2024 Presidential Campaign Blog

U.S. Representative Betty McCollum, State Auditor Julie Blaha, Team Harris-Walz, MN Dems, and Local DFL Leaders Celebrate Coordinated Office Opening in Stillwater

U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum, Team Harris-Walz, MN Dems, and Local DFL Leaders Celebrate Coordinated Office Opening in Stillwater

Today in Stillwater, U.S. Representative Betty McCollum, State Auditor Julie Blaha, State Representative Josiah Hill, candidates for MN House Lucia Wroblewski and Jake Ross, the Harris-Walz campaign, and the DFL celebrated the opening of the Stillwater Democratic coordinated campaign office dedicated to electing Vice President Harris, Governor Tim Walz, and Minnesota Democrats up and down the ballot.

The Stillwater office is one of more than 20 Democratic coordinated campaign offices throughout the state, where Minnesotans are energized and ready to get to work to elect Vice President Kamala Harris, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, and MN Democrats.

The office opening is part of a massive Weekend of Action in Minnesota that is engaging voters at over 100 events across the state, including canvass launches, and voter engagement events led by prominent state and local leaders.

“Our Stillwater DFL office is a hub of hope, energy, and action. Kamala Harris and Tim Walz are the leaders we need in the White House to defend our freedoms, expand the middle class, and create an economy that works for all Americans,” said U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum. “In contrast, Donald Trump and JD Vance are pushing to roll back abortion rights, deny voters access to the ballot box, and eliminate vital protections for workers and unions. This campaign is about our families and our future. Now is the time to get to work to elect Kamala Harris and Tim Walz because they will always be fighting for us.”

“This coordinated campaign office in Stillwater reflects our commitment to community, democracy, and opportunity. Kamala Harris and Tim Walz are leading the way with a vision that lifts up every Minnesotan,” said State Auditor Julie Blaha. “Trump and Vance, on the other hand, are running on fear, division, and a dangerous agenda that promises to tear down the very foundations of our democracy. They’ve made it clear that they’re not interested in the needs of working families.”

“This election is a choice between progress and regression, and Kamala Harris is the leader we need to take on Donald Trump’s dangerous and divisive agenda. She has spent her entire career fighting for justice and standing up for the rights of all Americans,” said State Representative Josiah Hill. “Trump and Vance are running on a platform that seeks to destroy our democracy, cut Social Security and Medicare, and roll back the progress we’ve made. This office will be our battleground to hold them accountable and keep them out of power.”

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz Photos, Labor Day Greet with Local Labor Leaders, Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, Monday, September 2, 2024

In recognition of Labor Day, Governor Tim Walz and Mrs. Gwen Walz hosted a greet at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport with local leaders and representatives from the following organizations:

* Peggy Flanagan, Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota

* Keith Ellison, Minnesota Attorney General

* Julie Blaha, Minnesota State Auditor

* Melvin Carter, Mayor of Saint Paul, MN

* Minnesota AFL- CIO

* Minnesota Pipe Trades Association

* Sheet Metal Workers Local 10

* AFSCME Council 65

* Iron Workers Local 512

* Education Minnesota

* LiUNA Minnesota

* SEIU Healthcare Minnesota & Iowa

* Inter Faculty Organization

* Minnesota Building and Construction Trades Council

* North Central States Regional Council of Carpenters

* Minnesota Association of Professional Employees (MAPE)

* Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Minnesota State Council

Following the greet, the Governor and Mrs. Walz departed MSP en route to Milwaukee, Wisconsin to deliver remarks at Laborfest 2024 with union members of the Milwaukee Area Labor Council, AFL-CIO. This flight marks their first trip aboard the Harris-Walz campaign charter, which bears an American flag, Harris-Walz, and "A New Way Forward" decals.

Dr. Cornel West’s Campaign Doubles Signature Requirement for Minnesota Ballot Access

Dr. Cornel West’s Campaign Doubles Signature Requirement for Minnesota Ballot Access

[Saint Paul, Minnesota] – The Cornel West for President Campaign announces that it has surpassed twice the required signature threshold for ballot access in Minnesota. This achievement not only secures Dr. Cornel West's place on the ballot but also reflects the strong grassroots support for his transformative vision. Minnesota, the home state of Vice President Tim Walz, plays a critical role in the upcoming presidential election.

"Our success in Minnesota is a strong endorsement of our vision for America—a vision that champions truth, justice and love," said Dr. Cornel West. "We are heartened by the overwhelming support from Minnesotans who are ready for a profound shift in the country’s political discourse."

The significant surplus in signatures not only highlights the dedication of the campaign's volunteers but also positions Dr. West and Dr. Abdullah as formidable contenders in a state known for its progressive politics. "In the shadow of the George Floyd uprisings, the overwhelming response to our campaign by Minnesota voters is an indicator that people still want transformative change," added vice presidential candidate Dr. Melina Abdullah.

Nick Shillingford, the lead volunteer in Minnesota, expressed his enthusiasm: "People, and young people specifically, are very excited to have someone they can vote FOR rather than just someone they feel they have to vote against. I asked a woman who was jogging with her earbuds in to sign the petition and for a brief moment I was afraid she was going to be upset that I was interrupting her jog. But while I was explaining the campaign she said "I love Cornel West, I'll sign anything for Cornel West" and she began signing. Minnesota is a state that has a huge community that cares about justice, human rights and the environment so the West campaign is a natural fit in this state.”

The campaign's success in Minnesota is part of a broader strategy to engage deeply with issues that resonate with Americans, including abolishing poverty and homelessness, racial justice, and environmental sustainability. The West/Abdullah platform offers an alternative to the policies championed by the major party candidates, aiming to transform the political dialogue and bring real solutions to the poor and working class.

The West/Abdullah campaign has the signatures and minor party nominations it needs to get on the ballot in 18 states. This includes 7 of the battleground states: Michigan, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Minnesota, Florida, Wisconsin and North Carolina. For more info, see our ballot access map.

Democratic National Convention Announces 2024 Co-Chairs, Including Minnesota Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan

Democratic National Convention Announces 2024 Co-Chairs

Convention Co-Chairs from across the country will share the gavel for the 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago

CHICAGO – Today, the Democratic National Convention Committee (DNCC) announced the leaders from across the nation who will serve as Co-Chairs for the 2024 Democratic National Convention:
• Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan (MN)
• The Honorable Mitch Landrieu (LA)
• Senator Cory Booker (NJ)
• Representative Veronica Escobar (TX)

“I’m proud and honored to gavel in the Democratic National Convention with our four incredible Co-Chairs,” said Democratic National Committee Chair Jaime Harrison. “Their dedication to service, boundless optimism, and passion for progress is emblematic of our party’s values and our message to the American people. As we celebrate President Biden’s accomplishments and uplift Vice President Harris and Governor Walz, I’m thrilled for the nation to see our vision for the future and meet the incredible leaders who will guide the way.”

“As we gather in Chicago for this historic convention, I am honored to share the gavel with these four outstanding leaders who embody the character and spirit of the Democratic Party,” said Democratic National Convention Chair Minyon Moore. “Our convention will honor President Biden’s leadership for the American people, celebrate our next President and Vice President of the United States: Vice President Kamala Harris and Governor Tim Walz, and uplift the deep bench of future leaders who will carry our party and country forward.”

From Minnesota to Louisiana, and Texas to New Jersey, these leaders come from all walks of life and from every corner of America. Each of these leaders represent the breadth and diversity of the expanding bench of talent in the Democratic Party at all levels of government. The four Co-Chairs will play a crucial role to help Vice President Harris and Governor Walz bring their message to the American people and chart a course for a future full of possibilities. These proven leaders have shown that they, like Vice President Harris and Governor Walz, stand ready to lead the Democratic Party as we fight for our future and our freedoms.

The Co-Chairs of the 2024 Democratic National Convention are:

Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan
Peggy Flanagan was elected Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota as Governor Tim Walz’s running mate in 2019 after serving in the House of Representatives for the state’s 46A district. She also serves as chair of the Democratic Lieutenant Governors Association where she fights to elect Democratic Lieutenant Governors in states all across the country. Lt. Gov. Flanagan is the first woman of color to serve as Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota and the highest ranking Native American woman in elected office in the country.

The Honorable Mitch Landrieu
Mitch Landrieu is a co-chair of the Harris-Walz campaign. Prior to this position, Landrieu served as Senior Advisor to the President for White House Infrastructure Coordinator under President Biden where he oversaw the implementation of the sweeping Infrastructure and Jobs Act in states all across the country. Prior to joining the Biden administration, Landrieu also served as mayor of New Orleans from 2010 until 2018 and as Lieutenant Governor of Louisiana from 2004 to 2010.

Senator Cory Booker
Cory Booker is a U.S. Senator from New Jersey currently serving his second term in office. Senator Booker has long been a champion for fairness and justice, tirelessly advocating for policies that uplift every American. A visionary leader within the Democratic Party, Booker is committed to advancing equality, economic opportunity, and the promise of a brighter future for all. Before being elected to the Senate, Booker was Mayor of Newark, New Jersey for 7 years.

Representative Veronica Escobar
Veronica Escobar is a U.S. Representative for Texas’s 116th congressional district and co-chair of the Harris-Walz campaign. A bold leader within the House Democratic Caucus, she co-chairs the House Democratic Policy and Communications Committee, using her platform to champion the rights of underserved communities and fight for progressive change. Prior to her service with El Paso County, Congresswoman Escobar was an English teacher at the University of Texas at El Paso and El Paso Community College.

Harris-Walz Campaign Releases Video Introducing Minnesota Governor Tim Walz

New Video: Harris-Walz Campaign Releases Video Introducing Governor Walz

Today, the Harris-Walz campaign released a new video introducing voters to Vice President Harris’ 2024 running mate. Governor Walz is a champion for working families, a retired Army National Guardsman, a former high school teacher and football coach, Member of Congress, and two term governor where he cut taxes for working families, lowered the cost of insulin, and protected women’s right to choose.

The short video - narrated by Governor Walz - highlights the values that Governor Walz learned growing up in Nebraska: respect, compromise, and service to our country. In the video, Governor Walz introduces himself to the American people and shares his background fighting for working families.

TRANSCRIPT

Sometimes life is as much about the lessons you learn as the lessons you teach.

Where I grew up, community was a way of life.

My high school class was 24 people.

I was related to half of them.

I learned to be generous toward my neighbors, compromise without compromising my values, and to work for the common good.

My dad was in the Army, and with his encouragement, I joined the Army National Guard when I was 17. I served for 24 years.

I used my GI benefits to go to college and become a public school teacher.

I coached football and taught social studies for 20 years.

And I tried to teach my students what small town Nebraska taught me: respect, compromise, and service to country.

And so when I went into government, that's what I carried with me. I worked with Republicans to pass an infrastructure bill. Cut taxes for working families. Signed paid leave into law. I codified abortion rights after Roe got overturned.

Because I go to work for the common good.

But enough about me.

Let’s talk about you. Because that’s what this election is about.

It’s about your future. It’s about your family.

And Vice President Harris knows that. She too grew up in a middle class family. She too goes to work every day, making sure families can not just get by but get ahead.

We believe in the promise of America. In those values I learned in Nebraska. And we’re ready to fight for them.

Because as Kamala Harris says: when we fight we win.

Minnesota DFL Chair Ken Martin Statement on Harris-Walz Ticket

Minnesota DFL Celebrates Harris-Walz Ticket

ST PAUL – Today, the Minnesota DFL Party released the following statement after Vice President Kamala Harris announced she has selected Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate.

DFL Chair Ken Martin: “The entire country is about to see why their friends from Minnesota can’t stop bragging about Governor Walz. By picking a servant leader born and raised in a small town who has dedicated his career to protecting freedoms and lifting up working families, Vice President Harris has chosen the perfect foil for JD Vance and his politics of resentment. Under Governor Walz’s leadership, Minnesota has built a model for how Democrats across the nation can both win elections and improve people’s lives. We could not be more excited to help bring the Minnesota magic to this campaign and to put Kamala Harris and Tim Walz in the White House.”

Vice President Kamala Harris Announces Minnesota Governor Tim Walz As Her Running Mate

Vice President Harris Announces Tim Walz As Her Running Mate

Today, Vice President Kamala Harris announced her selection of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate in the 2024 presidential election. Together, Vice President Harris and Governor Walz will fight for a future that strengthens our democracy, protects reproductive freedom, and ensures every person has the opportunity to not just get by, but to get ahead.

Vice President Harris and Governor Walz have spent their careers fighting for working families across the country. As a prosecutor, attorney general, senator, and vice president, Vice President Harris has taken on the big banks, led the fight for reproductive freedom, and stood with our allies against Putin’s aggression. Governor Walz is a champion for working families, a retired Army National Guardsman, a former high school teacher and football coach, Member of Congress, and two term governor where he cut taxes for working families, lowered the cost of insulin, and protected women’s right to choose.

Vice President Harris wrote: “I am proud to announce that I’ve asked Governor Tim Walz to be my running mate. One of the things that stood out to me about Tim is how his convictions on fighting for middle class families run deep. It's personal. As a governor, a coach, a teacher, and a veteran, he's delivered for working families like his own. We are going to build a great partnership. We start out as underdogs but I believe together, we can win this election.”

Later today, Vice President Harris and Governor Walz will make their first joint campaign appearance at a rally with thousands of supporters in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This event is the first of a five-day barnstorm to introduce the Harris-Walz ticket to voters in key battleground states.

From now until Election Day, Vice President Harris and Governor Walz will continue to crisscross the country to outline the choice between two very different visions for the future: Vice President Harris and Governor Walz, who are running to move the country forward, not backward — or Donald Trump and JD Vance, who are running to enact their extreme and dangerous Project 2025 agenda that will roll back Americans’ rights and freedoms, hurt the middle class, and threaten our democracy.

Governor Tim Walz
Governor Walz is a champion for America’s working families. He enlisted in the Army National Guard, rising to the rank of Command Sergeant Major. After attending college thanks to the GI Bill, Tim Walz served his community as a high school teacher and football coach - taking his team to the state championship for the first time in the school’s history. He became a member of Congress in a Republican district by representing the needs of farmers and rural America. Governor Walz has done more to help middle class families get ahead than any other statewide leader in recent memory. That experience makes him the ideal running mate for Kamala Harris, who has taken on the big banks, led the fight for reproductive freedom, and stood with our allies against Putin’s aggression during her time as a prosecutor, Attorney General, Senator, and Vice President.

As governor, Walz lowered the cost of insulin to $35 per month for many Minnesotans. He eliminated junk fees. And, he signed paid leave into law so that parents can take care of sick family without losing their job. Governor Walz stood up for fundamental freedoms and made Minnesota the first state to pass a law codifying abortion rights after the Supreme Court overturned Roe. He funded Minnesota police departments, putting more cops on the street and investing in body cameras, and established universal background checks for gun purchases. And, he worked across the aisle to pass a bipartisan infrastructure package.

A lifelong Midwesterner, Governor Walz grew up working on his family farm. He enlisted in the Army National Guard when he turned 17, following in his father’s - a veteran’s - footsteps. During his 24 years of National Guard service, he specialized in heavy artillery and retired as the highest-ranking enlisted National Guard soldier in southern Minnesota.

Governor Walz is a gun owner, avid pheasant hunter, and supporter of the Second Amendment - and he, like millions of gun owners, believes that Congress must do more to tackle gun violence in our communities. As governor, he established universal background checks for gun purchases.

For six terms, Governor Walz represented Minnesota’s First Congressional District - a conservative-leaning district where he was only the second Democrat elected since 1890. The son of an Army veteran and a retired Army National Guard member himself, Walz was the ranking member on the House Veterans Affairs Committee, where he passed legislation to help stem veterans’ suicides.

Governor Walz met his wife Gwen teaching high school in Nebraska before moving to Gwen’s home state of Minnesota. A former union member, Tim taught high school for two decades.

Governor Walz and Mrs. Walz have two children, Hope and Gus. Governor Walz and Mrs. Walz struggled with years of fertility challenges and had their daughter, Hope, through reproductive health care like IVF - further cementing his commitment to ensuring all Americans have access to this care.

Bernie Sanders to Rally for Ilhan Omar in Minneapolis, Hold Town Hall in Mankato

Bernie Sanders to Rally for Omar, Hold Town Hall Outlining Progressive Priorities

Sanders will hold a town hall in Mankato followed by a rally with Rep. Ilhan Omar in Minneapolis

WASHINGTON — Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) will travel to Minnesota this weekend to hold a get-out-the-vote rally with Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) and a town hall focused on organizing and energizing working class voters around an aggressive progressive agenda.

A town hall in Mankato kicks off the trip, followed by a rally in Minneapolis with Omar. Sanders and Omar will mobilize supporters around the fight for economic justice, tackling the climate crisis, lowering prescription drug costs, and expanding Social Security benefits.

This will be Sanders’ sixth trip of the summer so far, following recent visits to Ohio, New York, Wisconsin, New Hampshire, and Maine.

EVENT DETAILS

Friday, August 2
6:00 p.m. CT Town Hall with Bernie Sanders in Mankato
Location: Minnesota State University, Mankato's Ostrander Auditorium inside the Centennial Student Union, 620 South Road, Mankato, MN 56001
Information for the Public: Doors Open at 5:00 p.m. There is free parking for attendees in the visitor lot directly across South Road from the Centennial Student Union. Tickets are not required, but an RSVP is encouraged.

Saturday, August 3
12:00 p.m. CT Rally with Bernie Sanders and Ilhan Omar in Minneapolis
Location: Thomas Edison High School, 700 22nd Ave NE, Minneapolis MN 55418
Information for the Public: Doors open at 11:00 a.m. There will be street parking as available for this event. Tickets are not required, but an RSVP is encouraged.

President Donald Trump and Senator J.D. Vance Speak Saturday, July 27, 2024 in St. Cloud, Minnesota.

President Trump And Senator Vance Deliver Powerful Speeches In Minnesota

President Donald Trump and Senator J.D. Vance gave powerful speeches Saturday before thousands in St. Cloud, Minnesota.

Vice presidential nominee J.D. Vance said: "Kamala Harris questioned my loyalty to this country. That's the word she used -- 'loyalty.'... I'd like to ask the vice president, what has she done to question my loyalty to this country? I served in the United States Marine Corps. I went to Iraq for this country. I built a business for this country, and my running mate took a bullet for this country. So my question to Kamala Harris is, what the hell have you done to question our loyalty to the United States of America?”

Paul Perez, president of the National Border Patrol Council, spoke at the rally and said: "Border Czar Harris doesn't care about the border... Border Czar Harris needs to go."

Highlights:

President Trump: "On my very first day back in the White House, I will terminate every single open border policy of the Biden-Harris Administration, and we will seal the border and we will stop the horrible invasion into our country.... No person in American politics has been more of an open border zealot than Border Czar Harris."

President Trump: "Kamala Harris was the original Marxist district attorney. She destroyed San Francisco and she will destroy our country."

President Trump: "I sent in the National Guard to save Minneapolis, while Kamala Harris sided with arsonists and rioters and raised money to bail out the criminals."

President Trump: "Ultra liberal Kamala Harris will deliver crime, chaos, mayhem, and death to our country. I will restore law and order, justice in America."

President Trump: "This November, the American people are going to reject Kamala Harris’s crazy liberal extremism in a massive landslide... We’re not going to let her turn the United States into communist San Francisco."

Senator Vance: "Some of the criminals freed by Kamala include a convicted rapist, a knife murderer, a domestic abuser who later shot and killed a man while he was out on bail."

President Trump: "Tonight I pledge to Minnesota miners that when I’m re-elected, I will reverse the Biden-Harris attack on your way of life, and we will turn the Iron Range into a mineral powerhouse like never before."

President Trump: "Harris is so extreme and unhinged that she has even declared the terms 'illegal alien' and 'radical Islamic terrorism' to be forbidden and unacceptable."

President Donald J. Trump and Vice Presidential Nominee, Senator JD Vance to Hold a Rally in St. Cloud, Minnesota On Saturday, July 27, 2024

President Donald J. Trump and Vice Presidential Nominee, Senator JD Vance to Hold a Rally in St. Cloud, Minnesota

President Donald J. Trump, 45th President of the United States of America and Vice Presidential Nominee, Senator JD Vance will deliver remarks at a Rally in St. Cloud, Minnesota on Saturday, July 27, 2024, at 7:00PM CDT.

The average North Star State family has already lost nearly $30,000 paying for the increased cost of living under the disastrous policies of the Democrats. In fact, prices have jumped 20% since Joe Biden and Kamala Harris took office. Thanks to the left’s war on American energy, average gas prices topped record highs of $4.75 per gallon in the state.

The Democrat’s pro-criminal and open border polices are also costing the great people of Minnesota. Republicans are pushing back on Democrat attempts to make Minnesota a sanctuary state. Last fall, a little girl was sexually assaulted in Bemidji, Minnesota, where 11 illegal immigrants were found at the scene of the crime. Opioid related overdose deaths have increased by 44% as a result of drugs flowing freely over our border.

President Donald Trump is devastated to see the path of death and destruction left behind by Democrats and their activist friends. President Trump will ease the financial pressures placed on households and re-establish law and order in Minnesota! We can Make America Great Again by tackling lawlessness head-on, ceasing the endless flow of illegal immigrants across our southern border, and reversing the detrimental effects of inflation by restoring people’s wealth.

Date and Time

Saturday, July 27, 2024
7:00PM CDT

Venue

Herb Brooks National Hockey Center
1204 4th Ave S.
St. Cloud, Minnesota, 56301

Timeline of Events
3:00PM – Doors Open
7:00PM – Program Begins

General Admission Tickets

REGISTER HERE

https://event.donaldjtrump.com/events/president-donald-j-trump-and-vice-presidential-nominee-senator-jd-vance-to-hold-a-rally-in-st-cloud-minnesota?