Minnesotans can vote early in person or through a mail-in ballot starting tomorrow. Minnesota has one of the earliest starts to the voting process in the country. Ellie has a rundown of things to know about voting before Nov. 5. Interest in early voting soared during the 2020 general election amid the pandemic. Early and absentee voting accounted for almost 58 percent of all votes cast in Minnesota in the 2020 election. Those numbers fell in 2022 as pandemic restrictions and precautions eased.
Former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris took a brief break yesterday from relentless appearances in battleground states. Yesterday, Trump campaigned in suburban New York , an area that could be key to the Republican party maintaining control of the House. Republicans are trying to protect 18 congressional members in Democratic-heavy congressional districts that Joe Biden carried in 2020. On Tuesday, Trump posted on his Truth Social platform that Republicans have “a real chance at winning” New York “for the first time in many decades.” Harris spoke at the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute’s 47th Annual Leadership Conference in Washington yesterday, but has trips planned later this week in Michigan and Wisconsin. Latino voters form a critical voting bloc in the swing states of Arizona, Nevada and Pennsylvania.
The White House has hosted its first meetings with Trump and Harris transition teams. The meeting and invitation to both nominee representatives is required under the Presidential Transition Act. While the transition officially kicks into high gear after Election Day , when a president-elect must begin the process of selecting and vetting 4,000 federal political appointees, success depends on the infrastructure constructed during the pre-election period. The White House hosted Tuesday’s meeting in efforts to smooth the transition from the outgoing administration to the new one.
A major workers union is remaining neutral in the presidential race, although some local units are siding with Democratic nominee Kamala Harris. The International Brotherhood of Teamsters board announced yesterday that it won’t endorse a candidate, the first time since 1996 that such a decision was made. In a statement from the board, the Teamsters said it “found no definitive support among members for either party’s nominee.” The union’s leader, Sean O’Brien, spoke at the Republican National Convention but was not invited to do the same at the Democratic National Convention even as other unions were represented on stage. The Teamsters represent more than 1.3 million member workers and retirees. The statement said neither candidate would make enough commitments that workers’ rights would go before those of big business and agree to refrain from interfering with organizing efforts or the ability of locals to strike. The Teamsters said its internal polling of members showed a preference for President Joe Biden when he was still a candidate but favored former President Donald Trump since, although “no universal support among the membership for President Trump.” The Teamsters local that includes Minnesota, Joint Council 32, declared its support for Harris and cited the Democratic ticket’s history on issues important to unions.
South Dakota Sen. John Thune appears to be angling to become the next Republican Senate leader, but his past doubts surrounding Donald Trump could make it difficult. Thune’s drive to become the next leader has forced him into a delicate position. As The Associated Press reports, Thune hopes to contrast Trump’s style of politics , while still stopping short of direct confrontations that have ended the careers of other Republicans. Thune did not support Trump’s efforts to overturn the election and Trump tried to recruit a primary opponent to run against him in 2022. Thune has since endorsed the former president, a move he hopes will convince Trump the two can work together. The outcome of the secret leadership ballot is uncertain. As Senate Republicans exit the Mitch McConnell era, the decision will be a clear factor of whether someone like Thune, who adheres to more traditional aspects of his party and has at times defied Trump’s wishes, can still rise to power. Sen. John Cornyn and Rick Scott of Florida are also viewed as contenders for the role.
Haitians in Minnesota are standing strong amid anti-immigrant rhetoric. Sen. JD Vance and former President Donald Trump have repeated false claims about Haitians in Springfield, Ohio, on the campaign trail and in last week’s presidential debate. While the rhetoric is concentrated in Ohio, it’s affecting Haitians across the country, including in Minnesota. Minnesota Now spoke with Djenane Saint Juste, the founder of the Haitian arts organization Afoutayi, about the impact the political rhetoric has had on her community. Listen to the interview here.
When you’re governor, the parking is good. When you’re a vice presidential candidate protected by the Secret Service, it’s even better. Clay Masters spotted an entourage of police and Secret Service cars pulled up directly in front of Minnesota’s Capitol on Wednesday and through a covered entrance. It was a clear sign Gov. Tim Walz took a break from campaigning for vice president to do Minnesota-based work. He was scheduled to interview judicial candidates. His schedule also said he met with University of Minnesota President Rebecca Cunningham. Later, he was set to attend an Urban Debate League event. Walz did not meet with local press and the Harris campaign said he was headed to Washington afterwards. | 
