Recent content from Torey Van Oot
Campaign promise fulfilled: Meet Scout, Gov. Tim Walz's new dog
The three-month-old black lab mix made his public debut at the governor's residence.
Listen: Will Minnesota join push toward a national popular vote?
Fifteen states have joined the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, but Minnesota isn't one of them. Host Eric Roper talks to reporter Torey van Oot about why.
North Branch senator launches bid to lead Minnesota GOP
Jennifer Carnahan, the current party chair, has not yet said whether she plans to run for another two-year term.
Minn. lawmakers hope to revive stalled push for sprinklers in old high-rises
Spurred by fatal fire in Minneapolis, bill became stalled during pandemic.
Walz, GOP legislators offer plans with relief for businesses
Gov. Tim Walz said he hopes to call legislators back into special session as early as next week. "It feels like there's bipartisan momentum," he said outside the Nook in St. Paul.
Two Republicans join Minn. House Democrats in urging virus caution
About one-fifth of legislators vow to take safety steps, urge residents to do the same.
Will Minnesota join the push to switch to a national popular vote?
Coming off the 2020 presidential election, the conversation around the Electoral College continues to heat up.
2 Minnesota senators split from DFL, start independent caucus
Sen. Tom Bakk of Cook, a longtime Capitol power broker, and Sen. David Tomassoni of Chisholm cited growing political polarization.
Minnesota U.S. Rep. Tom Emmer re-elected as House GOP campaign chair
Republicans exceeded handicappers' expectations nationwide.
Republicans in Legislature make moves on Klobuchar speculation
In the sixth special session this year, legislators played political chess as Republicans tried to protect their one-seat hold on the Senate next year if Sen. Amy Klobuchar joins President-elect Joe Biden's cabinet.
It's official: Divided government reigns at the Minnesota Legislature
Any possible recounts wouldn't change the majority balance.
It's official: Divided government reigns at the Minnesota Legislature
Any possible recounts wouldn't change the majority balance.
Walz orders early bar closures, group limits to curb virus spread
Gov. Tim Walz announced dial back measures that close bars and restaurants at 10 p.m. and restrict the sizes of wedding and funeral receptions, as well as indoor and outdoor gatherings.
![Voters waited in line at the Peace United Church of Christ in Duluth's 15th precinct to cast their vote on Tuesday. ] ALEX KORMANN • alex.kormann@st](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/RGN72PPLM47TDINLZDYGHAZEK4.jpg?h=120&w=180&fit=crop&bg=999&crop=faces)
As time runs out, campaigns scour Minnesota for votes
Facing the prospect of postelection court fights, Gov. Tim Walz and other state officials urged voters who hadn't already mailed their ballots by the final weekend to take them to early drop-off sites or vote in person Tuesday.
Unprecedented vote a test to Minnesota election system
State officials already navigating the pandemic have been called on to protect the integrity of the election, defend face mask requirements and guard against possible acts of voter intimidation.
Minnesota voter site experiencing outages just days before election
The absentee ballot tracker is back up, but an ongoing outage involving the voter registration system could lead to longer lines at early voting sites. Another short outage was planned just after 3 p.m. Saturday to work on the problems.
How to vote in the 2020 elections in Minnesota
How do I get an absentee ballot? What if I'm not registered to vote? Here's what you need to know to cast your ballot.
What happens to your Minnesota absentee ballot after you mail it?
Minnesota has seen a surge of interest in absentee ballots for the Nov. 3 election, as more voters opt to vote early or by mail in light of the coronavirus pandemic.
Nearly 1.6 million Minnesotans have already cast ballots
Minnesota's early voting centers continued to draw crowds on Friday.
Trump, Biden both headed to Minnesota today for rallies
Trump will be in the Rochester area today; Biden will be in St. Paul.
![Jason Lewis spoke to supporters at a Trump campaign/MNGOP get-out-the-vote rally in Stillwater. ] GLEN STUBBE • glen.stubbe@startribune.com Tuesday,](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/ORCJCXYABE4X5C33UNF6LGOCDI.jpg?h=120&w=180&fit=crop&bg=999&crop=faces)
Tens of millions in campaign dollars flood fight for Minnesota Legislature
DFL-aligned groups have outspent the GOP so far.
For Omar, re-election turnout in Fifth District is about more than a win
She and challenger Johnson aim to power statewide vote.
![New Senate Minority Leader Susan Kent, DFL-Woodbury, talked with reporters after the floor session. ] GLEN STUBBE • glen.stubbe@startribune.com Tues](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/EA4GU7EGFY2AA6YXACZ7F6TVWE.jpg?h=120&w=180&fit=crop&bg=999&crop=faces)
Will 2020 be the year of the woman (again) for the Minnesota Legislature?
One outcome appears certain: The number of women serving in the Senate come January will increase.
With days to go, more than 1.1M Minnesotans have voted so far
The volume of early ballots accepted this year is already almost double the number counted for the entire 2016 election. With 11 days to go until Nov. 3, the mountain of mail ballots is expected to rise.
Minnesota State Capitol fence to stay 'until further notice'
The temporary fence went up on May 31 as a precaution to protect the Capitol following the Minneapolis police killing of George Floyd.
Gov. Walz not on the ballot this year in Minnesota? Think again
As the state's top elected executive, and a face of the state's response to COVID-19, the governor and his record are an election-year issue in the 201 legislative races for control of the State Capitol.
Walz officials nixed return of Columbus statue at Capitol
Internal e-mails were released shortly before Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan announced the formation of two task forces to help guide decisions.
At community colleges, new hurdles in turning out the vote
From puppies to free flu shots, organizers are getting creative.
Minnesota campaign watchdog nixes GOP complaint against Democrat Erin Murphy
Sen. Paul Gazelka alleged that the state Senate candidate had violated campaign law.
Minn. Senate approves $1.9B infrastructure package
The passage marked the end of months of contentious negotiations over a measure supporters say will provide an infusion of cash and jobs into state and local economies. The measure also includes tax changes backed by Republicans.
Minnesota Senate GOP report blames Gov. Tim Walz, Mayor Jacob Frey for slow riot response
Democratic leaders reject findings, call document fodder for election.
A last shot at a bonding bill in Minnesota?
Legislators will convene in St. Paul again on Monday for a fifth special session.
Federal judge: Minn. congressional race is back on for November
The contest between U.S. Rep. Angie Craig and Republican Tyler Kistner had been delayed after the death of a pro-pot candidate.
Walz extends peacetime state of emergency for coronavirus response
Legislators will return for a fifth special session on Monday, Oct. 12.
What would it take for Trump to win Minnesota over Biden?
Geography is just one of many variables in a presidential race — but it's a big one. Where voters turn out could determine whether President Donald Trump becomes the first Republican presidential candidate to win Minnesota in nearly half a century.
Republicans Gazelka, Lewis test negative for COVID-19 after Trump visit
Several say they'll restrict activities for a time after president tested positive.
Minnesota's primary had few late or rejected mail ballots
Higher rates of mail-in ballots were returned by Minnesota voters during the state primary, while relatively fewer were rejected.
Phillips, Qualls vie for moderate voters in swing suburban district
Donald Trump lost the historically Republican Third Congressional District in 2016, and DFLers flipped it in 2018.
Harris: The path to the presidency 'runs straight through Minnesota'
In a pretaped address a day after Trump hosted a rally in the state, she pledged to build on party momentum.
Minnesota GOP executive director leaves position
Becky Alery's departure comes five weeks before Election Day.
Top Minnesota election official defends integrity of mail-in ballots
A day after President Trump questioned the integrity of mail-in ballots during the first presidential debate, Secretary of State Steve Simon defended the state's absentee ballot safeguards, noting that Minnesotans have voted absentee since World War II.
Poll: Majority want Senate to hold off on Supreme Court pick
Just 39% of likely Minnesota voters say the Senate should vote on President Trump's nominee before the November election, according to a new Star Tribune/MPR News/KARE 11 Minnesota Poll
Poll: Smith leads Lewis in U.S. Senate race
Democratic U.S. Sen. Tina Smith holds a comfortable lead over GOP challenger Jason Lewis in her bid for a full six-year term in the U.S. Senate, according to a new Star Tribune/MPR News/KARE 11 Minnesota Poll.
Senate candidate Erin Murphy's hiring plan sparks GOP complaint
In an e-mail, Erin Murphy said she was recruiting staffers to work for the Minnesota DFL Party, not her campaign.
Trump's praise of Robert E. Lee gets pushback from Minnesotans proud of state's role at Gettysburg
Minnesota soldiers played a pivotal role at Gettysburg, a major Confederate loss.
These tools can help you navigate the 2020 political ad wars
With just over six weeks to go until Election Day and early voting now underway, campaign ads are taking over.
Trump, Biden stress jobs as they bring campaigns to Minnesota
At a Bemidji rally, President Donald Trump also had a warning about refugees. It came hours after Democratic challenger Joe Biden flew into Duluth. Union, working class voters were the focus of the visits to a region of shifting political inclinations.
DFL lawmaker ordered to repay campaign for nearly $4K in living costs
DFL Rep. Gene Pelowski's lawyer said living expense payments were an error.
Money expected to pour in as battle for Minn. Senate heats up
The outcome could alter policy for years to come, including state's pandemic response and a chance to redraw the state's political maps for the next 10 years as the decennial redistricting process gets underway.
Police group pulls endorsements of several DFL incumbents
The Minnesota Police and Peace Officers' Association has clashed publicly with House DFL over a candidate's conduct.
Gov. Walz calls Legislature back for another special session
The session set for Friday could bring political fight.
Minnesota DFLers postpone fundraiser after backlash over Hugo protest
An influential police union had raised concerns about DFL candidate John Thompson's involvement in the event.
Street confrontations during summer of protest raise political tensions
Some see the clashes as a symptom of a growing tribalism in American politics that has brought social tensions to new heights.
GOP-slanted mailers to Minnesotans have tie to Kanye West campaign
Mailers, funded by GOP PAC that worked for West, include ballot application while bashing Joe Biden and Tina Smith.
Lessons learned after George Floyd's death inform Minneapolis, state response to riot
City and state officials worked together at a far faster pace Wednesday night than they did in late May.
Former Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton recovering after fall, surgery
Dayton, 73, wrote on Facebook that he expects to return to full strength in the coming months.
Minnesota GOP aims for 'every voter that's not a hard Democrat'
Expanding the base beyond rank-and-file Republicans is a key component of the Trump campaign's re-election strategy in key battlegrounds such as Minnesota, a state the president has vowed to flip after a narrow 2016 loss.
For Minnesota women, voting rights fight not over 100 years later
Women still struggle with sexual harassment and wage gaps while they have yet to shatter the highest glass ceiling in Minnesota and national politics.
Kanye West files to appear on Minnesota's presidential ballot
Election officials have up to 10 days to determine whether the rapper qualified.
One Minnesota family, two sides of the Democrats' generational divide
A 17-year-old activist and her 73-year-old grandfather are part of the Minnesota delegation.
