This has been an unprecedented year for Minnesota politics.
One in Minnesota is running for vice president, and the other has begun a primary campaign against the incumbent president. The burglary arrest of a state senator has upended the 2024 legislative session, costing the Minnesota Democratic Party its third straight seat of state government.
Here are the top 10 political stories in Minnesota this year.
Governor Tim Walz’s Vice Presidential Election
Governor Tim Walz (Glenn Stubb) speaks at a rally in front of approximately 2,000 supporters on the waterfront in Erie, Pennsylvania, on September 5th.
Minnesota Rep. Dean Phillips challenges Biden
Dean Phillips, who performed better than expected in the New Hampshire primary on January 23rd, takes the stage at an election night party (Glenn Stubb/Minnesota Star Tribune)
U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips was one of the first Democrats in the country to call on Biden to step down. The congressman representing Minnesota’s 3rd Congressional District has repeatedly warned that Biden is too old and unpopular to win reelection. But Democrats wouldn’t listen, so Phillips launched a primary campaign against the president.
Phillips challenged Biden in Democratic primaries in more than a dozen states earlier this year. His best performance was in New Hampshire, where he received nearly 20% of the vote. However, his campaign failed elsewhere, including in his home state. He ended his lengthy presidential campaign in March and endorsed Biden.
Months later, other Democrats agreed with what Phillips had been saying for two years. They asked Biden to leave after watching him struggle in the first debate with Trump. Phillips was vindicated after being ostracized by other Democrats.
