2024: A Year of Political Whirlwinds in Minnesota
This year was dominated by politics and the presidential election. While I wish I could claim nonchalance, my role as a politics and state government reporter speaks to my deep interest in these matters. My focus remained primarily on the Minnesota Legislature and the candidates vying for seats within it. The state Legislature, as a regular reminder, controls the billions of dollars allocated to schools, roads, parks, healthcare, social services, and numerous other crucial areas.
The Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) party navigated a relatively modest agenda this year, a stark contrast to their groundbreaking 2023 session. Playing it safe in an election year, DFL lawmakers passed only a few key items amidst frequent and sometimes literal shouting from Republicans. Then, in August, Minnesota unexpectedly found itself in the national spotlight when Governor Tim Walz was chosen as Vice President Kamala Harris’s running mate. The subsequent Democratic loss of their trifecta, resulting in a Republican-led Legislature with a one-seat majority (at least temporarily), significantly altered the political landscape heading into the 2025 session. This shift was further solidified last week when a judge ruled that the Democratic candidate in House District 40B did not meet the state’s residency requirement, handing Republicans the majority until a special election, pending a potential Supreme Court appeal. It’s been a truly tumultuous year.
Highlights from My 2024 Reporting
Here are some of my favorite stories from the *Minnesota Reformer* in 2024:
* Legislative Session: The 2024 session saw a GOP senator propose axing the state’s Algebra II requirement; DFL Senator Nicole Mitchell’s arrest in April for allegedly breaking into her stepmother’s home; the passage of a bill increasing payroll taxes for the state’s paid leave program (launching in 2026); and the last-minute passage of a 1,400-page “tax” bill with minimal actual tax provisions, concluding with a chaotic scene of Republican protests and DFL lawmakers ignoring them.
* Failed Legislation: Many noteworthy bills failed to pass, despite the DFL majority. These included bills on physician-assisted suicide, mandatory infertility treatment coverage, the creation of a redistricting commission (and constitutional amendments for a full-time legislature), and increased corporate financial and tax disclosure. With the split legislature, these bills face an even steeper uphill battle in 2025.
* Nonprofit Funding: Deena Winter and I investigated the $1.1 billion allocated to nonprofits in 2023, revealing how many bypassed standard grant processes using legislative connections to secure directly-named grants while lawmakers enjoyed a $17.5 billion surplus. This lack of oversight is concerning, especially given recent allegations of fraud within state agencies, potentially leading to reforms in 2025.
* Optometrist Scope-of-Practice Battle: My investigation uncovered a behind-the-scenes struggle between optometrists seeking expanded practice (prescribing medication) and powerful opposition from DFL House Speaker Melissa Hortman, potentially influenced by donations from a wealthy ophthalmologist. Hortman denied any connection between campaign contributions and legislative decisions.
* Election Coverage: I covered the Omar-Samuels primary race (Omar’s decisive win), profiled both candidates (highlighting Samuels’ perceived negativity towards his neighborhood and Omar’s struggle to balance her national and international roles), and documented the aftermath of President Biden’s withdrawal from the presidential race, including Governor Walz’s selection as Harris’s running mate. I also reported on reactions in Walz’s hometown of Mankato, investigated Walz’s handling of unrest following police killings in 2021 using emails obtained through ProPublica, and covered the local elections, including a GOP Senate candidate’s ties to utility companies and a questionable tax break. Additionally, I reported on the alleged domestic abuse and past arrest of Representative Jeff Dotseth. Despite the allegations, Dotseth won re-election.
* Post-Election Analysis: Following the election, Patrick Coolican and I covered Governor Walz’s loss, and I am still awaiting an interview with him. His future plans remain unclear.
Looking Ahead to 2025
Next year will be my first time covering a split session in Minnesota, a welcome change from the DFL trifecta and the Republican supermajority I’ve covered in North Dakota. The drama promises to be exciting. See you next year!
(Note: The concluding donation appeal and author biography were retained.)