MN State Senate
Pawlenty Faces 4th Largest Democratic-Dominated Legislature Among GOP Governors Nationwide
With the release of the DFL’s budget earlier this month, the war of words (and policies) in the budget battle between the DFL leadership and Minnesota Republican Governor Tim Pawlenty has seemingly intensified. During her media availability last Friday, House…
Read MoreBeneath the Budget Battle, Redistricting Efforts Bubble Up
A Who’s Who of Minnesota politics from across the political spectrum continue to speak as one voice in an effort to bring change to the process by which the State draws its congressional and legislative districts. Back in January 2008,…
Read MoreMinnesota Legislature Ranks Near Bottom in Proportional Representation of African-Americans
Although Minnesota has the 4th highest percentage of women serving in state legislatures nationwide, the Gopher State only ranks 40th in the country in terms of proportional representation of African-Americans in St. Paul. Out of the 201 legislators in the…
Read MoreMinnesota Ranks 4th in the Nation in Electing Women to State Legislatures
Unlike its Upper Midwestern neighbors, Minnesota continues to be among the nation’s leading states in electing women to state legislative office, according an analysis by Smart Politics of data compiled by the National Conference of State Legislatures. For the second…
Read MoreCSPG’s Minnesota Redistricting Project to Testify Before Senate Today
Several prominent former Minnesota officeholders will testify on redistricting before the Senate’s Committee on State and Local Government Operations and Oversight at 10 a.m. Friday morning at the Capitol. Testifying before the committee to discuss the creation of a bipartisan…
Read MoreLive Blog: Redistricting Hearing at the Capitol
10:05 a.m. Several prominent former Minnesota officeholders will testify this morning on redistricting before the Senate’s Committee on State and Local Government Operations and Oversight. Redistricting will be a big issue in Minnesota – especially in light of the fact…
Read MoreFemale Legislators in MN At Record High; IA, WI, and SD Lag Behind National Average
Minnesota voters set a record in November 2006 by electing the highest percentage of female legislators to both the state House (43, 32.1 percent) and Senate (27, 40.3 percent) in Gopher State history. Overall, at 34.8 percent, Minnesota ranks 4th…
Read MoreTax Increases Not a Deal Breaker in Minnesota
The new Smart Politics commentary for Twin Cities Public Television’s Almanac: At the Capitol site is now posted here. In it I challenge the assertions made by Minnesota Republican state Representative Marty Seifert in his February 24th blog that Minnesotans…
Read MoreMinnesota State Senate Election Analysis: DFL Thoroughly Dominates Republicans
The DFL expanded its lead in the Minnesota State Senate from 38-29 to 44-23, after picking up eight seats and giving back two in this month’s election. The DFL has now not only nearly doubled the number of GOP seats…
Read MoreSmart Politics Scorecard, Part II: State Legislative Roundup
The Democratic party scored big wins across Upper Midwest state legislatures on Tuesday night. As projected here at Smart Politics, the Democrats picked up seats in all 8 chambers and took control of three of them: the Iowa House, Wisconsin…
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