John McCain

May 28, 2014

Shrinking line separates campaign donations from bribes

There are three big winners from the recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions that Sen. John McCain says might “dismantle entirely” campaign-finance laws: wealthy interests, greedy politicians and investigative journalists.

Apr 11, 2014

Bernstein: Watch party agendas, not candidates

In this era of partisan presidencies, what matters the most is how the party defines itself, not who becomes president.

Apr 9, 2014

Ponnuru: Jeb Bush isn’t a fantasy candidate

The former governor of Florida is at odds with the Republican Party on immigration and education, among other things.

Jan 26, 2011

Will Minnesota be center stage in 2012?

With U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann's appearance in Iowa last weekend, speculation is growing that she may enter the race for the Republican nomination in the 2012 race for president.

Jan 5, 2011

Where do new legislators come from? Often it’s the ranks of legislative staff

Rep. Sarah Anderson had been a staffer in the Minnesota House of Representatives for 10 years by 2006. That's when her predecessor in House District 43A, former Rep. Jeff Johnson, decided he'd leave the Legislature to make a run for the attorney general's office.

Dec 30, 2010

House names committee administrators

The House Republican Caucus has hired a raft of new committee administrators who will try to bring order to the chaos of the legislative process as the new majority takes office. Their ranks include veteran caucus staffers as well as political refugees from the administration of outgoing GOP Gov. Tim Pawlenty.

Nov 23, 2010

Meet the freshmen: House GOP, part II

Many Republican frosh have records of local civic service HD 15B: King Banaian King Banaian was surrounded by politics growing up in New Hampshire. The state is inundated with presidential hopefuls every four years, and Banaian was recruited at 15 to put flyers on doors for the George McGovern campaign.

Nov 5, 2010

How the lege was won

In many cases, DFLers simply got caught in an undertow in districts that are fundamentally split in their political allegiances; in some, like rural Senate District 16, they handed back control of districts no one had expected them to win in the first place; in others, it appears, they failed to take steps to protect incumbents who faced discernible pockets of Republican opposition.

Oct 22, 2010

DFL hopes to avenge Dean Johnson’s surprise 2006 defeat

The last time around, Senate District 13 in western Minnesota played host to one of the most intense legislative races in recent history. Republicans, DFLers and several independent groups waged an expensive and pitched battle there in 2006 that culminated in the defeat of Senate Majority Leader Dean Johnson, DFL-Willmar, by a razor-thin 553 votes.

Oct 22, 2010

Emmer struggling in greater Minnesota

A late September poll from the Star Tribune found Emmer and Dayton running neck-and-neck in outstate Minnesota with 35 percent apiece, but a mid October KSTP/SurveyUSA poll put Dayton ahead in all regions.

Oct 22, 2010

In demographically split District 4, first-term Sen. Olson looks to hang on

In the 2002 election that followed Minnesota's last round of redistricting, the three seats that comprise Minnesota legislative District 4 - which includes the city of Bemidji, Cass County and parts of Itasca, Beltrami, Hubbard and Crow Wing counties - were swept by Republicans. Some believed the results were a harbinger of reliable GOP dominance in the area.

Oct 1, 2010

Pastor wants to start a court battle over IRS rules prohibiting political endorsements

Gus Booth is trying to pick a fight with the Internal Revenue Service, but he can't seem to get their attention. In recent years the pastor of Warroad Community Church has repeatedly flouted prohibitions on endorsing political candidates from the pulpit.