Capitol View for July 16

Good morning. Some cooler air today is welcome after the scorcher yesterday.

For the first time, the public is seeing footage from inside the home where state Sen. Nicole Mitchell was arrested in 2024 but getting different interpretations of why she was there. The first full day of testimony from the Mitchell burglary trial in Detroit Lakes set the stage for what will be a battle of legal definitions. There is no dispute it was the lawmaker inside the home of her stepmother that late April night as police responded to a 911 call. Mitchell, a DFLer with a legal degree, spoke quite a bit to officers about what drew her there. She says she had been shut out by her stepmother as she tried to gain possession of mementos and straighten out affairs of her late father. Mitchell also brought up the declining health and perceived paranoia of her stepmother as a reason she entered through a window during her unannounced visit. Carol Mitchell appeared on the stand and came off as a bit flustered as she recounted that evening. The prosecutor in Becker County told jurors “This case won't be about speculation. It won't be about trying to read between any lines.” Mitchell’s defense attorney put it to the jury this way in opening statements: “What matters for burglary is that they got in without permission and they intended to commit a crime inside the building. Nobody should be convicted of burglary because what they did makes you feel icky.” Sen. Mitchell is likely to testify later in the case.

The man alleged to have gunned down two state lawmakers and their spouses last month was indicted on six federal charges of stalking and murder. State and federal law enforcement authorities announced the indictment against Vance Boelter yesterday, saying evidence recovered in the investigation of the shootings indicated it was a “targeted political assassination” with Minnesota lawmakers and their family members at its core. Interim U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson said Boelter left behind a letter describing his motives that was addressed to FBI Director Kash Patel. In it, Boelter identifies himself as the person responsible for two shootings. Thompson said that a grand jury also issued a notice of special findings – which is the first step in a long process the Justice Department uses to determine if the death penalty is appropriate. That decision would be made in coordination with the U.S. Attorney General’s office and the victims’ families. Our colleague Matt Sepic has more on the charges and federal search warrant unsealed in the case.

A handful of Democrats have announced they’re running for the House seat that is empty after Hortman’s killing. House Seat 34B covers parts of Brooklyn Park and has historically been a safe seat for Democrats. The Secretary of State’s Office currently shows DFL Hennepin County Assistant Attorney Erickson Saye has officially filed paperwork to run. Mary Murphy with Forum News Service also reports that Brooklyn Park City Council member Christian Eriksen and former Brooklyn Park City Council member XP Lee have announced their candidacies. No Republicans have announced their candidacy for the seat yet. The filing period closes next week.

Gov. Tim Walz said Minnesota is likely to be confronted with higher costs administering the Medicaid program after recent federal changes. He shared details of a meeting this week with agency officials who estimated $150 million in additional costs to verify eligibility of recipients, who under the new law will be required to prove they are meeting work standards. There will be losses in federal reimbursements to the state as well, which could top $1 billion. Walz said counties should be bracing for spilldown effects. It’s still not clear if he’ll summon lawmakers back for a special session to address the changes or just let everything ride into the 2026 session, which begins in February. “I think at this point in time, probably premature to think about that. But we'll see,” he told reporters at an unrelated event.

The unrelated event was at the University of Minnesota, which naturally led to questions about when and who Walz will name new regents. The task is falling to him because the Legislature never convened a joint session this year to elect four new regents to the 12-person board. So it will give the governor a big opportunity to fill out the university’s governing board. He had nearly two dozen applicants for the spots of varying prominence and experience. Interviews of candidates are likely to be spread out over weeks. Walz said he’d like to name the new board members before the start of the academic year in late August.