Will Minnesota's perfect storm defeat DFL's dark money?

This morning, I received an e-letter update from Annette Meeks's Freedom Foundation of Minnesota. Her e-letter update opened by saying "Much ink has been spilled by liberal newspaper reporters, breathlessly informing readers about a Minnesota first: a Republican-aligned organization that is spending significant (and publicly disclosed) contributions to support the candidacy of House Speaker Lisa Demuth for governor."

The e-letter update continues, saying "Imagine that: after two decades, Republicans in Minnesota are finally playing by the same rules as the DFL. But we’re reading about the Republican expenditures for exactly one reason: the progressive left is concerned about the election outcome because Republicans finally learned they must play the political independent expenditure game – just like the Democrats. In addition, for the first time in decades, Republicans have nominated superior statewide candidates. This, combined with voter’s concerns about massive and unprecedented state government fraud that robbed taxpayers of billions of dollars and suddenly voters are paying attention."

Finally, Annette finishes with this:

Voters are paying attention because, no mystery here, the DFL is in trouble. Big trouble, up and down the statewide ballot. After decades of DFL control of most of state government, taxpayers are fed up after learning how billions of their taxpayer dollars were squandered by the inept (at best) Walz/Flanagan administration and their fellow travelers in the Minnesota legislature. The past four years of this administration, most Minnesotans watched, with shock and dismay as nearly 100 individuals were indicted for stealing taxpayer dollars largely due to poorly written DFL-initiated state government programs

Here's how I'd rewrite that blockquote paragraph. I'd say "Votersw are paying attention because the DFL's constitutional officers are in big trouble according to the polls. Even Sen. Klobuchar is in a tough race. When Walz dropped out and Sen. Klobuchar swooped in to save the DFL, you couldn't count the number of DFL operatives and consultants that declared the coronation to be the next step for St. Amy. Then something unexpected happened -- events. Medicaid fraud, highlighted by Nick Shirley's iPhone, became the talk of the nation.

Then 250+ mayors from the 4 corners of Minnesota sent a letter to Tim Walz saying that his budgeting 'expertise' was causing tons of difficulties with their cities' budgets. Just as the campaign's closing arguments started, Somali gangs opened fire at the Eden Prairie High School Homecoming game. These Somali gangs shouldn't be confused with the Somali fraudsters that stole billions of dollars from U.S. taxpayers and Minnesota taxpayers. Shortly thereafter, a Somali terrorist who had pledged 100% support to ISIS tried executing his plan to kill 30-60 people at the Msll of America.

This is how Michele Tafoya explained a bunch of Minnesota's problems to Larry Kudlow:

That was the abridged version of Minnesota's problems. Most of Minnesota's problems involve Somalis. Because Somalis represent a significant part of the DFL's political base, Amy Klobuchar can't afford to eliminate the Somali fraud/crime crisis. She NEEDS the Somalis' votes.

HISTORIC!

Back in 1978, Republicans achieved what is still referred to as the “Minnesota Massacre”: the election of two U.S. Senators and a GOP governor along with picking up 32 (!) seats in the Minnesota House of Representatives. The month before Election Day, the then-Independent-Republican Party erected billboards throughout Minnesota starkly proclaiming, “The DFL is going to face something scary – an election." Those billboards perfectly captured voter dissatisfaction with DFL-office holders who were too busy appointing themselves to higher office while ignoring common sense and family concerns while abusing their power.

Whether we'll see anything like 1978 in 2026 is still undetermined. What's knowable is that people are as upset this year as they were in 1978. The other knowable is that this year's GOP nominees for Minnesota's Constitutional Offices are stronger than they were in 1978.

While this year's GOP Constitutional Office candidates will be well-funded, the DFL's Constitutional Office candidates will likely outspend their GOP opponents. The great news is that our candidates a) have a stronger message, b) are politically more talented and c) are on the right side of most of the biggest issues. Finally, it's exciting seeing GOP candidates for Minnesota's Constitutional Offices that our voters can get excited about.