made at least $1 billion dollars from a federal drug discount program known as 340B. The program should help patients, but experts say there is little accountability for where the money goes. The report was delayed and only recently released, showing the program isn’t working as intended. But Minnesota politicians are fast tracking a bill to expand the 340B program anyway. Lawmakers: reject House File 3609 / Senate File 3769. LEARN MORE: https://fluence-media.co/4uUobCQ (SPONSORED: Community Action for Responsible Hospitals)
METRO
MENTAL HEALTH: via Pioneer Press, VERBATIM: “A long-established provider of day services for the mentally ill has informed staff it will at least temporarily close two of its three ‘clubhouse’ locations on June 30. The sites are in St. Paul and Minneapolis. … The two sites served 700 members last year between them, and membership had been growing. … [But] under pressure from the Office of the Legislative Auditor, the Minnesota Department of Human Services declined to continue backing the two programs with a federal mental health block grant without first opening contracting opportunities to other providers.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4tMWOZs
MPLS: via Axios Twin Cities, VERBATIM: “Minneapolis is borrowing a St. Paul strategy aimed at preventing homicides by solving more nonfatal shootings. … Minneapolis leaders on Monday announced the formation of a task force comprising eight MPD officers, four Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension agents, a Ramsey County sheriff’s deputy, a Metro Transit Police officer, and additional detectives from Bloomington joining in June.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fp385S
WASH CTY: via Pioneer Press, VERBATIM: “Crews have started work on a construction project that will replace the last remaining stoplight on Minnesota 36 between Stillwater and Century Avenue with a $43 million grade-separated interchange with buttonhook-style ramps that Washington County officials say will improve safety and reduce congestion. … The project should be complete by the fall of 2027.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/49U8KRW
ACROSS MN
WILDFIRES: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “Gov. Tim Walz thanked firefighters, first responders and local officials Monday for their work combating the Stewart Trail fire [near] Two Harbors. … As of Tuesday afternoon, the fire was 62 percent contained, but state incident commander Mike Hill told Walz he expected that number to grow. … Walz also received a briefing on the Flanders Fire [near] Crosslake. As of Tuesday afternoon, that fire was 20 percent contained, but Hill told the governor he expects that containment figure to grow quickly.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4nVBZdf
ROCHESTER: via Rochester Post Bulletin, VERBATIM: “Molly Dennis is planning to run for mayor in an effort to bring resident voices and transparency to local government, [the] former Rochester City Council member said. … Dennis’ federal lawsuit against the city and Mayor Kim Norton continues to move through the courts. … [Dennis] claims her March 6, 2023, censure by the City Council, as well as following actions, violated several state and federal protections against discrimination based on her [ADHD] diagnosis. Dennis said she doesn’t believe the lawsuit will affect her campaign.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/49cMH90
ICYMI: Yesterday’s tip sheets had more info on all the candidates running for the open mayoral seat in Rochester. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4nz5BN3
NEW ULM: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “This central Minnesota river town stood out to geographers decades ago, when they found it to be the ‘city of least diversity’ in the United States. Not only was New Ulm among the whitest cities in America in 1980, it was also one of the most homogenous, with nearly everyone being of German descent. … It isn’t [anymore], although the city’s ranking hasn’t changed drastically, even as other Minnesota cities of similar size outside the metro area have become more diverse. … Jeff Howison, senior research analyst at the Minnesota State Demographic Center, [said] it’s now the 15th least diverse city.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3PMHRZu
GLOBAL TRADE BOLSTERS AG ECONOMIES: via Minnesota Corn, VERBATIM: “Each year, Minnesota’s exports of corn, ethanol, corn-fed meat, and dried distillers grains (DDGS) alone support over 11,500 jobs and add billions to the state’s economy. They also help ensure that consumers around the world have access to affordable protein and dairy products. In May, during World Trade Month, Minnesota Corn celebrates that important role trade plays in all our lives — in the U.S. and abroad.” LEARN MORE: https://fluence-media.co/4dqEqB1 (SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn)
LOOKING AHEAD
TODAY: Minneapolis advocates, including Council Members Robin Wonsley and Soren Stevenson, will host a press conference at 12:45 p.m. expressing opposition to the mayor’s proposal for a $40 million police training and wellness center.
TODAY: Sec. Steve Simon will be in Northfield today to speak with students about voting. He will also visit the Minnesota Correctional Facility — Faribault to discuss the restoration of voting rights to former prisoners, per his office.
TUES-THURS: Sen. Andrew Mathews and Rep. Bryan Lawrence, both GOP, will host town halls in St. Francis on Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. and in Zimmerman on Thursday at 5:00 p.m.
THURSDAY: The League of Women Voters will host a conversation about voting with Sec. Steve Simon in Bemidji on Thursday, May 21 at 4:30 p.m. Simon will also visit St. Louis County and meet with high school students, per his office.
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BDAYS: Rep. Tom Dippel, Cozen’s Steve Silton, DEED Commisioner Matt Varilek, MNDOT’s Sara Severs, photographer Richard Tsong-Taaatarii, filmaker Norah Shapiro, pastor Caitlyn Stenerson
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IN MEMORIAM: morning take is dedicated in memory of Melissa Hortman.