Mark Dayton

MN United creates fundraising PAC to support lawmakers who voted for gay marriage

Minnesotans United is the lobbying group responsible for all those "Vote No" bumper stickers and yard signs in the fall.After the amendment was defeated, the campaign transformed into "Vote Yes," and MN United became the force behind the blue-and-orange "Support the Freedom to Marry"shirts that crow ... More >>

Senate set to vote on legalizing gay marriage [STREAMING VIDEO]

Within a few hours, all that will stand in the way of legal gay marriage in Minnesota is Mark Dayton's signature, and we already know his pen is ready and willing for action.SEE ALSO: House approves marriage equality; four Republicans vote in favor, two Dems against [UPDATE]Days after the House appr ... More >>

DFL Rep. Jason Metsa seeks to understand poverty by living on minimum wage... for a week

As the legislature considers raising Minnesota's minimum wage, Rep. Jason Metsa, D-Virginia, wants to better understand what life is like for the working poor. So he's pledged to live on the current minimum wage of $7.25 an hour... for a whole week.SEE ALSO: Mark Dayton doesn't want to raise minimum ... More >>

The Star Tribune and WCCO wrote very different stories about Dayton's speech

Governor Dayton gave a speech to the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce last night, and depending on what you read, the takeaway was either that he got a standing ovation or a cold reception from the business community.SEE ALSO: Fox 9 led last night's 10 o'clock newscast with a real head-scratcher of a s ... More >>

MNGOP Rep. Mary Franson, through tears, says: "Democrats are just destroying this state"

You wouldn't expect anything else, but Rep. Mary Franson, R-Alexandria, is no fan of the job the DFL-controlled legislature is doing so far this session.SEE ALSO:-- Mary Franson spouts bogus autism theories at House hearing, gets shut down [VIDEO]-- Gov. Dayton's deputy chief of staff wants Mary Fra ... More >>

Minnesota law enforcement's last word on pot: "We do not support legalization for any purpose"

Mark Dayton says he won't sign a bill relaxing Minnesota's marijuana laws unless it has the support of law enforcement. SEE ALSO: The new Green Giant looks like he just took a bong rip [PHOTO]That raises the question -- could law enforcement leaders ever be persuaded to support something like that? ... More >>

Voter ID amendment fails in Minnesota

In an outcome that seemed nearly impossible just a few weeks ago, Minnesotans have defeated a controversial amendment to the state constitution that would have created stricter voting laws in the state, including a requirement for voters to bring a government-issued photo I.D. to the polls. With 94 ... More >>

Duluth flood update, and 10 more jaw-dropping images [PHOTOS]

Thankfully, the rain has stopped in the Duluth area, and the forecast is dry for the next handful of days. While it'll take some time to fully assess the damage yesterday's historic flooding caused, Mayor Don Ness tentatively estimates the impact in terms of "tens of millions of dollars, if not more ... More >>

Minnesota voters of all stripes agree: 'Let us buy booze on Sundays'

Minnesota Democrats, Republicans, and independents all agree on one thing -- we should be able to buy booze on Sundays.A new poll released by Public Policy Polling shows that just about everyone except our elected officials agrees that there is no good reason those of us who fail to plan ahead shoul ... More >>

Gov. Dayton will veto teacher tenure reform legislation

​Republican sponsors of a bill mandating that teacher layoffs be determined primarily by merit acknowledged today that the bill won't escape the veto pen of Gov. Mark Dayton. The governor met privately with bill sponsors this morning. He reportedly told them he's concerned that tenure reform is ti ... More >>

Minnesota might sell Zygi Wilf the Metrodome for $1

The Metrodome is for sale: Can anyone lend Zygi a quarter?​In the hectic lead-up to the proposed special session that will or will not approve a new stadium for the Minnesota Vikings, all things are on the table. The latest proposal is no crazier than the other ones -- for example, gettin' in the ... More >>

Vikings stadium won't go to a vote

Who cares if you want to pay for the new Vikings stadium?​The Minnesota Vikings new stadium will be a $1.1 billion monument dedicated to the death of democracy. That's what taxpayers learned last night, when the Ramsey County Charter Commission voted not to allow a vote on the tax that will build ... More >>

Minnesota state parks campsite reservation system back online today

DNR Facbook PageInterstate State Park is open and enticing.​The shutdown was rough on Minnesotan outdoorsmen and women. No boat or fishing license renewal. Closed state parks. A minefield of poop outside of locked public restrooms. Well, it's all over now. And starting this morning, the Departmen ... More >>

Minnesota Catholic Conference: Say no to human cloning

The Minessota Catholic Conference opposes the plot of this movie.​The Minnesota Catholic Conference is taking a stand against human cloning. At the moment, it's not clear who's on the other side of this issue, but they still seem pretty fired up about it.In a message to members, the MCC is telling ... More >>

Minnesota state shutdown: What's open

The deadline for a solution is tonight at midnight.​If you're planning your Fourth of July weekend, you should keep in mind what will or won't be available if the state government shuts down on Friday. In total, 75 different state agencies will be affected, with 46 set to shut down altogether. Wh ... More >>

Judge Kathleen Gearin supports Dayton in government shutdown

​With the Minnesota government shutdown less than 36 hours away, a critical ruling from Ramsey County Judge Kathleen Gearin has finally given people an idea of what a shutdown means: Gov. Mark Dayton's minimalist view of the core functions of government that would keep running during a shutdown. ... More >>

Dayton signs synthetic drug ban

Synthetic marijuana, now even more like regular marijuana: it's illegal.​Governor Mark Dayton this week signed legislation that bans a variety of synthetic recreational drugs. Synthetic marijuana compounds? Now listed as Schedule-I drugs. Bath salts? The same. Designer psychedelics 2C-E and 2 ... More >>

Legislature goes home with no budget

Under the Capitol dome, no budget.​Republicans controlling the Legislature had five months to craft a bipartisan budget suitable for DFL Gov. Mark Dayton's signature, and they failed. Now lawmakers have to come back for a special session that will either produce a budget to fund K-12 educatio ... More >>

Feds signing over $478 million in Central Corridor funds today

Federal funds grease the rails.​So it turns out the $478 million check really was in the mail. We were a little leery last week when St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman used his State of the City address to declare federal funding had been approved to cover half the cost of the Central Corridor ligh ... More >>

Mark Dayton vetoes $900 million GOP budget-cutting bill

Dayton issues his first veto.​The Republican-controlled Legislature sent DFL Gov. Mark Dayton a $900 million budget-cutting bill today, after no public hearings and with no Democratic support, and he wasted no time in striking it down with his veto pen. He lambasted it as an effort to protect ... More >>

Mark Dayton's election certificate: Photo of the day

We're done here.​It's all over except for the inauguration. Secretary of State Mark Ritchie has issued election certificates to Governor-elect Mark Dayton and his running mate, Yvonne Prettner Solon. Here's what they look like:

Tom Emmer concedes governor's race to Mark Dayton [UPDATE]

Tom Emmer says it's time to move on.​Given the steady drip, drip, drip of his failed ballot challenges and dead-end legal maneuvers since Election Day, it almost seems anticlimactic that Republican Tom Emmer has finally concluded that his race for governor is lost. A lot of GOP insiders, and ... More >>

Tom Emmer's recount petition rejected in MN Supreme Court opinion

Another nail in the coffin.​Tom Emmer now has what he wanted from the Minnesota Supreme Court: A written opinion that explains why the justices denied his petition that essentially accused some state elections officials of breaking the law. The 18-page opinion, just issued, refutes Emmer's le ... More >>

Bob Dylan is this year's version of the Lizard People [VIDEO]

Blowin' in the recount.​Remember the Lizard People, the mysterious write-in candidates who added one more layer of weirdness to the Al Franken-Norm Coleman Senate race recount battle in 2008? Thanks to the ever vigilant folks at The UpTake, we have a worthy successor: Bob Dylan. Hibbing's fa ... More >>

Tom Emmer leads Team Frivolous [UPDATE]

Tom Emmer's taking a ride on the slow boat.​Tom Emmer's recount watchdogs appear intent on burying precinct election officials under tables of frivolous ballot challenges. In Hennepin County alone, the Emmer camp was responsible for 894 of 907 frivolous challenges lodged by the end of the rec ... More >>

Mark Dayton vs. Tom Emmer: Now what?

Photo: WkipediaDayton vs. Emmer: Shades of 2008?​With all precincts reporting, here's where we stand: Democrat Mark Dayton has 919,238 votes compared to Republican Tom Emmer's 910,382 votes. That's 8,856 votes, or a 43.63-43.21 percent margin of victory. And it's within the one half of one pe ... More >>

Deputy Dave Schultz isn't shooting straight on taxes [Updated]

Is Deputy Dave a straight shooter?​It's apparently not a good election cycle to be a spokesman on a TV ad. First there was Michele Bachmann's "Jim the Election Guy," who turned out to be some strapped-for-work actor who didn't even live in Minnesota, let alone the 6th District. Now we have D ... More >>

Barack Obama recommends meditation for Republicans

Screen grab via TheUptakeObama rallies at the U​Mark Dayton's campaign for governor got two big boosts this weekend: Yet another lead in another poll, and a pat on the back from Barack Obama. Obama flew in for a Dayton rally at the U of M, where he said Republicans would drive the economy bac ... More >>

Mark Dayton leads Tom Emmer again in governor's race poll

Dayton leads Emmer: A pattern.​With one exception in this year's governor's race, DFLer Mark Dayton has outperformed Republican Tom Emmer in every statewide opinion poll. Sometimes he's led by a single percentage point. Sometimes it's been by as much as nine. But the pattern is there, and it ... More >>

Barack Obama booked for Mark Dayton rally

Barack Obama will lead a rally at the University of Minnesota on Oct. 23.​President Barack Obama will headline an Oct. 23 rally on the University of Minnesota campus to boost Democrat Mark Dayton's run for governor. The White House won't confirm or deny the exact location, but all indications ... More >>

Mark Dayton barely leads latest Rasmussen poll

Dayton leads another poll, but not by much.​Rasmussen Reports is out this morning with a poll that shows Democrat Mark Dayton leading the race for Minnesota governor, but the margin is so close it may as well be a tie. A Sept. 24 Rasmussen survey that gave Republican Tom Emmer a hair's breadt ... More >>

Mark Dayton leads Tom Emmer by 9% in new poll

Mark Dayton, left, leads Tom Emmer, right, in another poll.​DFLer Mark Dayton leads Republican Tom Emmer in the race for governor by 9 percentage points in a Star Tribune opinion poll released over the weekend. With one exception, that result continues Dayton's pattern of beating or tying Emm ... More >>

Best of Hot Dish: September 20-24, 2010

Have a nice trip, see you next fall.​It's officially fall, the time for scarfs and sweaters, pots of soup, whole chickens roasting with lemons and garlic--this is the season that many consider the best time of the year. The Hot Dish brings you the recipes, food events, and news to help you enjoy t ... More >>

Mark Dayton leads Tom Emmer but Tom Horner surges in new poll

Mark Dayton leads the governor's race, but not by much.​Democrat Mark Dayton has the edge over Republican Tom Emmer in the latest statewide poll conducted ahead of the November election for governor. But his margin is narrow. And Independence Party candidate Tom Horner gained a lot of ground ... More >>

Mark Dayton, Tom Emmer and Tom Horner pledge new Vikings stadium

Horner's wit earned the biggest applause and laughs last night at the expense of his opponents.​Gubernatorial candidates Tom Emmer, Mark Dayton and Tom Horner don't agree on much. And with Election Day fast approaching, none wasted much time with pleasantries at last night's debate. Independe ... More >>

Tom Emmer fights to a tie in latest governor's race poll

Mark Dayton and Tom Emmer are even in a new state-wide poll.​Republican Tom Emmer has consistently trailed his Democratic opponents in governor's polls over the past few months. And lately he's been the butt of attacks over his drunken driving convictions and his support from Target. So today ... More >>

Margaret Anderson Kelliher concedes to Mark Dayton

MAKForGovernor.comKelliher calls it quits.​After refusing to close the books on her primary race last night, Margaret Anderson Kelliher announced this morning that she is conceding the DFL governor's race to Mark Dayton."In Minnesota we value every person's voice and count every person's vote. And ... More >>

Tom Emmer again trails Democrats, this time in Star Tribune poll

Mark Dayton showed the widest lead over Tom Emmer in the Star Tribune poll​Republican candidate for governor Tom Emmer has again come up with the short end of the stick in a statewide poll compared to his Democratic rivals. A Star Tribune poll released over the weekend shows Mark Dayton, Marga ... More >>

Mark Dayton, Matt Entenza spend and barely lift a finger

Matt Entenza just wrote his campaign a check for a cool $4 million​Remember a few months ago when Matt Entenza and Mark Dayton said they would be willing to spend millions of dollars from their own fortunes on their gubernatorial campaigns? Looks like they weren't kidding. This week's campaign ... More >>

Margaret Anderson Kelliher tax disclosure follows Dayton

Photo: Nick VlcekThe Kellihers pulled in $143,968 last year​Following Mark Dayton's lead, DFL-endorsed gubernatorial candidateMargaret Anderson Kelliher released her 2009 tax records yesterday afternoon. Filing jointly, Kelliher and her husband, David Kelliher, earned $143,968 in adjusted gros ... More >>

Margaret Anderson Kelliher, Tom Emmer jabbed for missed votes

Kelliher and Dayton jabbed for missing votes​Gubernatorial candidates Tom Emmer and Margaret Anderson Kelliher are both taking jabs for missing votes this week at the Legislature. Mark Dayton, one of three candidates vying for the DFL primary, called out Republican-endorsed Emmer this morning ... More >>

Minnesota governor's race: Social media cheat sheet (UPDATED)

Here's the list, organized in alphabetical order by party affiliation. It's a work in progress.

10/7 Morning Must Reads

Political Freight

A host of Minnesota politicians say pork-barrel spending on a railroad expansion project threatens the Mayo Clinic

Clinton's Fox News Snit Ensnares Grams in Old Criticism

Kerry: Stumping for 2008?

You Are Here

Ah, the fall rituals of the Prairie!

Invisible Man

Jerry Janezich is staking his U.S. Senate campaign on a populist message and the DFL endorsement. But will any of that matter without TV ads?

Off Beat

Target: Target

"[Dayton-Hudson CEO] Bob Ulrich got a 200 percent raise after the value of the company stock doubled," says one Target employee. "We got a 2.7 percent raise. And for Christmas I got a box of candy."