Recent content from Ryan Faircloth
How Minnesota House Republicans ended the DFL's state government trifecta
Republicans across the country benefited from favorable tailwinds as President-elect Donald Trump resoundingly defeated Democrat Kamala Harris. But that wasn't the whole story in Minnesota.
Gov. Tim Walz will return to Minnesota after Trump victory blocks him from becoming vice president
Walz's attempt to join Hubert Humphrey and Walter Mondale as the only Minnesotans to ascend to the vice presidency was unsuccessful.
'The blue wall must hold': Gov. Tim Walz rallies in Wisconsin, Michigan on eve of election
Walz campaigned across Wisconsin and in Detroit, Mich., on Monday. Trump's running mate, Ohio U.S. Sen. JD Vance, held his own rally in La Crosse on Monday.
Here's what would happen in Minnesota if Gov. Tim Walz is elected vice president on Tuesday
If Walz is elected to the White House, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan would succeed him and become Minnesota's first female and first Native American governor.
Minnesotans have cast about 920,000 early ballots. A deadline change could delay results.
Minnesota soared past its 2016 early vote total on Thursday, with five days of early voting remaining.
Will Minnesota's long-blue Iron Range turn red in November?
Minnesota Republicans are hopeful the region's rightward shift will help them win every state House seat on the Range this year and end the DFL's trifecta control of state government.
Gov. Tim Walz's swing-state appeal is put to the test in western Wisconsin
Democrats hope Walz, a former red-district congressman, can boost their appeal in rural America. Western Wisconsin could be the ideal testing ground for this hypothesis.
VP nominee JD Vance visits Minneapolis, portrays it as city in decline
"The story of Minneapolis is coming to every community across the United States of America if we promote Kamala Harris to president of the United States," Vance said, echoing comments Trump made about Detroit just days earlier.
Will Donald Trump return to Minnesota before Election Day?
The former president held three Minnesota rallies in the three months leading up to the 2020 election. He's had less of a presence this year and has spent considerably more time in Wisconsin.
Gov. Tim Walz to attend Mankato high school football game, Pheasant Opener
The Harris-Walz campaign is deploying Minnesota's governor on a new push to win over male voters in swing states.
'America's sweetheart' Walz makes late-night debut on 'Kimmel'
The Minnesota governor and his running mate, Kamala Harris, also appeared in recorded '60 Minutes' segments on Monday night.
Gaffes, misstatements or lies? Walz's inaccurate past statements draw scrutiny.
The Minnesota governor's words are being closely scrutinized now that he's on the national ticket.
Gov. Tim Walz delivers sharp contrast in vice presidential debate against JD Vance
Democratic Gov. Tim Walz held up Minnesota as an example to follow during his first and only debate with Republican Sen. JD Vance of Ohio.
Midwest showdown: Tim Walz and JD Vance face off in prime-time debate Tuesday night
With no further debates scheduled, Walz and Vance are tasked with delivering their campaigns' arguments to a national audience.
A year after his first pick resigned, Gov. Tim Walz hasn't named a permanent cannabis director
Charlene Briner has led the Office of Cannabis Management on an interim basis for more than a year. The work to set up Minnesota's recreational marijuana industry remains underway.
Minnesota Poll: A majority of Minnesotans support federal marijuana legalization
But only about 1 in 7 Minnesotans reported using marijuana or hemp-derived products in the past month.
Minnesota Poll: Most voters are confident elections are secure
Half of likely voters said they are highly confident that votes will be counted accurately in November, and nearly a third more said they were moderately confident.
Minnesota 2024 voter guide: Who's running, where they stand on the issues
Early voting begins today in Minnesota. We ask major party candidates for U.S. Senate and Congress about issues ranging from the economy to immigration.
DFL leaders call for GOP Rep. Jeff Dotseth to end re-election campaign after abuse allegations surface
"Dotseth's behavior, whether it was yesterday or years ago, is unacceptable and not fitting for an elected representative of our state," DFL House Majority Leader Jamie Long said. Dotseth has denied the allegations.
Minnesota Rep. Jeff Dotseth charged in 2008 with abuse of then-wife, court filings show
The first-term GOP representative from Kettle River denied the allegations and said he's "worked to put this difficult chapter of my life behind me."
Here's what six Minnesotans had to say about the Harris-Trump debate
From pets to Putin, these voters thought the debate showed the candidates' personalities more than their policies.
Minnesota's eight U.S. House seats are on the ballot. Here are four races to watch.
The races will help determine control of Congress for the next two years.
As Gov. Walz campaigns across the country, how much time is he spending governing Minnesota?
Gov. Tim Walz has been campaigning nationwide since being elevated to the presidential ticket. The governor's spokeswoman said "our office is still running as it always has — core functions haven't changed."
Gov. Tim Walz could be elected to the White House. How does he perform in a crisis?
Walz's management of the pandemic, the Minneapolis riots and other natural disasters offers insight into how he might respond to a national crisis as vice president.
Two years in, Minnesota's THC market hasn't lost its buzz
The market for low-dose drinks and edibles is maturing and ready to face the competition from recreational marijuana dispensaries, which are expected to open next year.
Minnesota Democrats hope Walz will provide down-ballot boost, help them keep state House
State Democrats also say Sen. Amy Klobuchar will "help us immensely down-ballot."
A chameleon or pragmatist? Walz's political evolution in the spotlight in VP race
Opponents describe him as a political opportunist, but those who know him say he's pragmatic and knows how to evolve to the constituency he serves to meet the time.
Tim Walz admitted to drunken driving in 1995. But his 2006 congressional campaign claimed he didn't.
Walz's old drunken-driving arrest has drawn renewed scrutiny since Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris chose him as her running mate.
U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar defeats Don Samuels by wide margin in DFL primary election rematch
Omar narrowly defeated Samuels two years ago. She beat him by a much larger margin Tuesday night.
GOP U.S. Rep. Michelle Fischbach easily defeats primary challenger Steve Boyd
Boyd, a political newcomer, blocked Fischbach from winning the GOP's endorsement in April. Fischbach defeated him by nearly 30 percentage points on Tuesday night.
Rep. Ilhan Omar's vulnerability will be tested in Tuesday rematch against bitter rival Don Samuels
Samuels nearly upset Omar two years ago, coming within about 2 percentage points of defeating her.
Vice President Kamala Harris, Gov. Tim Walz hold rally in battleground western Wisconsin
Sen. JD Vance, running mate to former President Donald Trump, appeared at an event in Eau Claire to counter the Democrats.
Minneapolis riots, Feeding Our Future fraud lead list of vulnerabilities for Walz on national ticket
Republicans also say Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz failed to bridge partisan divide.
What you should know about Gov. Tim Walz's record in office, as he joins presidential ticket
Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris selected Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz to be her running mate on Tuesday. Here's what you need to know about Walz's time in office.
Feds estimate Minnesota overpaid about $430M in unemployment benefits during pandemic
At the same time, the state's overpayment and fraud rates for jobless insurance were estimated to be among the lowest in the country.
St. Paul council president calls Pa. governor a 'hardcore Zionist,' says Kamala Harris shouldn't pick him
Critics viewed the attack on Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, who's Jewish, as antisemitic.
Here are four key races to watch in Minnesota's primary elections
U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar has a rematch with a previous DFL challenger. And a pair of Republicans will battle for the chance to face Democratic U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar in November.
Five Minnesota-specific takeaways from the Republican National Convention
There were several Minnesota moments, from Rep. Tom Emmer's primetime convention speech to Gov. Tim Walz leading Democrats' response to the RNC.
At RNC, Trump's inner circle adamant they can turn Minnesota red
Trump campaign officials said at the RNC this week they're targeting Minnesota. But could the Minnesota GOP's Senate candidate undermine their effort?
In Milwaukee, Gov. Tim Walz and other Democrats sound alarm over Trump-Vance ticket, Project 2025
The Minnesota governor and other Democrats raised their concerns before the third day of the Republican National Convention got underway.
At RNC, Emmer cements himself as a top Trump backer
After an apparent rift, Tom Emmer and Donald Trump's relationship comes full circle.
Republicans in Minnesota, U.S. change tune on early voting in push to get Trump elected again
GOP leaders are promoting early voting this year as a means to get Trump elected. They're also calling for future restrictions, such as a return to same-day voting.
Minnesota Republicans show solidarity with Trump at RNC, vow to turn state red
Republicans also passed a new party platform on Monday and celebrated the announcement of Donald Trump's running mate, U.S. Sen. JD Vance.
Minnesota's delegates to the RNC unified after assassination attempt on Trump
Thirty-nine delegates from Minnesota are in Milwaukee for the national convention. Some cite the economy and Democratic policies as their reasons for supporting the former president in his re-election bid.
How 6 Minnesota conservatives feel about the presidential race ahead of the RNC
Conservatives who participated in a Star Tribune voter panel were divided on whether they'll support former President Donald Trump. But they shared concerns about immigration, the economy and other issues.
Many millions lost. Is the Walz administration taking fraud and waste seriously enough?
Minnesota's legislative auditor questions if agencies and the governor's office are taking its recommendations seriously. The governor's office said agencies have implemented many of the auditor's suggestions, but sometimes "we may fundamentally disagree."
Democrats ignored voter concerns about Biden's age. Then came the debate.
Angie Craig has joined R.T. Rybak in calling on the president to make way for a new Democratic nominee, while others struggle to reckon with Biden's halting debate performance,
Minnesota GOP candidate Steve Boyd wants to make America Christian again
Some have called Boyd a Christian nationalist. He doesn't reject the label.
Boosted by Trump's visit, Minnesota GOP raised more than $1M last month
"I believe we're in as strong a position as maybe we've been in recent times," state GOP Chair David Hann said Friday.
Minnesota Poll: Biden holds narrow lead over Trump, but GOP voters are more enthusiastic
Biden leads Trump 45%-41% in Minnesota, according to a new Star Tribune/MPR News/KARE 11 poll.
Anti-establishment conservatives gain power in Minnesota GOP
Recent endorsement battles illustrate the growing influence of the so-called grassroots wing of the state Republican Party.
DFL senator resigns to focus on congressional run, putting control of MN Senate on ballot
"It has truly been an honor to serve the people of SD45," state Sen. Kelly Morrison said.
Gov. Tim Walz signs cannabis bill allowing for cultivation to start this year
The bill makes several updates to Minnesota's recreational marijuana law.
GOP Senate nominee Royce White's 2022 campaign spent funds on strip club, travel, retail
The former NBA player has defended the transactions, but several campaign finance experts say they could be illegal.
What was in the Minnesota Legislature's 1,400-page-plus 'omnibus prime' bill?
The 1,432-page bill contains provisions on issues ranging from health care to transportation to gun safety.
What passed — and didn't — at the 2024 Minnesota Legislature
From cannabis to sports betting, what happened with the major bills at the State Capitol in 2024.
Partisan meltdown brings Minnesota's legislative session to a bitter end
"I would have liked to have seen it end differently," DFL House Speaker Melissa Hortman said. GOP leaders called it "an absolute sham."
Minnesota Legislature's 2024 session ends in anger and acrimony
Republicans complained of being shut out of negotiations and shouting matches erupted on the floors as Democrats passed their final bills.
Will Trump be a lifeline or liability for Minnesota Republicans?
"I think Republicans are going to have a good year," Minnesota GOP chairman David Hann said.
Trump says Minneapolis would have burned down without him
Trump's comments in a pair of interviews included his false claims that he won Minnesota in 2020 when he lost to President Joe Biden by about 7 percentage points.
Minnesota legislators finalize cannabis bill that would allow growing to start this year
The state is also poised to shift its system for awarding cannabis business licenses to a lottery for qualified applicants.
Minnesota expunges nearly 58,000 misdemeanor cannabis records
"Minnesotans will see changes to their records immediately and as additional expungements are made in the months and years ahead," BCA Superintendent Drew Evans said.
Rep. Ilhan Omar wins DFL endorsement over Don Samuels at Minneapolis convention
Omar won her party's backing ahead of a highly anticipated primary election rematch with Samuels.
Minnesota pot growers sue state, seeking to legally sell their homegrown cannabis
State constitution allows farm and garden products to be sold without licenses, they argue.
GOP senators grill Sen. Nicole Mitchell's attorneys during ethics hearing about her burglary charge
The Woodbury DFLer didn't answer questions before the bipartisan subcommittee, but her attorney accused GOP senators of a "witch hunt." Democrats said Mitchell deserves due process.
Fact check: Controlled substances not part of senator's burglary case
Becker County Attorney Brian McDonald said he mistakenly included boilerplate language in a court filing and has since filed an amended document, adding, "I'm sorry for the confusion I created."
Under pressure, Minnesota legislators debate proposal to allow early marijuana growing
"If we do not create a pathway for well-prepared cultivators to begin their build-outs right now, Minnesota will not have a cannabis supply chain until mid- to late-2026 at the earliest," one aspiring cultivator warned.
DFL Sen. Nicole Mitchell returns to Capitol after burglary charge, casts votes amid criticism
Senate Republicans offered motions Monday to prohibit Mitchell from voting, but the DFL Senate president ruled them out of order. Democrats, including Mitchell, voted to uphold the president's decision.
Attorney Tayler Rahm wins GOP backing in battleground Second District
In the Third District, Republican activists endorsed former judge and state legislator Tad Jude. And a contentious convention in the Seventh District ended with no endorsement.
911 transcript gives more detail of Sen. Mitchell's alleged burglary
A caller now identified as Mitchell's stepmother told a dispatcher she "tripped over" a person who was on the floor next to her bed. That person was later identified as the DFL senator.
Minnesota Senate GOP files ethics complaint against Sen. Nicole Mitchell
Republicans moved to expedite a hearing on their ethics complaint after the Woodbury DFLer was charged with burglary, but the motion failed in a tie vote.
DFL state senator charged with first-degree burglary at stepmother's home
Sen. Nicole Mitchell's arrest could cause political complications for Democrats, who control the Minnesota Senate by a one-seat margin.
Woodbury state senator arrested in suspected burglary
Sen. Nicole Mitchell, a DFL lawmaker from Woodbury, was arrested Monday morning in Detroit Lakes and booked into the Becker County Jail.
Conservatives in Otter Tail County have been fighting for years, with no end in sight
A recent flare-up over precinct caucuses is the latest in a string of battles between local party officials and a group of grassroots activists.
Rep. Omar's daughter arrested, suspended from college for pro-Palestinian protests
Rep. Omar had questioned Columbia University's president about campus protests a day earlier.
