In a time of sometimes-vivid political divisiveness, it seems like a novel concept: remove party labels from legislative elections in Minnesota.
Rep. Jim Knoblach, R-St. Cloud, has introduced a measure that would strike party affiliations from the ballot for legislative races. Party affiliations for statewide or constitutional offices, like governor, would remain.
The idea came to Knoblach after an eight-year absence from the Legislature. He returned to find the divide between DFLers and Republicans had escalated to the point that it prevented the Legislature from being effective, while also dissuading others from running for office. "Things are more partisan than ever," he said. "There are a lot of people in the public who are very tired of the partisanship who are supportive of this kind of a bill."
Knoblach said he believes the bill would enable candidates to disregard political parties and run more issue-based campaigns.
If passed, Knoblach said Minnesota would mimic Nebraska elections, where the ballots don't list political-party associations. He said the bill would also help reduce campaign spending and the influence of special interests.
The idea is not entirely new. From 1913 until a law change in 1973, legislators were elected without party labels.
"While I would not say it is a cure-all, I really think it would make a difference," Knoblach told the House Government Operations and Elections Policy Committee on Thursday. "It made a difference before if you look at the historical record. It's making a difference in the other state that uses it now."
While some legislators agreed that partisanship is a concern, they said Knoblach's proposal won't solve the problem.
"I certainly appreciate the idea," said Rep. Laurie Halverson, DFL-Eagan. "How much this would change in practice would be limited."
Halverson said her grandfather was a state senator when legislators weren't affiliated with a party. But she said they often united with others who shared similar ideals, as they do today.
She also was skeptical that the move would reduce campaign spending, since much of the money in campaigns already comes from independent groups.
Rep. Lyndon Carlson, DFL-Crystal, who was first elected to the House in 1972, before party labels were reintroduced, said party designations are actually good for elections.
"It helps the voter," he said. "If the voter goes in and they know which candidate is a Democrat and which one is a Republican … it provides more openness in government."
Instead, he said, procedural changes in how the Legislature operates — such as measures to bring more openness and transparency to the process — might be the best way to reduce partisan frustrations.
Although Knoblach doesn't expect the bill to pass this year, he said it would help prompt discussion about the influence of political parties in state politics.
"With a big change like this, you need to start bringing it forward to start educating people," he said.
Aadland is a University of Minnesota student on assignment for the Star Tribune.