DFL, GOP conventions held this weekend

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[00:00:00]Let's talk about the race for Minnesota's next governor. It officially shifts into high gear now as DFL delegates are down in Rochester to kick off the 2026 state convention. And one of the biggest headlines there um comes from the very top of the ticket.

[00:00:14]>> Right. This This morning, Senator Amy Klobuchar officially named her running mate, tapping former Fergus Falls Mayor Ben Schiere for Lieutenant Governor.

[00:00:23]Joining us now to break down the strategy behind the ticket and tell us what to expect from the convention floor for the DFL and GOP this weekend is political analyst Blois Olson. Blois, thanks for being here with us. Let's start with Ben Schiere. He brings a very specific greater Minnesota resume to the table here. As a former mayor and small business owner, what does that pick though tell us about Klobuchar's strategy and the voters that she's trying to lock down here for November?

[00:00:51]>> You know, it really does say um it aligns with Amy Klobuchar. She visits all 87 counties every year. She has a relationship with Ben Schiere.

[00:01:00]It's not like she just met him. They've known each other for a number of years.

[00:01:04]And I think it shows that she acknowledges that Democrats have had some challenges here in Minnesota. And that they need to try to appeal to the greater Minnesotans. She's always going to go with the safe pick that she's most comfortable with. And I think Schiere represents that.

[00:01:19]>> So, Blois, the convention getting underway right now uh down in Rochester.

[00:01:23]And with Governor Walz not seeking a third term, um the party is really kind of in a man a massive transitional change here with leadership. So, what's the mood like down there? Describe it to us.

[00:01:36]>> Well, I'm in Duluth, um but um our folks in Rochester have said that there's good energy. Democrats are have a lot of energy this year. And many have said that the energy shifted into fourth or fifth year during Operation Metro Surge.

[00:01:53]I think that changed the dynamics of the US Senate race on the DFL side. I think it's why you saw Peggy Flanagan get so much traction. The endorsement was obviously going to be a challenge for Angie Craig, but I think it's supercharged Peggy Flanagan against Tina Smith. So, I think they'll come out of Rochester with a lot of energy, but I think that we are going to have to watch closely to see their message is, and to see how they align on the issues that are on Minnesotans' minds, and fraud being one that most Minnesotans blame Democrats for.

[00:02:25]>> Mhm.

[00:02:26]>> Mhm. And Amy Klobuchar obviously dominated the DFL straw poll back in February. Top of the ticket feels kind of locked in. Any other major endorsements, maybe down-ballot races, or specific platform fights you're kind of keeping a close eye on this weekend?

[00:02:41]>> There's a very competitive race in Minnesota's District 2 to replace Angie Craig. You can get a sense of that here.

[00:02:47]The auditor's race in the DFL is a two- or three-way competitive race. That's an open seat as well. So, I think those are the other places that delegates will dig in and get a chance for a good, you know, a good battle, a good floor fight.

[00:03:01]>> So, Blois, you just brought up Angie Craig. We need to talk about that because um in that particular race, Angie Craig has decided to drop out of the nominating process, or excuse me, the endorsement process with Peggy Flanagan will most likely be the the endorsee coming out of this. So, how does that affect this race going into August for the primary?

[00:03:24]>> Well, Peggy Flanagan in 2018 said she didn't think the endorsement mattered, and she was going to a primary as Tina Smith was running mate. Look, it's a convenient moment for people who are leading in the endorsement, or those who can't get the endorsement. I think that Senate race will be in full swing Monday with TV ads and hit pieces and attacks in a in a manner we haven't seen in a number of years here for a competitive Senate >> And we know from the past, too, that the the party endorsee many times, sometimes, doesn't go on to win in the primary. I mean, Governor Dayton did it in 2010, and Walls himself did it, as you hinted to here several years ago.

[00:04:10]>> Exactly. And I think that's what you're going to see. But let me just pull out for a minute. This is a macro conversation that Democrats are having nationally. It's the the party of Bernie or the party of Biden. And if you think back to 2020, Amy Klobuchar was a candidate for president. She dropped out along with some of her competitors. They united behind Joe Biden, and that blocked Bernie Sanders from being the nominee.

[00:04:38]Bernie Sanders has endorsed Iglehart again. These are not sure fire kind of clear-eyed races, especially when most voters won't choose men until July for this August primary.

[00:04:51]>> Mhm.

[00:04:51]>> All right. You've You've been talking about the DFL. Let's get to the Republican side of things. You said you're at the GOP convention up in Duluth. The Republican primary field still kind of battling it out with several candidates in the mix, with Klobuchar and Schiere putting their official ticket forward. How much pressure or is there pressure for to put out a unified front here and solidify the GOP's candidates?

[00:05:15]>> So today they're endorsing for US Senate. We're one ballot in, we've just started the second ballot. Adam Sworzy, who was the favorite coming into the convention, leads on the first ballot.

[00:05:26]And still Saporia was in second. Mark York was in fourth, and Royce White was in third. Those are the four candidates who will remain on the second ballot.

[00:05:35]They will have most likely a primary if Sworzy gets the endorsement between Saporia and Sworzy. So similar to the DFL, we'll have a Senate primary in August on the Republican side. So unity might not be found in the Senate race, but tomorrow the governor's endorsement is one of the things they're looking for unity on. Both Kendall Qualls and Lisa David have said they'll follow the endorsement. Mike Lindell has said he will go to the primary. Lindell's resources, his track record have raised many questions, and I think that if they come out of here unified in the governor's race around endorsed candidate that'll help Republicans be unified in August in the governor's race knowing that Lindell is probably a general election liability.

[00:06:22]>> Blois Olson, inside baseball question here. I know Adam Schwartze is now leading after the first ballot. How many votes does he need to get to get the endorsement?

[00:06:33]>> He needs to get over 60%. He's in the 40s. So, he needs to move somewhere between 70 and 100 votes if my on the fly math is right, Tim.

[00:06:44]And you know, there's a chance that he could do that.

[00:06:48]This next ballot will tell us a lot. If he gets into the mid to high 50s, then this will be a pretty quick race.

[00:06:54]>> All right. Blois Olson coming to us from the Republican convention heading on up in Duluth this weekend. Thanks for your time. Thanks for your insight as always, Blois.

[00:07:03]>> Thank you, Blois.

[00:07:05]>> Good to see you guys. Talk soon.