Minnesota

Minnesota Republicans examine losses, look to future

Published

2 years ago

December 2, 2022

Minnesota Republicans examine losses, look to future

Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios

As they give the impression of being to rebuild following one other thumping on the polls, Minnesota Republicans are confronting a chicken-or-the-egg conundrum:

They want extra sources to compete and win throughout the state. However probably the greatest methods to get extra sources is … to run aggressive campaigns and win.

State of play: The GOP misplaced all 4 statewide workplaces, a toss-up congressional seat and management of the Legislature in a midterm that was anticipated to favor them.

What they’re saying: Republican officers and strategists interviewed by Axios attributed the losses to numerous elements, together with messaging on abortion, missteps by the top-of-the-ticket, sub-par efficiency within the metro and a smaller-than-expected “crimson wave” nationwide.

However cash was a serious concern: “While you’re outspent 5 [or] six to at least one, it’s extremely, very tough [to win],” Republican Social gathering chair David Hann tells Axios.

Zoom in: Democratic teams and candidates, together with the DFL Social gathering, had spent greater than $127 million on state races in Minnesota as of late October, per one tally. Republicans reported nearer to $30 million in expenditures, simply $4 million of which got here from the state occasion, the evaluation discovered.

Why it issues: “Cash is the mom’s milk of politics,” because the saying attributed to at least one legendary California politician goes.

The benefit has allowed Democrats to blanket the airwaves with advertisements and construct out their infrastructure past the election cycle.

The intrigue: Whereas years of dominance in state politics have given the DFL a structural benefit, there are additionally rich Republicans in Minnesota able to funding GOP-aligned campaigns and causes.

Driving the hole: GOP insiders cite numerous causes for the lackluster fundraising, together with a scarcity of belief within the state occasion as a result of previous mismanagement and years of losses.

Donor choice additionally comes into play, as some deep-pocketed native Republicans are much less keen to spend the sums to rival DFL mega-donors like Alida Rockefeller Messinger, who provides thousands and thousands to Democratic committees.

However considerations about the standard — and winnability — of candidates who win the coveted GOP endorsement are additionally persistent.

The underside line: John Rouleau, government director of the GOP-aligned Minnesota Jobs Coalition, tells Axios that high-dollar donors make their choices based mostly on each “what they imagine in … and the place writing a verify goes to make a distinction.”

Candidates who cannot enchantment exterior the GOP base, or those that merely lack the message and self-discipline wanted to look aggressive, are exhausting sells.

Plus: What’s subsequent as GOP delegates collect in St. Cloud

Republican Social gathering delegates will collect in St. Cloud Saturday to pick a chair and chart a path ahead.

What they’re saying: Hann, who argues he wants extra time to proper the ship, says constructing inroads within the vote-dense metro will likely be important. He cited excessive base turnout and the slender losses within the legal professional common and auditor races as shiny spots.

What to look at: Kendall Qualls, who ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 2020 and sought the Republican gubernatorial endorsement this yr, tells Axios he is working externally on a “wholesale evaluation” of the GOP’s well being and future.

That effort could embrace focus teams, a deep dive into voter turnout knowledge and a have a look at the endorsement course of.
“Cash goes to candidates that may make the case that get voters and donors excited,” he mentioned. “That is one thing that we now have to take possession on.”

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Minnesota

NEXT Weather: 10 p.m. report for Minnesota on Nov. 4, 2024

Published

6 hours ago

November 5, 2024

Press Room

NEXT Weather: 10 p.m. report for Minnesota on Nov. 4, 2024 – CBS Minnesota

Watch CBS News

WCCO meteorologist Chris Shaffer says it will be cooler tomorrow with highs in the upper 40s.

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Minnesota

What to do in Minnesota: Things to do this weekend (Nov. 8-10)

Published

14 hours ago

November 4, 2024

Press Room

What to do in Minnesota: Things to do this weekend (Nov. 8-10)

article

Split Rock Lighthouse, as seen from Split Rock Lighthouse State Park, located on the North Shore of Lake Superior in Minnesota. (Melissa Turtinen/FOX 9 / FOX 9)

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – This weekend is packed with events like shopping for gifts from local artists, attending the Twin Cities Con in Minneapolis, or seeing the Split Rock Lighthouse lit up in northern Minnesota.

Twin Cities Con

Minneapolis Convention Center
Nov. 8-10
Day tickets start at $40, weekend passes are $70

The 2024 Twin Cities Con is back at the Minneapolis Convention Center and features several celebrity guests, including “Star Wars” actors Hayden Christensen and Ian McDiarmid, the voice of SpongeBob SquarePants, Tom Kenny, in addition to professional wrestlers, authors and more.

The event takes place from Friday to Sunday, with day tickets starting at $40, and weekend passes starting at $70.

Visit Twin Cities Con website for more information on guest appearances, schedules, and other events happening this weekend.

Art Attack

The Northrup King Building, Minneapolis
Nov. 8-10
Free

Art Attack at the Northrup King Building in Minneapolis showcases four floors of locally made art and gifts from artists. The event features artist talks, food trucks, interactive art projects, live demonstrations and more.

The event takes place on Friday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday from noon to 8 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. To learn more about the event, visit Northrup King Building’s website here.

Minnesota Black Authors Expo

Minneapolis Central Library, Minneapolis
Saturday, Nov. 9, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Free to attend

The Minnesota Black Authors organization is hosting its eight annual expo on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. This year’s theme is “Bringing Back Books to Life” and will feature 30+ authors, a writer’s boot camp workshop, live entertainment, business vendors, a kid’s corner and more.

The event takes place at the Minneapolis Central Library and is free to attend, but the writers’ boot camp is an additional cost. For more information, visit the Minnesota Black Author’s Expo website here.

Nocturnal Animals in the Park

Cottage Grove Ravine Regional Park
Friday, Nov. 8, from 6-8 p.m.
A parking permit is $7, tickets are $3 per person and children ages 6 and under are free

Curious about nocturnal animals? Join Washington County Parks and Carpenter Nature Center for a live presentation on creatures of the night featuring nocturnal animals. After the presentation is over, you can keep warm and end the evening around a bonfire.

The event takes place on Friday, Nov. 8, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m at the Cottage Grove Ravine Regional Park. A parking permit is required and costs $7. Tickets for the event cost $3 per person, but children ages 6 and younger are free. Registration is required in advance and can be done online here.

Edmund Fitzgerald Memorial Beacon Lighting

Split Rock Lighthouse, Two Harbors
Sunday, Nov. 10, at 4:15 p.m.
Tickets cost $15 for adults, $8 for children ages 5 to 17, and children under 5 are free

The Split Rock Lighthouse, located about 47 miles northeast of Duluth, is hosting its annual beacon lighting in honor of the 29 people killed when the Edmund Fitzgerald sank in Lake Superior during a storm on Nov. 10, 1975.

Split Rock Lighthouse will temporarily close at 4:15 p.m. while the names of the ship’s crew are called out. The beacon will be lit after the ceremony, and the tower will then re-open.

Tickets cost $15 for an adult and $8 for children ages 5 to 17. A discount is offered for college students, military, and seniors 65 and older, while children under 5 years old are free. If you can’t attend the event, it will be streamed online. For more information, click here.

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Minnesota

Wild Superstar a Lock for Massive Payday

Published

22 hours ago

November 4, 2024

Press Room

Wild Superstar a Lock for Massive Payday

Before the start of the 2024-25 season, things got interesting between the Minnesota Wild and their superstar forward Kirill Kaprizov. The Wild wanted more from their star player, while speculation began to rise that Kaprizov might find interest in one day leaving the North Star State.

The Wild made it clear they would do everything in their power to keep Kaprizov in Minnesota, but he still had to bring his best. With 21 points (7G-14A) in 11 games, it’s safe to say Kaprizov is at the top of his game.

Eligible for a contract extension at the end of the season, the Wild won’t have much choice but to give Kaprizov whatever dollar amount he desires. According to Elliotte Friedman on the 32 Thoughts Podcast, it’s going to be a huge number.

“When I say I think he’s going to be in the [Auston] Matthews, [Leon] Draisaitl range, I believe that,” Friedman said. “I think this guy is going to be one of the top-paid players in the league.”

At $13.25 million, Matthews is currently the highest-paid player in the NHL by average annual value. Come 2025-26, Draisaitl will take over with a $14 million salary.

Draisaitl’s teammate, Connor McDavid, is also eligible for a contract extension after the 2024-25 season, and he will no doubt become the highest-paid player in the NHL. That doesn’t mean Kaprizov won’t be in the conversation, though.

At 27 years old, Kaprizov already makes $9 million annually, the Wild have stated no one will be able to pay more than them, and he’s playing like a player worthy of a top three contract in the NHL.

The Wild also can’t let Kaprizov hit the open market. They’ll need to step up and sign the extension a year in advance to save themselves a bidding war.

“The Wild know,” Friedman said. “A, if he hits the market, everyone is going to be chasing after him. And B, he’s that important to their franchise.”

In 289 career games with the Wild, Kaprizov has put up 167 goals and 184 assists for 351 total points. Even after a slow start to the 2023-24 season, he still managed 46 goals and 96 total points.

Kaprizov is tied for the league lead in scoring with his 21 points, and just recently saw a seven-game streak of multiple points come to an end. His production this year is already through the roof and the Wild are hoping it leads to great success.

The Wild might not have the greatest chance of winning the Stanley Cup, but Kaprizov sure keeps them hovering around the conversation, especially as they build the team around him.

Make sure you bookmark Breakaway OnSI for the latest news, exclusive interviews, recruiting coverage, and more!

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