No special session
After several months of negotiations between Governor Mark Dayton, Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk, and House Speaker Kurt Daudt, Governor Dayton has decided he will not call the legislature back for a special session. The leaders could not come to an agreement on a bonding bill, transportation bill, and tax bill.
Kaler visits with legislators at county fairs
Over the past week, President Kaler and state relations staff traveled to the Dakota, Steele, and McLeod county fairs. At the Dakota County Fair, President Kaler spoke with Representative Pat Garofalo, Senator Jim Carlson, and Senator Greg Clausen about the University's statewide presence. He also addressed attendees at the fair's 4-H 100 year celebration dinner. At the Steele County Fair, President Kaler spoke with Representative Jeanne Poppe, Representative Brian Daniels, Senator Dan Sparks, and Senator Vicki Jensen. At the McLeod County Fair, President Kaler met with Representative Glenn Gruenhagen and Representative Dean Urdahl.
Incumbents defeated in primary elections
Tuesday, August 11 was Primary Election Day in Minnesota. Several state legislators faced challengers and four lost their primary re-elections:
- Representative Phyllis Kahn (DFL-Minneapolis) was defeated by Ilhan Omar
- Representative Joe Mullery (DFL-Minneapolis) was defeated by Fue Lee
- Representative Tom Hackbarth (R-Cedar) was defeated by Cal Bahr
- Senator Sean Nienow (R-Cambridge) was defeated by Mark Koran
These results increase the number of open seats to be voted on in November - 18 in the House and 14 in the Senate.