Second Committee Deadline, Legislators Losing Party Endorsement, and more
Second Committee Deadline
Last Friday, this Friday and next Friday mark the first, second and third committee deadlines for the Minnesota legislature. Today, committees must act favorably on bills, or companions of bills that met the first deadline in the other body. Expect a flurry of budget activity in the House next week before the third committee deadline next Friday, where committees must act favorably on major appropriation and finance bills. Gov. Walz hosted another negotiation session on Monday with leaders from the House and Senate, but they have yet to reach a deal on front-line worker bonuses or unemployment insurance.
Legislators Losing Party Endorsement
So far, four sitting legislators in the Minnesota House and Senate have lost their party endorsement for re-election. Rep. Tony Jurgens (R – Cottage Grove) lost GOP endorsement to Tom Dippel for Senate District 4. Rep. Jurgens has yet to confirm whether he is suspending his re-election campaign. Sen. Eric Pratt (R – Prior Lake) lost GOP endorsement to first-time candidate Natalie Barnes in SD 54. Sen. Pratt has yet to confirm whether he is suspending his re-election campaign. Sen. Jason Isaacson (D – Shoreview) lost DFL endorsement to fellow Sen. John Marty (D – Roseville) in SD 40. Sen. Isaacson confirmed he is now suspending his re-election campaign. Rep. John Thompson (DFL – St. Paul) lost DFL endorsement to first-time candidate Liz Lee. Some may choose to run in a primary election later this summer, but they face a difficult road if they do. Losing party endorsement means losing resources and cash for primary campaigns and those who lose their endorsement often lose their primary elections.