Minnesota
Minnesota has contested court races on the ballot this fall. But don't expect battles like Wisconsin's.
For the first time in years, Minnesotans will have more than one choice for judge in multiple races on the ballot this fall.
Nine races for judgeships out of 103 total have more than one candidate registered to run, including two contested seats on the Minnesota Supreme Court. Last election cycle, only one judge in the entire state faced a challenger on the ballot.
Even with a handful of contested races this fall, it’s unlikely any will rise to the high-profile judicial battles seen next door in Wisconsin, where a 2023 race that flipped the state’s high court from a conservative to a liberal majority attracted more than $50 million in spending.
Several factors keep the tone tamped down in judge races in Minnesota, including institutional norms, a historically weak bench of challengers and a lack of high-profile cases before the state’s highest court that have spurred opposition, said Herbert Kritzer, professor emeritus at the University of Minnesota Law School.
“Groups have not felt that they have a need to get involved in Minnesota Supreme Court elections, and that’s because Minnesota has not had to make any controversial decisions on abortion, and there’s not been significant tort reform legislation challenged before the court,” said Kritzer, who has studied judicial retention across the country. “There’s also no death penalty in Minnesota; that becomes a very hot topic in many other states.”
In Minnesota, judges run for six-year terms to the bench in nonpartisan elections, but it’s rare in the state for someone to win an open election for a judgeship. Most judges retire partway through their term and allow the governor to appoint their replacement. Once appointed, the judge must run in the next general election more than one year after their appointment.
Incumbent judges are noted on the ballot, but political affiliations are not. While candidates can seek political party endorsements, a judicial code of conduct in the state discourages many political activities, and discourages candidates from discussing their views on issues or how they might rule on a case. Many candidates in Minnesota stick to that code.
That’s very different from Wisconsin, said Kritzer, where candidates run in open elections more often than Minnesota and are often strongly associated with a political party. In the 2023 race for the Wisconsin Supreme Court, candidates gave their views on the 2020 election results and abortion.
Timing could also be a factor. Minnesota’s judicial contests line up with the state’s regular election calendar, meaning they’re on the ballot with other high-profile races in November. Wisconsin’s judicial races are in the spring, giving each contest more attention.
In other states, business groups frustrated by Supreme Court decisions on regulations have often been behind efforts to recruit and back strong candidates for judicial races, but that hasn’t happened in Minnesota, said Kritzer.
There is a challenger to Minnesota Supreme Court Associate Justice Karl Procaccini, who served as Gov. Tim Walz’s general counsel during his first term in office and taught at the University of St. Thomas School of Law. Walz appointed Procaccini to the court last August, putting him on the ballot in November.
“There was some speculation that someone would put up a challenger because he was so involved in pandemic decisions,” said Kritzer.
Procaccini is facing Matthew Hanson, a Prior Lake attorney who has worked in trusts, estates and commercial litigation. Hanson was the lone challenger to any judge in 2022, and that’s part of why he’s running again.
“Democracy requires a choice, and when you can’t vote for someone else, why even vote?” he said. “I wanted to bring more attention generally to judicial elections.”
Minnesota Supreme Court Chief Justice Natalie Hudson is also facing a challenge, from Stephen Emery, an attorney who has run for other state offices. There’s one contested Court of Appeals race and six contests for district judges that have more than one candidate, including a five-way race in the Sixth Judicial District.
Kritzer expects there to be more emphasis on them as U.S. Supreme Court rulings kick more issues back to the states.
“State supreme courts are now more or less the last word on abortion and on legislative redistricting,” he said. “I expect there to be more of a focus on them, particularly if those kinds of issues are coming before the court.”
What questions do you have?
Kirill Kaprizov had a goal and two assists, and Ryan Hartman had a goal and an assist for the Wild, who are the No. 3 seed in the Central Division. Wallstedt made 27 saves in his Stanley Cup Playoff debut, and Zuccarello had three assists.
“I was definitely nervous,” said Wallstedt, a rookie. “I think it shows that it means something to you. I like a little bit of nerves. I think it’s something good. There were definitely some nerves throughout the day and then a little bit extra rolling into the game. But after the national anthem was over and the first couple pucks started coming, you’re good.
“I wanted to play and I felt like I have been going good. I was a little surprised (to get the start). But I was very excited as soon as I got the news. I just wanted to make sure I was ready today.”
Jason Robertson scored, and Jake Oettinger made 23 saves for the Stars, who are the No. 2 seed in the Central.
“We didn’t deserve to win,” Dallas forward Mikko Rantanen said. “I think two power-play goals for them, two a little-bit bounces for them where we had guys in the right spot. Just even keel. Playoffs are like this. Sometimes you lose a game, you can feel like you’re done. But that’s the mentality you need to have, you’ve got to reset and learn from mistakes.
“First 30 minutes, we didn’t win enough battles. They were just that little bit stronger in the battles and that’s why they were able to make us defend more than we want to. Just got to be stronger.”
Game 2 is here on Monday (9:30 p.m. ET; FDSNWI, FDSNNO, Victory+, ESPN, TVAS2, SN360).
“We prepped for a couple days coming into this one. Now, we will gather information from this game and continue to move forward,” Minnesota coach John Hynes said. “For me, it’s game to game and day to day. We want to continue to get better. We won and they [Dallas] lost. It’s not so much being satisfied where you’re at or that’s what it is. We need to continue to find ways to get better.”
Eriksson Ek gave the Wild a 1-0 lead at 5:35 of the first period on the power play. He scored on a one-timer from the left hash marks to finish a tic-tac-toe passing play with Zuccarello and Boldy, who found an open Eriksson Ek with a pass from the goal line.
“I think every team in the playoffs talks about not getting too high or too low. Just enjoy every day and each game and then we will go from there,” Eriksson Ek said. “I think we played pretty good today. The next game is a new game, so we just have to do it over and over every game. We know they are probably not the happiest with that game, so I am sure it’s going to be hard next game.”
Minnesota prosecutors charged a federal immigration agent with assault accusing him of involvement in a February road-rage incident.
Trump administration ends Minnesota immigration operation
Border Czar Tom Homan announced the end of Minnesota’s immigration operation after fatal shootings heightened tension and community backlash.
Minnesota prosecutors charged a federal immigration agent with assault, saying the agent was involved in a February road-rage incident during the Trump administration’s Operation Metro Surge.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent Gregory Donnell Morgan Jr., 35, faces two counts of second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon, according to April 16 Hennepin County court records. He has a nationwide warrant for his arrest.
On Feb. 5, prosecutors said Morgan allegedly drove illegally on the shoulder of a congested Minnesota highway in an unmarked SUV and pointed his weapon at two people in another car.
Morgan is the first agent charged in Operation Metro Surge, the controversial Minneapolis-area federal immigration operation that resulted in two American citizens fatally shot by federal officials, according to the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office.
The charges “reflect an important milestone in our efforts to seek accountability for the harms inflicted on our community during Operation Metro Surge,” Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said in an April 16 video statement.
Second-degree assault with a gun has a presumptive sentence of 36 months in prison if convicted, she said.
“Mr. Morgan’s conduct was extremely dangerous,” she said, adding his actions could have led to “another disastrous incident” in the community.
Neither ICE nor the Department of Homeland Security immediately responded to email requests for comment. A cell phone listed for Morgan, identified as a Maryland resident, didn’t immediately respond to a call or text message.
The incident came less than two weeks after two Customs and Border Protection officers shot and killed Alex Pretti, 37, during a protest in Minneapolis. Pretti would be the second American killed during Metro Surge after an ICE agent in early January fatally shot Renee Good, 37, while she drove her SUV in Minneapolis near an immigration operation.
Later in February, the Trump administration drew down Metro Surge, which officials called the largest immigration operation in modern American history.
Investigators said they interviewed Morgan, who identified himself as the driver. Morgan told investigators he and the other ICE employee were returning from a surveillance shift. Morgan said he feared for his life and others’ safety, so he pulled up alongside the vehicle and drew his Glock 19 firearm. He said he identified himself as police.
State investigators said neither Morgan nor the other ICE agent reported the incident to an ICE supervisor.
The April 16 warrant, signed by District Court Judge Paul Scoggin, said there was a “substantial likelihood” Morgan would fail to respond to a summons, and officials couldn’t locate him.
On April 18, Daniel Borgertpoepping, a spokesperson for the county attorney’s office, said there is no knowledge of Morgan being arrested yet.
Eduardo Cuevas is based in New York City. Reach him by email at emcuevas1@usatoday.com or on Signal at emcuevas.01.
Reds’ Brandon Williamson talks Minnesota homecoming, beating Twins
Cincinnati Reds lefty Brandon Williamson pitched into the sixth inning to beat his home-state Minnesota Twins 2-1 in his first pro start in Minnesota.
MINNEAPOLIS – Brandon Williamson came to this ballpark as a kid, rooted for Joe Mauer and the Twins, maybe even dreamed a little of playing there one day.
“Oh, yeah. Joe Ma,” Williamson said. “That’s my guy.”
By the time that day came, Mauer had a statue outside the stadium, and Williamson had 29 career starts across three big-league seasons for the Cincinnati Reds.
And then the kid from tiny Trimont, Minnesota, came up big enough to beat the Twins in his first professional start in his home state – a 2-1 victory Friday in front of 200 or more personal friends and family from Trimont. And about 31,000 other people.
“It was awesome,” said Williamson, whose personal contingent at the game represented close to one-third of greater Trimont (pop. 705). “It was everything I thought it would be.”
The left-hander didn’t pitch especially deep into the game, getting two batters into the sixth. But on a night made for native Minnesotans, with a game-time temperature of 43 degrees, Williamson looked right at, well, home, pitching to the conditions and setting down the first six batters he faced – and eight of the first nine.
As one local press box wag quipped during the second inning, “These Minnesota boys know how to pitch in the cold.”
A pair of one-out runs in the fourth inning provided the scoring for a Reds team lineup still trying to break free from its early season woes – albeit with the twin obstacles of the weather and All-Star starter Joe Ryan’s presence on the mound for the Twins for the first six innings.
The only two hits off Ryan were doubles in the fourth by Elly De La Cruz and Eugenio Suárez, sandwiched around a throwing error by third baseman Ryan Kreidler. Suárez’s hit drove in two.
The only run against Williamson scored after he inexplicably followed four strong innings with three consecutive walks to open the fifth, including a four-pitch walk to No. 8 hitter Brooks Lee leading off the inning.
Austin Martin followed the three freebies with a sacrifice fly on a dying liner to the gap in right that Will Benson caught with a slide.
Williamson then rallied to get Luke Keaschall on an inning-ending, 5-4-3 double play started by Suárez, who got the rare start at third base.
“I thought he handled himself really good,” manager Terry Francona said. “He looked like he was having fun pitching. I know he didn’t like walking the bases loaded. But he looked like he was enjoying himself out there. I like that when guys are enjoying competing; then we’re OK.”
Williamson also left the bases loaded in the third after a hit batter and two-out single followed by a walk. He struck out Keaschall on a called third strike that was confirmed after Keaschall challenged.
“I could have kissed whoever was running the ABS,” Williamson said.
The Reds improved to 12-8 and remained tied for first place in the National League Central after their third win in four games – the second in that stretch by a 2-1 score.“That was cool,” said closer Emilio Pagán, who pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for the save in his first outing since experiencing hamstring tightness Tuesday.
“I don’t have a team in my home state (of South Carolina),” Pagán said, “so I don’t know what that feels like. But to pitch against probably his favorite team growing up in front of that many friends and family had to be a surreal feeling. And he handled it great.”
-
Pennsylvania3 minutes agoPennsylvania utilities appreciate market signals — but not market prices
-
Rhode Island9 minutes agoPulled funding creates a bike path to nowhere. Let’s hope RI fixes it.
-
South-Carolina15 minutes agoMid-amateur from South Carolina wins Terra Cotta Invitational in Florida
-
South Dakota21 minutes agoNature: Prairie chickens in South Dakota
-
Tennessee27 minutes agoTennessee baseball vs Ole Miss score, live updates, start time, Game 3
-
Texas33 minutes agoTexas needs at least $174 billion to avoid water crisis, state says
-
Utah39 minutes agoMultiple earthquakes detected near Kanosh
-
Vermont45 minutes agoWrong-way driver stopped on I-89, charged with DUI