Overview
- Both parties held state conventions last weekend that produced formal endorsements, with the DFL backing Amy Klobuchar for governor and Peggy Flanagan for U.S. Senate and the GOP endorsing Kendall Qualls for governor and Adam Schwarze for U.S. Senate.
- Republican delegates in Duluth reported problems with handheld electronic clickers that briefly showed a sharp drop in votes and forced repeated reviews of balloting totals, and some delegates urged a switch to paper ballots.
- After reviewing the convention data the Republican Party chair said the reported results would stand but also released candidates from prior pledges to abide by endorsements, citing the confusion caused by the voting disruption.
- On Tuesday House Speaker Lisa Demuth filed for the Aug. 11 GOP primary, creating a three-way Republican contest with Qualls and MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell while other endorsed GOP nominees face intraparty challengers.
- The August primary now looms as the decisive test for who will face well-known DFL nominees in November because endorsements carry party resources but are not binding and Amy Klobuchar’s large fundraising lead gives the DFL a strategic edge.