June kicked off with the DFL State Convention, held in Rochester, Minnesota, where delegates gathered to endorse DFL candidates for U.S. Senate, Governor and Lt. Governor, Secretary of State, State Auditor, and Attorney General.
What happened during—and after—means there are a lot of candidates on the ballot, but access to safe, legal abortion, birth control, and life-saving medical exams are also on the ballot—and that’s why it’s more important than ever to get informed and get busy.
Here’s How We Win
ELECT A GOVERNOR WHO WILL PROTECT REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS
In May, both the Minnesota House of Representatives and the Minnesota Senate voted to pass an anti-abortion bill that would have set a dangerous precedent of political interference in the doctor-patient relationship. Thankfully, Governor Dayton vetoed the bill, underscoring the importance of electing another governor who stands for our shared values.
The race for the governor’s seat in Minnesota is heating up. While the Planned Parenthood Action Fund hasn’t made any endorsements yet, we are committed making sure Minnesota elects another governor who will fight to protect access to health care and reproductive freedom.
- Gubernatorial Candidate Erin Murphy announced Minnesota State Representative Erin Maye Quade as her running mate for Lieutenant Governor. Both were endorsed at the DFL convention.
- U.S. Congressman Tim Walz (MN-01), running with Minnesota State Representative Peggy Flanagan, still plans to face off against Murphy in the August primary.
- Attorney General Lori Swanson announced after the DFL Convention that she was joining the race with running mate U.S. Congressman Rick Nolan (MN-08).
GOP Gubernatorial candidate Tim Pawlenty has announced his decision to name current Lieutenant Governor Michelle Fischbach as his running mate.
A Pawlenty-Fischbach administration would turn the clock back decades on women’s health and severely limit women’s access to cancer screenings and contraception. After eight years as governor, Tim Pawlenty left Minnesota with a legacy of extreme laws that limit women’s access to abortion in our state—and as a state senator, Michelle Fischbach led the charge against women’s health in our state for decades, taking every opportunity to vote against safe, legal abortion and reproductive health care.
ELECT SENATOR TINA SMITH
U.S. Senator Tina Smith has been fighting for Planned Parenthood her whole career—as vice president at Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota; as lieutenant governor; and as U.S. senator. She is a proven leader who’s dedicated her career to advancing women’s health and rights—and she’s not afraid to stand up against attacks on our health care from the Trump administration and congressional Republicans.
It was a regular lovefest on Twitter as both Senators Klobuchar and Smith received DFL endorsements.
EIGHT CONGRESSIONAL RACES
There are eight congressional districts in Minnesota six of them are now at stake, after U.S. Congressman Keith Ellison (MN-05) announced that he would not seek re-election to jump in the race for Attorney General of Minnesota. The primary ballot for the seat Ellison will vacate will be chock full of pro-Planned Parenthood candidates in August.
We must re-elect Betty McCollum (MN-04), defeat incumbent Reps. Jason Lewis (MN-02) and Erik Paulsen (MN-03), and hold the seats currently held by Reps. Keith Ellison (MN-05), Rick Nolan (MN-08), and Tim Walz (MN-01).
THE MINNESOTA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
On Sunday, May 20, the 2018 Minnesota Legislative Session came to a close. Though it lasted only three months, Republican lawmakers in Minnesota spent the entire Legislative Session introducing extreme, anti-choice legislation while simultaneously rejecting proactive policies that would protect access to no-cost birth control and prevent Minnesotans from experiencing sexual violence.
It doesn’t have to be this way. In the Minnesota House, every single representative is on the ballot. We can hold lawmakers accountable for working to limit access to health care—and if we pick up just 11 seats, we can take back the Minnesota House, and install the fierce and fearless Planned Parenthood champion Melissa Hortman (36B) as Speaker.
Take Action, Make Change
Join the Planned Parenthood of Minnesota Political Action Fund in the fight for 2018. If candidates don’t stand with us on access to safe and legal abortion, affordable birth control, care at Planned Parenthood, or health care equity—then they don’t deserve to represent us.
Pledge to vote for reproductive health champions.
Tags: minnesota