Minnesota Lawyer

A survey of the Oct. 26 campaign finance disclosure by candidates and by the major DFL- and GOP-aligned organizations shows that at least $1.4 million has been spent on the Senate District 34 race.

As the year’s fifth special session opened Monday, House DFL leaders were optimistic that sufficient Republican votes were available to pass a $1.37 billion bonding bill. But a committee vote suggested those votes might be hard won.

Judiciary Chair Lesch was among those unseated in the Aug. 11 primaries.

Staying a federal judge’s injunction pending appeal, the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has relegated DFL candidates to last place on the general-election ballot, at least among their major-party rivals.

The Columbus statue was the lone topic of discussion by the joint Transportation/Public Safety oversight committee, which is probing Twin Cities rioting, looting and destruction between May 26 and June 10.

Our review of issues in state and national news, with a rotating cast of political people in the know.

The hearings brought into sharp relief the competing narratives likely to play out — again — during a second summertime special session, which is expected to start Monday.

At the heart of the issue with Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam wanting to remove a statue of Robert E. Lee is Rita Davis, who sees her whole career as building toward this moment.

An as-yet unnamed GOP-led Senate committee will probe the causes of the civil disorder that plagued the Twin Cities after George Floyd’s May 25 death.

The June special session, dominated by talk of police-accountability reforms, got none of them done. The Legislature will almost certainly be back, likely by mid-July.