Hundreds turn out on muggy night for pre-primary DFL debate

How many tax-and-spend liberals does it take to draw a full house on a hot summer night?

On Monday, the answer was three.

Even though the air was thick with humidity with threats of storms, more than 250 people filled an auditorium and spilled into an overflow room to watch a pre-primary debate, in one of the state's safest DFL districts, between a 22-term incumbent and two newcomers.

Haven't these folks heard of Pokémon Go? Didn't they know that Grant Hart was playing across town at Loring Park, followed by a showing of the Beatles movie "A Hard Day's Night?"

The battle for little old legislative District 60B is passionate enough that hundreds would give up an August evening to politely but enthusiastically support their candidates, Rep. Phyllis Kahn and her challengers, Mohamud Noor and Ilhan Omar.

This race is one that will determine if the DFL Party is at a tipping point for some of its more senior members, particularly in districts where the demographics have dramatically changed. Will voters trade experience and seniority for fresher, more diverse voices?

Nasser Mussa of the Community Action Partnership of Ramsey and Washington Counties, introduced the debate by underscoring that the area has long been a landing spot for immigrants, first from Sweden, then Vietnam and now East Africa.

Kahn has held the seat for more than 40 years, and she used the stage to boast about her successes, which included being chief author of the 1975 Minnesota Clean Indoor Act. Kahn spent some time trying to persuade the audience that her run is not all about the past, however, saying she wants to stay for Gov. Mark Dayton's tenure, lead the Legacy Funding Finance Committee and use her science background to shape legislation. Her record is "not just an indication of what I have done, but also an indication of what I plan to do."

The debate, at the University of Minnesota's Humphrey School of Public Affairs, allowed the younger candidates to play to the crowd. Noor said that he is still paying off his student debt and that his wife recently graduated from the U. When asked if it was important to have someone who could represent the Somali community, Noor was decisive: "Absolutely. We are not sitting at the table," he said, referring to both East Africans and black males.

Kahn highlighted things she had accomplished for that community, including a large grant and fixing up the Brian Coyle Community Center. She also boasted of supporting Abdi Warsame for a Minneapolis City Council seat, but he now supports Noor, which could be an important factor in the election.

There was widespread agreement on the need for a $15 minimum wage, but differences on how to get there. It prompted Kahn to acknowledge, "we're all tax-and-spend liberals."

The format didn't permit rigorous debate, yet the answers to moderators' questions were generally substantive. Questions about police interaction with communities of color produced some ill-informed answers, but also some nuanced solutions.

Early in the debate, fans of Noor and Omar, in particular, cheered after each answer. When moderator Larry Jacobs asked that the audience members cheer only after every third question answered by all candidates, they promptly complied.

Imagine that.

There were even moments of levity, as when Noor fielded the first question about Sunday liquor sales. He paused, then laughed. He's Muslim and doesn't drink.

"If someone wants to have fun on Sunday, why should you stop them?" he said to laughs and cheers.

Though the race has seen contentious moments, this debate seemed almost celebratory, particularly given the national tone. The audience was young and old, black and white. Afterward, there were hugs and high-fives between audience members giddy with democracy.

Across town, Hart was playing to the crowd, no doubt making some listeners nostalgic for the punk band he started, Hüsker Dü, which in Norwegian means: "Do you remember?"

jtevlin@startribune.com • 612-673-1702