Peggy Flanagan, Michele Tafoya hold first senate debate

A new senator will emerge from Election Day no matter what because there is no incumbent on the ballot. The two major party candidates are here for their first — and possibly only — one-on-one debate. Friday at noon, the DFL Party’s nominee, Peggy Flanagan, and Republican nominee, Michele Tafoya, went head-to-head on the issues in a debate moderated by MPR News politics editor Brian Bakst. Guests:Peggy Flanagan is the state’s 50th Lieutenant Governor, a member of the White Earth Band of Ojibwe and the U.S. Senate Democratic nominee. Michele Tafoya is a former sport broadcaster and the U.S. Senate Republican nominee.

Editor’s note: Ahead of a Friday debate between U.S. Senate candidates Michele Tafoya and Peggy Flanagan hosted by MPR News, politics editor Brian Bakst asked each to talk about how their lives helped form their politics. On this special episode of Politics Friday, we feature conversations in a series we’re calling “In Your Backyard.” MPR News politics editor Brian Bakst recently met with U.S. Senate candidates Peggy Flanagan and Michele Tafoya at significant places to each of them for a personal conversation about their lives.Lt. Gov. Flanagan, the Democratic nominee, invited Brian to a cultural center in a bustling Minneapolis neighborhood. Tafoya, the Republican nominee, asked to meet at a small-town ballpark.Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation or subscribe to the Politics Friday podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or RSS.

Minnesota has eight members of the U.S. House and those seats don’t change hands often — but this November, one of them will for sure. Minnesota’s 2nd Congressional District has is no incumbent on the ballot. The seat has been held by U.S. Rep. Angie Craig for a little under eight years. The open seat means a new representative in a district covering the southern metro suburbs and down into farm country. The two candidates vying for the job have spent time in the Minnesota state Senate. MPR News host Catharine Richert moderates a debate between Matt Little, a Democrat, and Eric Pratt, a Republican. Minnesota 2nd Congressional District Debate: Eric Pratt vs. Matt Little | Full Debatehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irWtUlUadqELater, MPR News politics editor Brian Bakst and the politics team will provide analysis of the debate and the latest from Minnesota’s campaign trail. Guests:Eric Pratt is a Republican state senator of Prior Lake and a candidate for Minnesota's 2nd Congressional District. Matt Little is a former DFL state senator, a past mayor of Lakeville and a candidate for Minnesota’s 2nd Congressional District.Laura McCallum is an editor for MPR News.Peter Cox is a senior politics reporter for MPR News.Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation or subscribe to the Politics Friday podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or RSS.

Two candidates vying to be Minnesota’s attorney general met Friday in their first debate.DFL incumbent Keith Ellison, who is after a third term, and Republican Ron Schutz, an attorney, went head-to-head over issues defining their intense and increasingly expensive race.Republicans last won a Minnesota attorney general’s race in 1966, although Ellison won by small margins in his past two elections.On this special edition of Politics Friday, MPR News politics editor Brian Bakst moderated the Minnesota attorney general debate. Guests:Keith Ellison is a DFLer and a two-term attorney general. Ron Schutz is a Twin Cities attorney who is prominent in GOP circles. Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation or subscribe to the Politics Friday podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or RSS.

We’re delving into the practical effects of Minnesota electing its first woman as governor and what issues might get new attention at the state Capitol.Barring something unforeseen, Minnesota will join the current list of 32 states that have elected a female chief executive. MPR News politics editor Brian Bakst talks with correspondent Dana Ferguson about the campaigns of Democratic nominee Amy Klobuchar and Republican nominee Lisa Demuth. Both have personal experience with breast cancer and both are talking about women’s health in a more-prominent way.Then, a discussion of election polls. They’re everywhere this time of year. But the weight they carry is a source of debate.Guests:Dana Ferguson is a correspondent for MPR News.Todd Rapp is the president and CEO at Rapp Strategies and an MPR News politics analyst.Peter Leatherman is chief executive officer of Morris Leatherman Company and has served in various research roles at the Minneapolis market and research firm.Ellie Roth is a politics reporter for MPR News.Peter Cox is a senior politics reporter for MPR News.Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation or subscribe to the Politics Friday podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or RSS.

Mark Dayton held a career in public service in Minnesota that spanned five decades. He is well known for serving two terms the state’s governor, leaving office in 2019. Before that, Dayton’s career included stints as a state agency official, state auditor and U.S. senator. Dayton talked with MPR News politics editor Brian Bakst to reflect on his career and discuss his new memoir, titled "Perseverance." In this conversation, Dayton recounts his personal challenges and his time as governor. He also revisits his call to increase taxes on the wealthiest Minnesotans — a campaign promise he fulfilled— and his role in legalizing gay marriage in the state. Also on this episode: election season is underway in Minnesota. On the ticket is an open governor’s race, an open U.S. Senate seat and the full state legislature. Both of the state's major party chairs join the conversation to share their political lay of the land as voting begins.Guests:Mark Dayton served as the 40th governor of Minnesota. He also served as U.S. senator and Minnesota state auditor. Alex Plechash is chair of the Minnesota Republican Party. Richard Carlbom is chair of the Minnesota DFL Party. Dana Ferguson is a politics correspondent for MPR News.Peter Cox is a senior politics reporter for MPR News.Subscribe to the Politics Friday podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or RSS.

The country is acknowledging a somber anniversary: 25 years ago, America suffered its worst terrorist attack on Sept. 11, 2001.MPR News politics editor Brian Bakst explores how that event hit home in Minnesota with former Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak, whose first ballot-box victory came the same day as the attack. We’ll also look at whether the lessons from the attack endured and how that day changed the country in many ways.Later, one last — brief — trip to the Great Minnesota Get Together. The Minnesota State Fair was a hotbed of political activity with people sizing up candidates in between stops at attractions and food booths. We’ll hear from an underdog congressional candidate and what is on the minds of some voters with an election that's less than two months away. Guests:R.T. Rybak is the former mayor of Minneapolis and the president and CEO of the Minneapolis Foundation. Doug Chapin, a Democrat, is the congressional candidate for Minnesota's 6th Congressional District. Dana Ferguson is a politics correspondent for MPR News. Laura McCallum is an editor and previous politics reporter for MPR News.

DFL U.S. Senate hopefuls U.S. Rep. Angie Craig and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan met for a live debate Monday on MPR News. Senate debatehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDYHGPRp1E8With about two weeks left until the primary election on Aug. 11, Flanagan and Craig responded to questions about fraud, immigration enforcement, Social Security and other issues. Guests: Peggy Flanagan is Minnesota’s two-term lieutenant governor.Angie Craig is a four-term Democratic U.S. representative serving Minnesota’s 2nd Congressional District. Subscribe to the Politics Friday podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or RSS.

Thousands of the most politically involved Minnesotans are trading a leisurely spring weekend for the rough-and-tumble of indoor state party conventions. They're weighing who they want to carry party banners in races for governor, U.S. Senate and much more. Republicans will gather in Duluth, while DFLers are on their way to Rochester. How are Democrats and Republicans preparing for November’s midterm election? What advantages or headwinds are there for each party? MPR News hosts Brian Bakst and Clay Masters will speak with candidates, party leaders, convention delegates and political analysts in a two-hour special broadcast from both party conventions. Guests:Todd Rapp, a DFLer, is the CEO and President of Rapp Strategies Inc.Chas Anderson, a Republican, is the CEO and senior principal at Park Street Public.Dan Kraker is a correspondent for MPR News based in Duluth.Catharine Richert is a correspondent for MPR News based in Rochester. Dana Ferguson is a political correspondent for MPR News.Peter Cox is a politics reporter for MPR News.Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation or subscribe to the Politics Friday podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or RSS.

Minnesota lawmakers have headed home for the year. The Legislature adjourned earlier this week after enacting some priorities and setting others to the side. Some bills still await action by Gov. Tim Walz. Barring a special session, these will be the last bills that Walz confronts after two terms in office. MPR News politics editor Brian Bakst speaks with Walz about the highs and the lows over his eight years in office. Then, a recap of this year’s session. There were somber moments, tense exchanges and lots of debate over the past few months. We’ll take a look back with our political reporters. Guests:Gov. Tim Walz is a second-term Minnesota governor. Dana Ferguson is a political correspondent for MPR News.Peter Cox is a politics reporter for MPR News.