The Capitol Note: Frantic House race spawns legal challenges, more allegations of violence

1) The legal challenges and allegations in the race between Rep. Phyllis Kahn and her primary challenger, Mohamud Noor, have reached new heights in the feverish race for Minneapolis’ House District 60B, the Star Tribune reports.

The Kahn campaign on Monday filed a petition with the Minnesota Supreme Court alleging that an election judge at Minneapolis City Hall was biased toward the Noor campaign during early voting. A hearing at Hennepin County later this week, stemming from a separate Kahn petition, will weigh roughly 140 incorrect voter registrations at a mailbox office.

A Noor volunteer was allegedly attacked or threatened on July 5 by two women said to be related to Minneapolis City Councilman Abdi Warsame, a Kahn supporter. There have been suggestions of voter intimidation as a result of the reported crime.

2) It’s unclear how voters will react to Republican claims that Gov. Mark Dayton has run Minnesota’s economy into the ground, despite positive economic indicators that show the state is one of the strongest economies in the nation, Minnesota Public Radio reports.

The Twin Cities area has the lowest unemployment of major metros in the nation, and the state’s economy is performing above the nation’s, for example. “Our work isn’t done, but my goodness we have 154,000 more jobs in Minnesota than when I took office,” said Dayton, who is counting on the economy to help bolster his re-election efforts. “We’re doing a lot of things right.”

Republicans, of course, disagree: “There are a lot of people out there working part-time jobs who are struggling,” former state Rep. Marty Seifert, a potential GOP challenger to Dayton, told the radio station. “You can throw around statistics all you want, but as I travel the state and meet with real people, there’s a lot of struggle out there.”

3) Former Gov. Al Quie threw his support behind GOP Rep. Jim Abeler’s US Senate primary campaign against party endorsee Mike McFadden on Monday.

That marks the second time in recent weeks that the former governor and congressman has bucked party convention, but it isn’t uncommon for Quie. In late June, Quie announced his support of former state Rep. Marty Seifert, who is running in a four-way primary against the GOP’s endorsed candidate for governor, Jeff Johnson.

“I never worry about endorsement,” Quie told PIM in a Monday interview. “I believe in the primaries.”

COMINGS & GOINGS

• Supporters will hold a “bacon and beer” fundraiser for Republican gubernatorial candidate Jeff Johnson at Dayblock Brewing in Minneapolis this evening. Co-hosts include GOP Reps. David FitzSimmons and Joyce Peppin, as well as Sen. Branden Petersen. A $200 contribution includes a 5:00-5:30 beer tasting and campaign update with Johnson; $50 gains entry to the 5:30-7:00 happy hour. RSVP to [email protected]
• DFL State Auditor candidate Matt Entenza has been endorsed by the UNITE HERE union, which represents employees in the hotel and hospital industry; the union counts some 6,000 Minnesotans among its member roster.
• Progressive think tank Minnesota 2020 announced the hiring of Deb Balzer as its new communications director. Balzer has worked in public relations and marketing for several nonprofit organizations, including the Animal Humane Society.
• The Secretary of State’s Office announced openings at a number of state boards and councils, including the Public Employment Relations Board and the Board of Water and Soil Resources. See the full list here.
• Flaherty & Hood lobbyist Michael Miller terminated his registrations to represent a number of organizations, including the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities, leaving the Minnesota Grocers Association as his only current client.