![]() “It’s the first election season where the other side is organized and appealing to DFLers,” said Bryan Strawser, chairman of the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus. ![]() Both Swanson and Walz, meanwhile, have been working to shore up support among DFL voters after both previously earned backing from the National Rifle Association.īoth gun rights and gun control supporters say the political ground has shifted since the mass shooting at a Parkland, Fla., high school earlier this year. But when she served as state House majority leader, in 2013-14, the DFL-controlled Legislature’s record on guns was modest - amounting to a bill taking guns from stalkers and domestic abusers. Paul state legislator, has long been a gun control advocate. Johnson says he would veto any gun restrictions that wind up on his desk as governor, but Pawlenty is open to a few new limits. Republicans Jeff Johnson and Tim Pawlenty are promising to protect gun rights, while DFL candidates Erin Murphy, Lori Swanson and Tim Walz have pledged to sign into law new regulations to prevent gun violence.īut there are differences, even among candidates in the same party. Murphy and Walz said they support adding funding to Local Government Aid, a state program that sends money to rural and urban cities.Minnesota voters looking for a clear choice on the gun issue from the leading candidates for governor won’t get it until the November election.Īhead of next week’s primary election, the five contenders in the governor’s race are pitching their appeals to their respective party bases, which tend to drastically differ on whether there should be tighter limits on access to guns. One of the most important issues to greater Minnesota cities drew a Republican-Democrat division. It's telling when they say that a big tax hike is only a 'starting point.' Tim Walz and the Democrats want as much money as they can take from your pocket." Pawlenty issued a statement critical of the Walz plan: "Here they go again, Democrats teeing up massive tax increases on hardworking Minnesotans. It would, he said, increase spending on Local Government Aid, infrastructure, broadband and workforce housing. Hours before the forum, Walz announced that if elected, he would launch a One Minnesota Community Prosperity Plan, with city and tribal leaders involved. 14, and most wanted him to.įor Republicans, the majority thought Pawlenty would win, but hoped it would be Johnson. ![]() Like at the Mankato event, the Farmfest questions are expected to center on greater Minnesota issues.īefore the candidate forum, an informal poll of Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities members showed they expected Walz to win the Democratic primary on Aug. It will be broadcast on WCCO, 830AM radio. Pawlenty and Swanson are expected to join Murphy, Walz and Johnson at a Farmfest forum near Redwood Falls at 10:30 a.m. Tim Pawlenty's campaign said he had a schedule conflict. Johnson was a legislator, unsuccessfully ran for attorney general in 2006 and for governor last year.,Īttorney General Lori Swanson confirmed she would be the third Democrat at the forum, but pulled out because of a health issue experienced by her 87-year-old mother in Milwaukee.įor Johnson, it was the second time he was on stage with just Democrats. She is a Wisconsin native and served as the Minnesota House majority leader and was has done lots of work on health-care issues. He also was in the National Guard for 24 years. Walz, a Nebraska native, was a long-time Mankato teacher and coach before being elected to the U.S. The forum was sponsored by the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities and some Mankato organizations. "That was a good line," Johnson said to laughs from about 500 in the audience. He said there is a lack of trust among the regions.Īs Johnson and Murphy talked about their trips around the state, Walz said: "I don't go out to greater Minnesota, I wake up here." Republican Jeff Johnson said he is the only candidate from either party with roots in rural, suburban and urban areas after growing up in Detroit Lakes, living in Plymouth and serving as Hennepin County commissioner dealing with urban issues.
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