Minnesota

Trump returning to Minnesota for GOP fundraiser, despite threat to never come back if he lost state in 2020

Published

2 years ago

May 13, 2024

Trump returning to Minnesota for GOP fundraiser, despite threat to never come back if he lost state in 2020

MINNEAPOLIS — In 2020 President Donald Trump said if he lost Minnesota he would never come back to the state.

“What we’ve done for Minnesota — I lose Minnesota, I’m never coming back,” Trump said. “I don’t care. I’m never coming back.”

Trump did lose, but is coming back for a GOP fundraiser this Friday in St. Paul.

Trump made several campaign visits to Minnesota in 2020, repeatedly saying Minnesota was the state that got away from him in 2016.

That year, despite only one last-minute campaign appearance here, Trump almost pulled off a shocking upset. He lost to Hillary Clinton here by less than 2%.

Minnesota has the longest-running streak of voting for Democrats in the presidential race in the nation. The last time Minnesota voted Republican was 1972 when the state voted for Richard Nixon.

Despite campaigning here several times in 2020, Trump lost by a decisive margin of 7 percentage points to Joe Biden.

Despite saying he would never come back, Trump will be here this Friday night for the Minnesota GOP’s annual Lincoln Reagan dinner, one of the party’s biggest fundraisers. Internal party polling reportedly shows Trump and Biden are closer than expected in Minnesota.

The chair of the Minnesota GOP, David Hann, was a guest on WCCO Sunday Morning at 10:30 a.m.

Minnesota GOP Chair David Hann on Trump’s upcoming visit

05:16

“The Trump campaign believes that Minnesota is a winnable state and they have begun to focus on winning Minnesota for the Republicans, and I think they are right, I think it is winnable,” Hann said.

In the end, this presidential race will likely come down to the Electoral College. Another critical state for both candidates is Wisconsin, which like Minnesota, has 10 electoral college votes. Both Biden and Trump have already campaigned in Wisconsin, something you can expect to see more of in the five-and-a-half months left until the November election.

You can watch WCCO Sunday Morning with Esme Murphy and Adam Del Rossso every Sunday at 6 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.

Esme Murphy

Esme Murphy, a reporter and Sunday morning anchor for WCCO-TV, has been a member of the WCCO-TV staff since December 1990. She is also a weekend talk show host on WCCO Radio. Born and raised in New York City, Esme ventured into reporting after graduating from Harvard University.

Source link

Minnesota

Another Minnesota city moves toward displaying old state flag

Published

4 hours ago

April 8, 2026

Press Room

Another Minnesota city moves toward displaying old state flag

Elk River leaders are moving to keep Minnesota’s retired state flag flying in the city after residents backed the idea in a survey.

The Elk River City Council voted 5-0 on Monday night to draft a resolution to display the old flag instead of the new design adopted two years ago.

The move came after more than 1,000 residents responded to an online survey posted by the city. In that survey, the city says almost 75% supported displaying the old flag.

A final council vote is expected at its next meeting on the 20th.

Minnesotans hold onto old habits when buying a state flag

Other cities across the state have taken similar steps to fly the retired flag, including Champlin and Zumbrota.

The flag design turned into a political dispute when planning for a new design first began. Two years later, debates continue, with some believing the old flag celebrated the displacement of Native Americans and others embracing it due to its history.

Lawmakers, commission member discuss new legislation for state flag, seal designs

Source link

Minnesota

Brad Paisley to perform at 2026 Minnesota State Fair

Published

16 hours ago

April 7, 2026

Press Room

Brad Paisley to perform at 2026 Minnesota State Fair

Country music star Brad Paisley will be bringing his talents to the Grandstand at this year’s Minnesota State Fair.

Paisley, along with special guest Avery Anna, will take to the stage on Sept. 3. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, with prices ranging between $52 to $113.75.

Paisley has won several awards, including three Grammys, two American Music Awards, 15 Academy of Country Music Awards and 14 Country Music Association Awards.

Brad Paisley performs during The Big 98’s Friendsgiving at the Grand Ole Opry House on November 10, 2025 in Nashville, Tennessee.

Jason Kempin / Getty Images

In 2008, Paisley became the first artist to achieve 10 consecutive Billboard Country Airplay No. 1 singles. Last year, he was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.

This year’s Grandstand acts also include TLC, Salt-N-Pepa, En Vogue, Rod Stewart, “Weird” Al Yankovic and Bonnie Raitt. Pre-fair discount admission tickets are also still available.

In:

Source link

Minnesota

ATHENA Award Honors Lori Kloos For Decades Of Service To SCTCC And Local Charities

Published

1 day ago

April 7, 2026

Press Room

ATHENA Award Honors Lori Kloos For Decades Of Service To SCTCC And Local Charities

ST. CLOUD (WJON News) — The Women’s Fund of the Central Minnesota Community Foundation has announced this year’s ATHENA Award winner.

Lori Kloos is the 2026 recipient.

She serves as the President of the St. Cloud Technical and Community College, where she has also held other leadership roles, including Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Administration for nearly 30 years. Prior to her time at SCTCC, Kloos served as a State and Legislative Auditor for Minnesota.

In addition to her professional achievements, Kloos is actively involved in the community, serving on several local boards and committees, including Greater St. Cloud, United Way, and the St. Cloud Downtown Rotary.

The ATHENA Award is a lifetime achievement honor recognizing exceptional women leaders who inspire others to achieve excellence in both their professional and personal lives.

Kloos will be honored on June 8th at the Women’s Fund Presents: Dancing With Our Stars Live at the College of St. Benedict.