MN State Senate
Will Roy Srp Help to Upend Mike Parry? The Independent Streak of MN Senate District 26
District has shown strong support for Independence Party candidates over the past decade
Read MoreOn Eve of New Economic Forecast, Minnesota Prepares for Further Budget Strains
Democratic-controlled legislatures in the spotlight, facing largest budget shortfalls across the nation
Read MoreA Profile of Minnesota’s Swing and Stronghold State Senate Districts
During the past three days Smart Politics has issued reports analyzing party strength in the state’s 134 House districts – including analyses on the state’s 40 swing districts, the 94 DFL and GOP stronghold districts, and the barriers the Republican…
Read MoreWhich Lawmaker (and Political Party) Leaves the Biggest Twitter Footprint in Minnesota Politics?
Last month Smart Politics conducted a case study as to how one Minnesota lawmaker, Republican Representative Laura Brod, utilized the social networking site Twitter during the last legislative session. That study found the plurality of Rep. Brod’s tweets were about…
Read MoreMinnesota Legislature on Pace for Most Days in Session by Decade
One of the reasons cited by Governor Tim Pawlenty in his recent declaration that there will be no special session this year to resolve the state’s budget crisis, is that he does not believe residents of the Gopher State should…
Read MoreRepublicans in Competitive Districts Opposed Pogemiller Redistricting Bill; Safe GOPers Supported Reform
When DFL Senate Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller saw his redistricting reform bill (SF 182) pass on a 39-28 roll call vote last Friday, he nearly needed one of the five votes cast by Republicans in favor of the bill. While…
Read MorePogemiller Delivers on Redistricting Reform; SF 182 Passes Senate Floor Vote
While the thunder of Governor Tim Pawlenty’s new unallotment strategy drew all the attention of Capitol watchers on Thursday and Friday, the Senate, under the leadership of DFL Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller (SD59-Minneapolis), passed a redistricting bill that will perhaps…
Read MoreA Historical Snapshot of Minnesota’s Legislative Special Sessions
Governor Tim Pawlenty delivered a shot across the DFL’s bow Thursday afternoon, or perhaps it was the dropping of an A-bomb, when he declared there would be no special sessions to resolve the state’s budget matters and that, if need…
Read MoreIs Minnesota the Most Democratic-Friendly State in the Midwest?
Smart Politics recently examined Governor Tim Pawlenty’s approval rating and highlighted its remarkable strength and stability in the face of the current economic crisis. But Pawlenty’s popularity is also noteworthy when viewed in the greater partisan environment of the Gopher…
Read MoreRedistricting Update: SF 182 Heads to Rules Committee
On Thursday morning the Minnesota Senate Finance Committee approved SF 182 on a voice vote, with one Senator dissenting. The legislation, authored by Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller (SD 59-Minneapolis) and Ann Rest (SD 45-New Hope), would establish new legislative and…
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