Rep. Karen Clark has authored a House bill to legalize gay marriage — a bill that DFL caucus leaders now believe has votes enough to pass. In her three decades in office, Clark has driven many changes in the state, and not just in the realm of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender issues.
by Briana Bierschbach
Published: April 5, 2013
Tags: Andrea Kieffer, civil unions, Denny McNamara, Greg Davids, Jake Loesch, Jim Abeler, John Lesch, Karen Clark, Kim Norton, Mary Franson, Pat Garofalo, Steve Simon, Tim Kelly
Republican Rep. Tim Kelly is one of the last GOP legislators you’d expect to find on the bad side of gay marriage advocates. The three-term member from Red Wing is well-known for bucking his own caucus in 2011 as Republicans worked to pass a controversial constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage.
Election officials finished re-tallying votes in the House District 8B race on Thursday, finding one additional vote for Rep. Mary Franson in the process and widening her lead over Democratic candidate Bob Cunniff to 12 votes. Cunniff conceded the race to Franson late Thursday afternoon. The State Canvasing Board will meet on Dec. 4 to certify the results.
The State Canvassing Board on Tuesday met and unanimously approved the Nov. 6 election results, with the exception of the House District 8B race and the Senate District 20 race. The margin between candidates in both races was less than one half of 1 percent, the margin needed to trigger an automatic recount. Both recounts are expected to be completed by Friday.
In an already close race between Republican state Rep. Mary Franson and DFLer Bob Cunniff, which is scheduled to head to a recount next week, a judge has ruled that there was an obvious balloting error and nearly three dozen votes must be randomly tossed out.
Douglas County election officials noticed a big error when they met last week to go over canvasing results ahead of the recount between Rep. Mary Franson and Democrat Bob Cunniff. Some voters -- 35 in all -- were handed the wrong ballot at a Alexandria polling place that split two precincts.
by Paul Demko
Published: November 9, 2012
Tags: Amy Klobuchar, Andrea Kieffer, Anna Wills, Bev Scalze, Carrie Ruud, Chip Cravaack, Dave Hancock, Jack Krage, Joe Radinovich, John Pederson, John Persell, John Ward, Larry Howes, LeRoy Stumpf, Mark DeMers, Mary Franson, matt schmit, Mike Misterek, Mitt Romney, Pam Cunningham, Rich Murray, Rick Nolan, Russ Bertsch, Stacey Stout, Tara Mack, Ted Lillie
Democrats had an outstanding night on Tuesday. They won back control of the Minnesota House and Senate, picked up a congressional seat, and defeated two contentious amendments that most political observers expected to prevail.
At least two close races for the Minnesota Legislature -- Senate District 20 and House District 8B -- appear to fall within the half percent margin required to trigger an automatic recount.
by Paul Demko and Briana Bierschbach
Published: October 31, 2012
Tags: Ben Lien, Bruce Vogel, David Hann, DFL, Freedom Club, HRCC, Jay McNamar, Joe Radinovich, John Howe, John Persell, Kathy Lohmer, Keith Downey, Ken Martin, Larry Howes, Laurie McKendry, Mary Franson, Mary Liz Holberg, Mary Sawatzky, matt schmit, Melisa Franzen, Minnesota's Future, Pat Shortridge, Roz Peterson, RPM, Shannon Savick, Tim Faust, Tom DeGree
When it comes to spending by Minnesota’s political parties, the state DFL has emerged as the No. 1 player in the 2012 battle for control of Legislature.
by Briana Bierschbach
Published: January 25, 2012
Tags: 2012 legislative session, Carly Melin, Carolyn McElfatrick, David Dill, Greg Davids, Julianne Ortman, Kathy Lohmer, Keith Downey, Kory Kath, Mary Franson, Paul Gazelka, Peggy Scott, Roger Chamberlain, Scott Newman, Sean Nienow, Ted Lillie, Tom Bakk, Tony Cornish, zero-based budgeting
Minnesota lawmakers want to get in and out of the Capitol as quickly as possible this year, a fact that’s evident in skimming through the first bills of the 2012 session.
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