The Murphy Challenge

Minnesota Report Yesterday, former Representative and unsuccessful Gubernatorial candidate Erin Murphy (DFL-64, St Paul) announced her intention to challenge 30-year incumbent Dick Cohen ((DFL-64, St Paul). This is after Murphy had announced her formation of a new...

Ward 6 Interviews (Bourne)

Minnesota Report Since Ward 6 is the only open seat in the St Paul municipal elections we thought it would be significant to sit down with the various candidates we feel who actually have a chance at winning the seat. As anyone who reads Checks & Balances knows we...

Scenes from the MN State Fair

Minnesota Report The 2019 Minnesota State Fair attendance was a record-setting 2,126,551, now granted there was a lot of repeat visitors, but it is impressive none the less. Checks & Balances attended the fair four times and we have a few features of the trips to...

Fischbach Cometh

Minnesota Report Former State Senator and short-lived Lt Governor Michele Fischbach (R-MN) announce her reentry into politics by challenging Congressman Collin Peterson (DFL-MN07). Last election, Peterson had a closer than normal election finishing with 52.10% over...

Checks & Balances’ St Cloud Effect

Minnesota Report Our publication Checks & Balances has played an interesting role in the politics of St Cloud. In 2006, we wrote the first item about how Sue Ek (R), Republican candidate for an open House seat was not a resident of the district, but rather St...

The Reddest Congressional District

Minnesota Report The 6th Congressional District contains 13 House districts and 8 Senate Districts and only a single one is in the DFL column. That single seat is held by Rep Dan Wolgamott (DFL-14B, St Cloud). This is why Congressman Tom Emmer (R-MN06) is able to...

Omar’s Response to Netanyahu

Minnesota Report We just received this release. Rep. Ilhan Omar Statement on Prime Minister Netanyahu’s Decision to Deny Her Entry into Israel WASHINGTON – Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) released the following statement after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu decided to...

The St Paul City Elections Set to Get Messy

Minnesota Report The bane of Ranked Choice Voting is set to occur this November. Now, that the field is set we will watch how the different candidates, carve each other up or appeal to voters to be their second-choice. Again, a Primary system offers a more concise...