National & Minnesota
As Republicans salivate over the prospects of Governor Tim Walz (DFL) resigning his office, which we highly doubt will happen, if this were to occur, it could have interesting implications not dissimilar to 1978 which is often referred to as the “Minnesota Massacre’.
For comparison, in 1978, Republicans won both US Senate seats (Rudy Boschwitz and Dave Durenburger) the Governorship (Al Quie), and the state House saw its first tie. These victories stemmed mainly from Governor Wendell (Wendy) Anderson’s (DFL) resignation and his appointment by the elevated Lt Governor Rudy Perpich (DFL) to the US Senate seat made vacant by the 1976 election of Walter Mondale (D) as Vice-President to President Jimmy Carter (D).
Republicans cried foul, due to Anderson’s effective self-appointment by Perpich. Perpich appointed Murel Humphrey to the seat made vacant in January of 1978 after the death of her husband Hubert H Humphrey II (D-MN). In turn, Bob Short (DFL-MN) prevailed over former Congressman and Minneapolis Mayor Don Fraser (DFL-MN) in a contentious Primary mainly fought over guns and abortion. Both Anderson and Short were seeking to fill out the balance of the respective terms, and each lost, Anderson to Boschwitz and Short to Durenburger.
Perpich lost to Congressman Al Quie (R-MN01). The State House was split 67-67 for the first time in state history.
If and this again is a big IF, Walz were to resign, and with a tied House already in place, it would mean Lt Governor Peggy Flanagan (DFL-MN) would be elevated to Governor, and Senate President Bobby Jo Champion (DFL-59, Minneapolis) would become Lt Governor. This situation could impact Flanagan’s bid for the US Senate in her contest with Congresswoman Angie Craig (D-MN02) and potentially upend this contest. Here a seriously interesting wrinkle could manifest, if Flanagan were also to resign to continue her Senate bid—which is also unlikely, because even being the Governor Minnesota for a short time is a great honor—of course she could then shift over to a gubernatorial race on her own.
If US Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) were to seek the Governor’s office in the November election, and win, she would be in a position—after her swearing in—to select her own successor.
Now, because of series of options which we speculatively point out, Klobuchar could appoint Flanagan and then she would be installed and required to run for the seat on her own in the 2028 election. But, this could foster a backlash like 1978 to be played out 40-years later in 2028 as a sequel- Minnesota Massacre II.
Sure, this is all wild speculation, but one factor we think is clear, Flanagan shares any aspect of the adverse impact of the public sentiment over the ‘Fraud Issue’ with Walz as a member of his Administration. Since she has taken credit for issues passed during the Government Trifecta she shoulders equally, the benefits as well as the burdens.