Republican Aaron Paul, a police officer with decades of law enforcement experience, is running to win a House seat that was decided by just 14 votes in 2024.
He told Alpha News: "I believe in taking a common-sense approach to solving problems. I’ll look at every issue with one question in mind: Is this what’s best for Shakopee? My focus will always be on putting people first, ahead of politics or party lines."
Check out my story for more.
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UPDATE: Just six Democratic members of the Minnesota Senate have signed a statement condemning the upcoming Hasan Piker event and calling for its cancellation.
Four of the senators who signed the statement are retiring.
Notably, swing-district Democrats running for reelection, such as Judy Seeberger, Aric Putnam, Grant Hauschild and Rob Kupec, did not sign the statement.
Putnam and Seeberger both endorsed the Minneapolis mayoral campaign of far-left state Sen. Omar Fateh, a co-host of the Piker event.
Jewish leaders blast Omar, Fateh for event with streamer Hasan Piker who said 'America deserved 9/11'
Minnesota Democrats are facing growing backlash over an upcoming Minneapolis event featuring Rep. Ilhan Omar, state Sen. Omar Fateh and controversial left-wing streamer Hasan Piker, whose inflammatory statements about Jews and Israel — and his declaration that "America deserved 9/11" — have drawn condemnation from Jewish organizations and some members of the Democratic Party itself.
"The silence from too many other state DFL leaders is deafening," the Jewish Community Relations Council said. "Jewish Minnesotans hear that silence, and it further erodes their trust."
NEW: The Cook Political Report has officially shifted its rating of the U.S. Senate race in Minnesota from "Likely Democrat" to "Lean Democrat."
That development is good news for Michele Tafoya who is hoping to be the first Republican to win a U.S. Senate seat in Minnesota since Norm Coleman in 2002.
Last month, RealClearPolitics shifted its rating of the Minnesota Senate race from "Leans Dem" to "Toss Up."
Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, the DFL candidate in the race, currently leads in RealClearPolitics' polling average by +3.2%.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar wants to audit state government, oppose new taxes, and explore the possibility of ending Minnesota's moratorium on new nuclear power plants.
She has also opened the door to adjusting Paid Leave to ensure it is "fiscally responsible" and has said she would have spent the $17.5 billion budget surplus differently.
On Monday, she pointedly criticized Gov. Tim Walz, saying, "I would have caught [the] fraud" and "I would have clearly not pardoned a sex offender."
With nearly two weeks to go before Election Day, Klobuchar appears to be borrowing a lot from the Republican playbook. Check out my story for more.
Demuth, Klobuchar square off in first gubernatorial debate as campaign enters final days
Most notable from Monday's debate was Democrat Amy Klobuchar's repeated embrace of right-leaning ideas and her pointed criticism of Gov. Tim Walz
During the debate, Republican Lisa Demuth called out the DFL for increasing the state gas tax by indexing it to inflation in 2023. Demuth said she would repeal that policy and said Klobuchar "voted against the Keystone pipeline which would have brought in 800,000 barrels a day."
MORE: Flanagan was endorsed by The Politics Chicks when she was running in the DFL primary for Senate. She appeared on their podcast in a July episode.
Alpha News contacted Flanagan to ask if she was aware of the vile posts made on The Politics Chicks' Facebook page before she appeared on the program, but Flanagan has not yet responded to a media inquiry.
In her appearance on The Politics Chicks podcast, Flanagan told The Politics Chicks: "I’m so honored to have your endorsement."
Check out my story for more.
‘JUST FUCKING DIE ALREADY’: Democrats Peggy Flanagan and Kristy Janigo appeared on podcast that issued vile posts
Despite a self-professed “love of humanity,” The Politics Chicks’ Facebook page has left a trail of vile social media posts that appear to pointedly hope for the death of Trump.
"I need some joy. Give me songs that are on your playlist for when the big beautiful obituary drops," says a social media post from The Politics Chicks.
The left-wing blog and podcast has endorsed Democrats such as Peggy Flanagan and Kristy Janigo, who have both appeared on the show.
Last month, the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate in Michigan, Mike Rogers, said the Iran War "needs to end to bring costs down."
Additionally, Iowa’s GOP U.S. Senate nominee, Ashley Hinson, said the war needs to be "brought to a successful and immediate end."
In Minnesota, Republican gubernatorial nominee Lisa Demuth spoke about the war at a press conference last week. She said the Iran War has resulted in "increased prices" and "it is time to put an end to that war. I really believe that."
Michele Tafoya, the GOP nominee for U.S. Senate in Minnesota, appears to feel the same. Check out my story for more.
EXCLUSIVE: GOP Senate candidate Michele Tafoya calls for Iran War to end ‘quickly and strategically’
“No president, Republican or Democrat, has a blank check to wage war indefinitely without getting the consent of Congress and the support of the American people,” Tafoya told Alpha News in an exclusive statement.
“Iran cannot be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon,” she added. “But we are seven months into this conflict and Americans are in pain from higher prices. President Trump needs to level with the country about our strategy and the path forward.”
“This war needs to end quickly and strategically, with a resolution that prevents Iran from holding the world economy hostage whenever it chooses,” Tafoya concluded.
Despite Minnesota's left-wing lean, recent polls have shown an incredibly close race between Tafoya and Peggy Flanagan.
NEW: Republican Congressman Brad Finstad has announced that the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association (MPPOA) has endorsed his campaign for reelection.
This is another major endorsement pick-up for Finstad, who was endorsed by the Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation PAC in August.
Finstad is facing DFLer Jake Johnson in the race for Minnesota's First Congressional District which covers much of southern Minnesota.
The Cook Political Report rates MN-01 as "Likely R."
UPDATE: A spokesperson for the Minnesota Department of Human Services has told Alpha News that the agency is working with lawmakers to provide them with copies of the Optum report.
"In accordance with state law, which authorizes Department of Human Services to release this nonpublic data upon a joint request by the chairs and ranking minority members of legislative human services committees, we are working with members to release the reports to them," the spokesperson said.
Minnesota lawmakers want unredacted Optum audit released to their committees
Late last year, Gov. Tim Walz announced that Minnesota had partnered with Optum, a private healthcare company, to conduct an audit of 14 state-run, Medicaid-funded welfare programs that were deemed at "high-risk" for fraudulent activity.
According to multiple lawmakers, the Minnesota Department of Human Services has not yet fulfilled a request to release the Optum report to a legislative committee.
DFL Sen. Grant Hauschild's district is one of three Minnesota Senate seats that is occupied by a Democrat but was won by President Donald Trump in 2024.
This year's rematch between Hauschild and Republican Andrea Zupancich could be even closer than it was in 2022 and decide which party controls the Senate.
Check out the story for more.
In addition to leading in cash on hand, the Republican candidates for attorney general and state auditor are both polling higher than their DFL opponents in their respective races, according to a recent KSTP/SurveyUSA poll.
Check out the story for more.
Republican attorney general, state auditor candidates lead DFL opponents in cash on hand
Republican candidates for Minnesota attorney general and state auditor lead their Democrat opponents in campaign cash on hand with just weeks to go before the November election.
Meanwhile, DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar leads Republican state House Speaker Lisa Demuth in campaign contributions and spending.
NEW: Ron Schutz, the Republican nominee for Minnesota attorney general, has just unveiled a new 30-second digital ad for his campaign.
The ad contains no mention of fraud that has occurred in Minnesota and does not mention Shutz's opponent, DFL Attorney General Keith Ellison.
Instead, the ad is mostly biographical, mentioning Schutz's alma mater, military service, work history, and personal interests.
The full ad is below.
A separate 15-second ad from Schutz does reference fraud and Ellison.
That ad says, in part, "The fraudsters and criminals want four more years of Keith Ellison. It's time for a change."
Schutz's 15-second ad: youtube.com/watch?v=RgOFuUq7…
Here is the first entry in our series called Swing District Spotlight where Alpha News looks at key legislative races that will shape the House and Senate majorities next year.
This first story is about House District 48B which includes Chanhassen and much of Chaska.
Be on the lookout for more stories about the most competitive legislative races this year.
Luke Sprinkel retweeted
👀 We’re proud to support Minnesota teams and rinks this hockey season! Look for @AlphaNews near you! 🔥🔥
NEW: RealClearPolitics has officially updated the status of Minnesota's U.S. Senate race from "Leans Dem" to "Toss Up."
This comes after multiple polls have shown an incredibly close race between Republican Michele Tafoya and DFL Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan.
Republicans in Minnesota appear to have a good chance of winning their first statewide political race in 20 years, according to a new KSTP/SurveyUSA poll.
Check out the story for more.
Luke Sprinkel retweeted
BREAKING: A new KSTP/Survey USA poll has Republican Michele Tafoya and Democrat Peggy Flanagan tied at 42% each in the race for U.S. Senate in Minnesota.
Luke Sprinkel retweeted
BREAKING: Republican Ron Schutz leads Democrat Keith Ellison in the race for Minnesota attorney general, according to a new KSTP/Survey USA poll.
🔴 Ron Schutz: 45%
🔵 Keith Ellison: 43%
State auditor race:
🔴 Scott Jensen: 43%
🔵 Zack Filipovich: 36%
Secretary of state race:
🔴 Tad Jude: 36%
🔵 Steve Simon: 40%
New Minnesota poll conducted by co/efficient between September 14-15 with 833 likely voters. Margin of error: ±3.38 percentage points.
Minnesota Senate:
🔵Peggy Flanagan - 43%
🔴Michele Tafoya - 42%
🟣Undecided - 11%
Minnesota Governor:
🔵Amy Klobuchar - 47%
🔴Lisa Demuth - 45%
🟣Undecided - 9%
