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The fall election produced Minnesota's lowest voter turnout since 1986, according to results certified Tuesday. Final figures for this November's election put participation at 50.5 percent of eligible voters. That's the smallest percentage since 48 percent voted in the 1986 election.
uesday's election exposed electoral challenges for both Democrats and Republicans moving forward. Democrats suffered all but one of their majority-costing statehouse losses in districts outside the Twin Cities and their suburbs.
The one-time car salesman from Crown became the GOP's most powerful leader after taking Republicans from minority status to a 72-seat majority in the Minnesota House. Rep. Kurt Daudt, 41, becomes the second-most powerful politician in Minnesota, behind Gov. Mark Dayton. "It is the greatest honor of my life to be elected to be the next speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives," Daudt said.
DFLers in the Minnesota House have elected Rep. Paul Thissen of Minneapolis as their new minority leader. Thissen had been House speaker. But with Republicans winning control of the Minnesota House in Tuesday's elections, Democrats are returning to minority status in that chamber.
Minnesota voters gave Gov. Dayton a solid re-election victory. But unlike the last two years of Democratic dominance, Dayton's fresh reality is a new Republican majority in the Minnesota House. "I'm proud to say that Democrats' total control of state government in Minnesota is over," said Rep. Kurt Daudt, the House minority leader. Exuberant Republicans will take back the House they lost just two years ago. That's when they battled Gov. Dayton to a budget standoff, and a 17-day government shutdown -- the longest in U.S. history.
There will be competition among Republicans for who leads the party's new House majority. Minority Leader Kurt Daudt of Crown and former Majority Leader Matt Dean of Dellwood both say they're running to be House speaker when the Legislature returns to action. They are asking for support from the 72-member caucus, which meets Friday to pick its leadership.
Minnesota House Republicans will come into next year's legislative session with a majority and a tiny bit of breathing room.
Republicans have grabbed control of the Minnesota House and broken up the Democrats' short run of one-party rule at the Capitol. House Speaker Paul Thissen conceded early Wednesday that Democrats had lost control of the chamber.
Election Day arrived in Minnesota with Democrats feeling good about sweeping the biggest races in the state — for governor and U.S. Senate — and perhaps all of the statewide offices. But the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party was fighting a rear-guard action to hang on to the Minnesota House, with plenty of incumbents at risk and Republicans needing just seven seats to bring back divided government for the first time since 2012.
Control of the Minnesota House hinged Tuesday on fewer than two dozen races where loads of money fed fierce contests between the Democrats in charge and the Republicans looking to take over.
Democrats seeking to maintain control of Minnesota's House of Representatives have a hefty cash advantage heading into Election Day. Fundraising reports Tuesday show House Democrats' campaign arm has more than $1 million on hand.
Gov. Mark Dayton rolled into this city's old-brick main drag this week on a mission to save Rep. Shannon Savick, eagerly shaking hands and running down reasons voters should send her back to St. Paul for a second term. On Friday, Dayton was off to St. Cloud to help Rep. Zachary Dorholt, another freshman in a tough race.
A Minnesota House candidate is being sued in civil court after cutting his neighbor's garage in half in a property dispute. A lawsuit filed by Mark Besemann, of Iron, against Roger Weber, a Nashwauk Republican, asks for $20,000 in damages to the garage and $20,000 in punitive damages.
State Rep. Jenifer Loon, the second-ranking Republican in the Minnesota House, has survived a primary challenge brought on by her vote in favor of gay marriage.
Republican Rep. Bob Barrett provided the state Supreme Court with a copy of his driver's license and other evidence Thursday that he said proves he lives in his central Minnesota district.
The Minnesota Senate has passed an $846 million borrowing package for construction projects and sent it to Gov. Mark Dayton for his signature, finishing a crucial piece of business as lawmakers work toward adjournment. The bonding bill vote was 47-17, easily exceeding the required three-fifths majority.
A high-stakes gamble is shaping up over construction borrowing in the Minnesota House. Majority Democrats plan to put an $846 million public works plan up for a vote Thursday despite the lack of clear assurances enough Republican votes will be there. The bill requires 81 votes — 60 percent — to pass.
Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton has sent a letter to House and Senate sponsors of their respective medical-marijuana bills. Dayton said he would sign the bill into law if legislators adopted the House version as is. Dayton sent the letter to Minneapolis Democratic Sen. Scott Dibble and Hibbing Democratic Rep. Carly Melin soon after the House passed a medical-marijuana proposal on Friday.
The Minnesota House overwhelmingly passed a bill on Friday that would legalize marijuana use for medical reasons but under tighter restrictions than a bill passed by the Senate earlier in the week.
A bill with tight limits on use of marijuana as medicine has reached a pivotal Minnesota House vote. Days after the Senate overwhelmingly passed a more-expansive version, House lawmakers planned to debate its own proposal and almost 50 potential amendments Friday.
The Minnesota House took action today to slow down a surge in smart phone thefts: requiring new smart phones to include a "kill switch." Lawmakers say smart phone thefts make up 40 percent of the robberies in Minneapolis and St Paul, and 62% of robberies at the University of Minnesota.
The Minnesota on Wednesday overwhelmingly passed a bill to try to slow down a surge in state heroin deaths on Wednesday. The bill, called "Steve's Law," makes it easier to call 911 without penalty if there's a heroin overdose. And it distributes a heroin antidote for overdose emergencies.
The day of reckoning over the Minnesota Lottery's foray into online gaming has been put off. House members voiced disapproval Tuesday over Internet and gas pump gambling options the lottery introduced.
The Minnesota Senate's proposal for publicly backed construction projects totals more than $1.1 billion in combined borrowing and cash-financed projects. The proposal released Monday calls for borrowing of $846 million and about $200 million in cash from the state's surplus.
Bills legalizing medical marijuana could be voted on in both the Minnesota House and Senate this week, but the House and Senate versions are significantly different. That has led to disagreements among supporters that some say threaten passage of any type of bill.
Minnesota House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark were murdered in their home in June 2025. On top of grieving the sudden, tragic loss of his parents, Colin Hortman says the cleanup of his childhood home was a headache.
Data show that catalytic converter thefts are on the rise again in the Twin Cities.
The war in Iran is not only blocking oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, it is also holding up much of the world's fertilizer supply, a development that is drawing close attention from farmers preparing for spring planting.
From the time Armin Assadi could form memories, he sensed something was wrong. Violence clouds Assadi's earliest childhood memories.
Renters' rights advocates and tenants gathered outside Hennepin County courtrooms Thursday to protest Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey's recent veto of an eviction notice extension ordinance.
Minnesota House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark were murdered in their home in June 2025. On top of grieving the sudden, tragic loss of his parents, Colin Hortman says the cleanup of his childhood home was a headache.
Data show that catalytic converter thefts are on the rise again in the Twin Cities.
From the time Armin Assadi could form memories, he sensed something was wrong. Violence clouds Assadi's earliest childhood memories.
Gas prices are up for the 12th straight day as the war with Iran pushes up crude oil prices. In Minnesota, the average went up 4 cents overnight. It's now $3.29 a gallon. That's 18-cents higher than just a week ago.
The Minnesota House unanimously passed legislation renaming the Community Solar Garden Program for former Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman.
Gas prices are up for the 12th straight day as the war with Iran pushes up crude oil prices. In Minnesota, the average went up 4 cents overnight. It's now $3.29 a gallon. That's 18-cents higher than just a week ago.
According to Rochester Police, officers were dispatched around 9:30 p.m. to the 1900 block of Ashland Drive Northwest. The call was domestic-related, police say.
Rain is falling Thursday night in the Twin Cities, while snow is falling up north.
The Old St. Hubert Church has been a part of Atkins's family for decades.
Denis Doyle was born in Kilkenny, Ireland. He emigrated to the U.S. and in 1856, Doyle traveled to Le Sueur County. Other Irish immigrants joined Doyle and the town was born.
As the war in Iran evolves, National Guardsmen from Wisconsin are being recognized for what they are doing in the Middle East.
It's the season for booking those spring break getaways, and if you're looking to skip the airport this year, take a page out of the Condé Nast Traveler.
A judge has sentenced a Wisconsin man who forged threats against President Donald Trump as part of a deportation scheme to 16½ years in prison.
A fire at a hotel in Superior, Wisconsin, Monday night left one person hurt and forced guests to move to new lodgings.
Excitement is in the air in northern Wisconsin with the 52nd annual American Birkebeiner underway.
The Minnesota Department of Corrections says 95% of all incarcerated individuals will eventually be released from prison. The DOC says it does all it can to help people transition back into the community as productive citizens.
Minnesota native and World War II veteran Les Schrenk died earlier this week. He was 102 years old.
People from across the nation are traveling to the Twin Cities, but not as tourists. Many want to learn in person from Minnesota protestors to bring that knowledge back to their own cities.
The Edina wife and mother of three said she felt called to go and protest in south Minneapolis after learning that Alex Pretti had been shot and killed by two Border Patrol agents.
Tuesday afternoon, more than 20 people gathered on the Highway 62 bridge between Minneapolis and Richfield after a small protest sparked a confrontation there last week.
Minnesota House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark were murdered in their home in June 2025. On top of grieving the sudden, tragic loss of his parents, Colin Hortman says the cleanup of his childhood home was a headache.
Minnesota House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark were murdered in their home last June. Their son says what followed with the insurance company only made matters worse.
Renters' rights advocates and tenants gathered outside Hennepin County courtrooms Thursday to protest Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey's recent veto of an eviction notice extension ordinance.
The Minnesota House unanimously passed legislation renaming the Community Solar Garden Program for former Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman.
Talking Points is tracking a partisan push to end surveillance pricing this legislative session.
Minnesota House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark were murdered in their home in June 2025. On top of grieving the sudden, tragic loss of his parents, Colin Hortman says the cleanup of his childhood home was a headache.
Data show that catalytic converter thefts are on the rise again in the Twin Cities.
The war in Iran is not only blocking oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, it is also holding up much of the world's fertilizer supply, a development that is drawing close attention from farmers preparing for spring planting.
Renters' rights advocates and tenants gathered outside Hennepin County courtrooms Thursday to protest Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey's recent veto of an eviction notice extension ordinance.
Gas prices are up for the 12th straight day as the war with Iran pushes up crude oil prices. In Minnesota, the average went up 4 cents overnight. It's now $3.29 a gallon. That's 18-cents higher than just a week ago.
Minnesota House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark were murdered in their home in June 2025. On top of grieving the sudden, tragic loss of his parents, Colin Hortman says the cleanup of his childhood home was a headache.
Data show that catalytic converter thefts are on the rise again in the Twin Cities.
The suspect, who was killed following the shooting, had previously been imprisoned for several years for trying to support ISIS, the FBI said.
A bill designed to stop children from being groomed in Minnesota schools is moving forward, introduced following a WCCO investigative series.
A former U.S. Attorney removed from her post after telling a judge "this job sucks" during a Minnesota immigration hearing is running for Congress as a Democrat against incumbent Rep. Ilhan Omar.
Can a quick workout and your phone reveal something about your heart health? Researchers at the University of Minnesota Medical School say yes, and they've built an app to prove it.
A new Iowa law bans local nondiscrimination protections on the basis of gender identity after the state became the first in the U.S. to roll back its civil rights code last year.
At a Minnesota State Capitol hearing Wednesday morning, the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs unveiled its "Veteran Suicide Prevention Plan."
The fight to keep Minneapolis' Hennepin County Medical Center open is in full swing, with leaders saying the hospital is in grave danger of closing after Medicaid cuts and budget confusion.
For families already feeling the financial squeeze, medical debt can pile up, even with insurance. But managing, negotiating or forgiving that debt is possible thanks to some nonprofits providing relief.
A woman was arrested on Sunday for firing multiple shots at the Beverly Hills home of Rihanna, Los Angeles Police Department officials say.
Valleyfair in Shakopee, Minnesota, will soon come under new ownership.
A new art exhibition in Shoreview, Minnesota, is inviting visitors to see art — and maybe themselves — a little differently.
Actor and filmmaker Bruce Campbell told fans that he is in treatment for cancer and will cancel some upcoming public appearances.
The Minnesota Wild and St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her announced a $600 million plan on Tuesday to renovate the team's arena and connected venues.
The Minnesota Vikings have signed quarterback Kyler Murray to compete with J.J. McCarthy for the starting job next season, the team announced Thursday.
The Minnesota Vikings are hosting Kyler Murray on a free agent visit, focusing their latest quarterback search on the first overall pick in the 2019 draft who was just released by the Arizona Cardinals.
The Minnesota Vikings have cleared salary cap space taken by their failed strategy for contending last season by releasing defensive linemen Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave.
Former Vikings running back Adrian Peterson last week pleaded guilty to driving while intoxicated and will avoid jail time by serving 30 hours of community service.
Kirill Kaprizov scored his 37th goal of the season, Matt Boldy notched his 36th, and Filip Gustavsson earned his fourth shutout of the season as the Minnesota Wild defeated the Utah Mammoth 5-0 on Tuesday night.
Talking Points is tracking a partisan push to end surveillance pricing this legislative session.
This session, a bipartisan bill to end surveillance pricing is moving forward at the Minnesota Capitol. In Talking Points, Esme Murphy spoke with Minnesota DFL Rep. Erin Koegel about the push and how the ban could protection your personal data.
Minnesota Democratic Rep. Angie Craig, who is running for U.S. Senate, says she now regrets her vote in favor of the Laken Riley Act last year.
With severe weather season right around the corner, what homeowners need to know about the evolving coverage for your roof.
With severe weather season right around the corner, what homeowners need to know about the evolving coverage for your roof. In Talking Points, Esme Murphy spoke with Grace Arnold, Department of Commerce commissioner about what's driving rising insurance premiums and what you should look from in home insurance coverage.
Denis Doyle was born in Kilkenny, Ireland. He emigrated to the U.S. and in 1856, Doyle traveled to Le Sueur County. Other Irish immigrants joined Doyle and the town was born.
One of the oldest operating theaters in the Midwest is in danger of closing its doors for good.
In St. Louis Park, Minnesota, there's a place where you can find radio and television technology that's nearly a century old — and it still works.
One of the best views in Minnesota is at the top of a Bloomington hill. But 15-year-old Jacob Larson isn't here for the scenery. He's here for the jump.
Pine trees are a common sight up north. But on a Carlton, Minnesota, road, they're joined by giant lollipops. They serve as the welcoming committee for Sweetly Kismet, one of the largest candy stores in the state.
Minnesota lakes remain frozen. The people walking on trails around them remain bundled up. After a warm start to March, the seasonal shift is sputtering as it often tends to do.
Drivers are bracing themselves for higher prices when they pull up to gas stations. But the pump isn't the only place you can expect to pay more in the weeks ahead.
A push for stricter gun laws in Minnesota is not new. However, this session comes on the heels of a devastating mass shooting last summer in which the target was students in prayer at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis.
The military strikes against Iran have sparked intense debate in Congress. U.S. lawmakers are not only split on whether to support the operation but also on whether President Trump should have sought congressional approval in advance. WCCO investigates how the Constitution defines declarations of war.
Traveling is already stressful, especially flying, but the deadly conflict south of the border might have some travelers second-guessing their upcoming trips.
Minnesotans got a great view of the northern lights Tuesday night.
A look at the newest addition to the polar bear population at St. Paul, Minnesota's Como Zoo.
From food shelves to school programs, our team is proud to serve where it matters most.
The Minnesota State Fair has unveiled its new food, drinks and vendors for 2025.
A suspect was taken into custody after an attack on Pearl Street Mall in Boulder on June 1 in which there were 15 people and a dog who were victims. The suspect threw Molotov cocktails that burned some of the victims, who were part of a march for Israeli hostages.
A mix of rain and snow is pushing through Minnesota Thursday, says NEXT Weather meteorologist Chris Shaffer.
In Minnesota, weather can be all over the place. Here at WCCO, we want to give you what you need to prepare for what's happening next.
The rain has arrived in the metro and snow further north. There will be strong winds throughout the remainder of Thursday and all day Friday. Cooler temps arrive by Friday afternoon and a winter storm on Saturday. Chief Meteorologist breaks down the timing of it all, how much snow we should get and how to stay weather aware.
A strong area of low pressure will slide across Iowa Saturday night into Sunday. Because this system will have a lot of moisture with it, they say heavy snow is likely across southern and central Minnesota with the current expected track., WCCO meteorologist Mike Augustyniak reports.
A major winter storm is set to bring significant snow and wind to parts of Minnesota and Wisconsin this weekend. Some locations south of the Twin Cities metro are could even pick up more than a foot of snow.
The Minnesota Vikings have signed quarterback Kyler Murray to compete with J.J. McCarthy for the starting job next season, the team announced Thursday.
Police in St. Paul, Minnesota, say catalytic converter thefts are back on the rise. People stole 37 more catalytic converters in the first two months of this year compared to the same time period in 2025.
A mix of rain and snow is pushing through Minnesota Thursday, says NEXT Weather meteorologist Chris Shaffer.
Minnesota House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark were murdered in their home last June. Their son says what followed with the insurance company only made matters worse.
The war in Iran is not only blocking oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, it is also holding up much of the world's fertilizer supply, a development that is drawing close attention from farmers preparing for spring planting.