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Hunter Woodall

Washington Reporter | Washington Politics

Hunter Woodall was a Washington-based reporter for the Star Tribune.

Recent content from Hunter Woodall
U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips, D-Minn., is running a long-shot campaign for president.

Dean Phillips embraces Hubert Humphrey's memory in presidential run

Humphrey's son and grandson weigh in on Phillips bringing up the late vice president on the campaign trail.
Rep. Angie Craig was the sole Minnesota Democrat to vote recently in favor of censuring a Democratic House colleague and to approve a GOP-led Israel a

Rep. Angie Craig breaks with most House Democrats in voting to censure Tlaib

Craig also broke with most in her party last week to support a GOP bill that tied Israel aid to IRS funding cuts.

Dean Phillips' improbable presidential campaign faces reality of New Hampshire political traditions

The Minnesota congressman has just months to build goodwill in the state, where he does not have strong relationships and is likely to find many Democrats wary of his Biden challenge.

Dean Phillips' improbable presidential campaign faces reality of New Hampshire political traditions

After signing a declaration of candidacy to run for president, Dean Phillips walked out of the New Hampshire Statehouse to address the crowd on Friday

Phillips launches longshot Democratic bid for presidency

There's worry among Democrats that Phillips' run will hurt Biden's re-election chances.
Volunteer Andrew Morrow set up Dean Phillips’ “government repair truck” outside the New Hampshire State House in Concord, where Phillips intends

Phillips to announce campaign against Biden on Friday

Rep. Dean Phillips is set to challenge President Joe Biden in the Democratic presidential primary election.
Rep. Tom Emmer, R-Minn., is acknowledged as he voted for Rep. Mike Johnson, R-La., for House speaker on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Oct. 25

Behind the rise and fall of Tom Emmer's campaign to become House speaker

Emmer's bid for the speakership fell apart after former President Donald Trump and his allies publicly undermined him.

Rep. Tom Emmer drops out of House speaker race amid chaos

The Minnesota Republican became the third candidate to win the GOP nomination only to end their bid in failure.
Rep. Tom Emmer, R-Minn., is trying to overcome stark divides in the GOP to become the next House speaker.

Where Emmer's GOP colleagues stand on his bid for speaker

The U.S. House majority whip is among the GOP candidates trying to become the next speaker.
Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., the temporary leader of the House of Representatives, left, talked with Rep. Tom Emmer, R-Minn., center, and Rep. David

Emmer starts making calls about running for speaker, source confirms

Republicans are looking to hold another election for speaker after GOP nominee Jim Jordan failed to win the speakership in three rounds of floor votes.
Congressman Pete Stauber is the only Minnesota Republican in the U.S. House who has voted against Ohio GOP Rep. Jim Jordan in the speaker’s race.

Minnesota Rep. Pete Stauber maintains opposition to Jim Jordan as House speaker

Stauber was among 25 Republicans who voted against Ohio Republican Rep. Jim Jordan's speaker bid on Friday.
U.S. Rep. Pete Stauber broke from the GOP and voted against Jim Jordan for speaker of the House.

Rep. Pete Stauber breaks from GOP, votes against Republican speaker nominee Jim Jordan

Minnesota's three other congressional Republicans voted for Jordan on Wednesday.
In a text message to the Star Tribune, Rep. Dean Phillips acknowledged that he did not file for Nevada’s primary but declined to elaborate further.

Rep. Dean Phillips misses filing deadline for Nevada's presidential primary, won't be on ballot

A deadline to file for New Hampshire's closely watched presidential primary election is just over a week away.
House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., supports Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan for speaker.

Where Minnesota's U.S. House members stand on Jim Jordan's bid for speaker

Republicans are primed to try electing a new House speaker this week after Kevin McCarthy was removed from the role earlier this month in an unprecedented decision.
U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips, D-Minn., hasn’t ruled out running for president as a Democrat.

As Phillips considers a presidential run, DFL eyes turn to his House seat

Democrat Ron Harris announced Friday that he's running for the suburban Third District seat.
House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., walked Tuesday to the office of the speaker of the House on Capitol Hill in Washington.

Rep. Tom Emmer plans House majority leader run, source says

The Minnesota Republican currently serves as House majority whip. Emmer supports current Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana in the Republican race for speaker, the source said.
Businessman Steve Boyd is seeking to defeat Republican U.S. Rep. Michelle Fischbach in the GOP primary.

GOP Rep. Michelle Fischbach facing primary challenge

Steve Boyd is running in the Republican primary for Minnesota's Seventh Congressional District.
Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., confers with Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., right, over the weekend after the House approved a 45-da

How Minnesota's House delegation voted on Speaker McCarthy's removal

Republican Kevin McCarthy was voted out as House speaker Tuesday, the first time in U.S. history that has happened.
U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips, D-Minn. has not endorsed Democratic President Joe Biden’s 2024 re-election run.

Phillips stepping down from Democratic leadership after pushing back on Biden's 2024 run

The congressman has not made a decision about whether he will run in the Democratic 2024 presidential primary.
Security and other airport employees will have to continue to go to work without pay.

What a federal government shutdown means for Minnesota

A shutdown could sideline some of the nearly 17,000 Minnesotans employed by the federal government.
Democratic U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar said she wants to see New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez resign.

Sen. Klobuchar among Democrats calling on colleague Menendez to resign amid bribe allegations

New Jersey Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez has been charged in a federal corruption case.

Rep. Omar leading attempt to create federal office for missing and murdered Black women and girls

Omar's bill comes after Minnesota created the nation's first Office for Missing and Murdered African American Women and Girls.

Government shutdown threat looming for Minnesota lawmakers

Congress has little time left to avoid a federal government shutdown before the calendar flips at the end of the month.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar showed Teddy Ebert, 5, around her State Fair booth.

Moving past 2020 presidential run, Klobuchar enjoying smooth Senate race so far

Less than 14 months out from Election Day, no major Republican challenger has filed against the state's senior senator.
Christian Malone and his wife, Michelle, of Coon Rapids played with their kids Beverly, 4, and Juniper, 2 at Central Park in Maple Grove.

As Rep. Dean Phillips makes case for change, some voters have Trump and Biden fatigue

Around Democratic U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips' suburban congressional district, some aren't thrilled about the prospect of a presidential rematch.
U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips, D-Minn., is calling for competition in the Democratic presidential primary, but indicates he’s unlikely to run himself.

'Perhaps in the future': Rep. Phillips signals he's unlikely to run for president in 2024

The Minnesota Democrat is urging President Joe Biden to "pass the torch."
Charging documents say police handcuffed Victoria White inside the U.S. Capitol and arrested her on Jan. 6.

Minn. woman pleads guilty to felony count in Jan. 6 case

Victoria White of Rochester faced four charges over her actions during the 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol.
Attorney Sarah Gad, photographed at the Hennepin County Government Center in Minneapolis on Aug. 14, is running against Rep. Ilhan Omar in the Democra

Minneapolis attorney is first to launch 2024 DFL primary run against Rep. Omar

Sarah Gad's challenge comes as Omar seeks a fourth term in the U.S. House.
When asked if President Joe Biden is the best option for Democrats in 2024,  U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips, D-Minn., said, “We will never know if we do n

Top Minnesota Democrats cool to Phillips' possible presidential run

U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips has not ruled out a possible primary challenge to President Joe Biden.
U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips, D-Minn., appeared on the CBS program “Face the Nation” on Sunday.

Rep. Dean Phillips still undecided on presidential run

The Minnesota congressman said on "Face the Nation" that "Democrats are telling me that they want, not a coronation, but they want a competition."
U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips, D-Minn. hasn’t endorsed President Joe Biden’s re-election run.

Past shows potential 2024 Phillips presidential run would likely end in defeat

Democratic U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips hasn't officially launched a presidential primary bid, but he confirmed he's being urged to consider one.
U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips, D-Minn., has said President Joe Biden was the right person in 2020 but that it’s time for a new generation of Democratic le

Democratic Rep. Dean Phillips confirms he's being urged to run for president in 2024

A White House bid from the third-term congressman from Minnesota would be a long shot.
Minnesota Republican Party Chair David Hann said fundraising has started to pick up after the recent legislative session in which Democrats pushed thr

'They have to raise money': Minnesota GOP seeks rebound from fundraising slump

The party is working to recover from losing every statewide race and control of the state Senate last year.
Minnesota Democratic Rep. Dean Phillips, second from right in first row, is seen here before Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s address to Congress.

Israel House vote finds GOP support, divides Minnesota Dems

The resolution passed the U.S. House with 412 yes votes and only nine no votes.
U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum, D-Minn., is a longtime critic of Israel’s treatment of Palestinians.

Rep. McCollum skips Israeli president's Congress speech

Israeli President Isaac Herzog spoke to Congress Wednesday morning.
U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips said calling Israel a racist state is “beyond the pale.”

Rep. Phillips pushes back after progressive leader calls Israel a 'racist state'

Phillips also criticized Rep. Omar after she tweeted "no way in hell" she'd attend Israeli president's upcoming speech to Congress.
Democratic Rep. Angie Craig has more than $1.1 million in cash in the Second Congressional District race.

Rep. Angie Craig has major fundraising lead in swing district race

The Democratic incumbent's total haul was $840,000 in a three month span.
Rep. Ilhan Omar, in announcing her refusal to attend a speech by Israel’s president, noted that she and Rep. Rashida Tlaib were denied entry into Is

Omar tweets 'no way in hell' she'll attend Israel president's Congress speech

The president of Israel is set to address a joint session on July 19.
According to the complaint, Brian Christopher Mock was filmed on Jan. 6, 2021, shouting at officers outside the U.S. Capitol.

Judge finds man from Minnesota guilty for role in Jan. 6 Capitol riot

Brian Mock faced 11 charges for his actions during the attack on the U.S. Capitol, including assaulting law enforcement.
According to the criminal complaint, Brian Christopher Mock was seen on Jan. 6, 2021, at the front of the crowd outside the U.S. Capitol, pointing and

Jan. 6 defendant arrested in Minnesota defends himself in court

Brian Christopher Mock faces 11 charges for his alleged part in the attack on the U.S. Capitol.
Minneapolis Mayor Hubert Humphrey took time out from Democratic Party platform discussions to talk to reporters July 14, 1948. Humphrey, a leading lib

New book focuses on civil rights legacy of a young Hubert Humphrey

The heart of "Into the Bright Sunshine" is Hubert Humphrey's speech at the 1948 Democratic National Convention.
Anthony Tabura, at his new job at SRF Consulting in St. Paul on Friday. Tabura, a recent graduate of the U, is working to pay off $27,000 of student l

Minnesotans re-evaluate finances after student loan relief rejected

The Supreme Court ruling on the Biden administration plan came a couple of months before borrowers are set to resume payments that had been paused during the pandemic.
FILE - Members of a pro-Trump mob that invaded the Capitol in Washington, Jan. 6, 2021. A member of the far-right nationalist Proud Boys was in commun

Minnesota defendant in Jan. 6 case wants to serve as his own attorney

Brian Mock's trial will resume July 11 on charges he assaulted or impeded officers at the Capitol.
Charging documents against Brian Christopher Mock include screenshots of body camera footage that show him at the front of the crowd of rioters and br

Trial begins for man arrested in Minneapolis and charged with assaulting police on Jan. 6

Brian Christopher Mock is facing 11 charges over his alleged actions on the day of the U.S. Capitol attack.
Charging documents against Brian Christopher Mock include screenshots of body camera footage that show him at the front of the crowd of rioters and br

Trial looms for man arrested in Minneapolis who allegedly shoved police on Jan. 6

Brian Christopher Mock was arrested two years ago for his part in the storming of the U.S. Capitol.
House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., helped pass a bipartisan debt ceiling bill that was opposed by some in his own party.

'Family working out its differences': After debt deal success, Rep. Tom Emmer faces obstacles

Resistance from a small group of Republicans froze action on the House floor in the latest difficult dynamic for GOP leadership.
Rep. Pete Stauber, R-Minn., had tried for years to pass a task force bill focused on the NOTAM system.

Rep. Pete Stauber's FAA task force bill signed by Biden

The Minnesota Republican's bill with Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar passed after a January outage caused flights to be grounded.
GOP Rep. Brad Finstad voted Wednesday night against a bipartisan bill to suspend the debt ceiling.

Bipartisan debt ceiling bill splits Minnesota Republicans

GOP Reps. Tom Emmer and Pete Stauber supported the bill while Michelle Fischbach and Brad Finstad voted no.
Rep. Angie Craig was attacked in an elevator in her D.C. apartment building in February.

Man pleads guilty in attack on Rep. Angie Craig in D.C. apartment building

Kendrid Khalil Hamlin pleaded guilty to assaulting a member of Congress and two other counts on Thursday.
President Joe Biden speaking at the White House.

Biden calls for police reform on third anniversary of George Floyd's murder

Congress has failed for years to send a police reform bill to the Democrat's desk.
House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., called out President Joe Biden on Tuesday as the debt ceiling standoff continued.

Minnesota lawmakers point fingers as debt ceiling deadline closes in

Some Minnesota Democrats want the president to be ready to invoke the 14th Amendment to avoid a default.
Democratic U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar spoke to reporters after meetings between Canadian and U.S. leaders.

Klobuchar talks about U.S.-Canada relationship after meetings

U.S. senators from both parties joined events involving the Canada-U.S. Interparliamentary Group.
Jennifer Carnahan said the charity is “still in the formation phase, so there is not much to share (at this point) other than this charity was creat

Hagedorn campaign money transferred to charity led by his widow, Jennifer Carnahan

Filings show the former Minnesota GOP chair is leading a cancer charity named after her late husband, former U.S. Rep. Jim Hagedorn.
A security guard removed a protestor shouting “you’re a warmonger” as Rep. Ilhan Omar spoke to constituents at Edison High School in Minneapolis

'What happens if I am killed?' Rep. Omar speaks out about threats

A man accused of starting fires at two Minneapolis mosques also allegedly vandalized Omar's Minnesota congressional office and sent harassing emails.
Republican U.S. Reps. Michelle Fischbach and Brad Finstad hugging.

Rep. Fischbach asks for earmarks after avoiding them in first term

Every member in Minnesota's congressional delegation is requesting federal money for projects in their districts.
U.S. House majority whip Tom Emmer raised more than $2 million across his different political committees through the end of March.

U.S. Rep. Tom Emmer reports raising more than $2M in last three months

On the Democratic side, U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar's campaign reported raising nearly $795,000.
President Joe Biden greets the crowd after he spoke at the Cummins Power Generation Facility as part of his Administration’s “Investing in America

Potential Biden 2024 run tests president's past Minnesota supporters

Biden has yet to formally announce he's running for re-election, but questions about the president's age and performance loom as campaign issues.
Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas is facing criticism from Democrats over his conduct.

Justice Thomas controversy renews calls from Minnesota Democrats for change

ProPublica reported that Thomas did not disclose vacations from a wealthy Republican donor.
President Joe Biden greeted the crowd after he spoke at the Cummins Power Generation Facility in Fridley last Monday.

In Minnesota economic speech, Biden mostly avoided saying 'inflation'

The president spoke Monday at a manufacturing plant in Fridley.
Bryan Lorenzen said he lined up semis outside the plant to help secure it for the president’s visit. Lorenzen works for Koch, which is contracted by

President Joe Biden highlights economic agenda in Minnesota visit

His visit is part of a national tour focused on job creation, manufacturing and clean energy.
A hearing is set for next week in the case of the man alleged to have attacked Democratic U.S. Rep. Angie Craig.

Rep. Craig's alleged attacker indicted for assaulting member of Congress, police

Kendrid Khalil Hamlin has been charged with three counts in the case.
A Manhattan grand jury voted to indict former President Donald Trump on Thursday.

Minnesota GOP criticizes Trump indictment, while Democrats stress no one is above the law

Some prominent state Republicans blasted the indictment as "politically motivated."
U.S. Rep. Pete Stauber, R-Minn., earlier introduced mining focused legislation that was part of a larger House bill that passed Thursday.

Rep. Pete Stauber mining effort passes U.S. House

The Minnesota Republican's push, which he described as modernizing the permitting process, cleared the chamber as part of a broader GOP-led energy package.
President Joe Biden sits in the Oval Office of the White House, on March 4 in Washington.

President Joe Biden to visit Minnesota on Monday

Few details have been released about next week's planned visit, but it's expected to tie in with the White House's "Investing in America" tour.
Rep. Angie Craig was attacked last month in an elevator in her D.C. apartment building.

Minnesota Rep. Angie Craig's alleged attacker appears by video in D.C. federal court

Kendrid Khalil Hamlin was charged after Craig's attack last month.
Minneapolis was the first Minnesota city to adopt ranked-choice voting starting in the 2009 election. Now proponents want to use the system in state a

Minnesota lawmakers pushing ranked-choice voting for all state, federal races

Proposals moving in House and Senate would create a task force to recommend how to use the system statewide.
The FDA draft guidance would allow plant-based alternatives to use the word milk.

Sen. Tina Smith shows early support for counter to FDA milk proposal

Draft FDA guidance would mean plant-based beverages can stick with milk names.

Minnesota's western flank loses voice on key ag panel as farm bill heats up

Western Minnesota possesses the state's largest ag lands and for decades has been represented on the House ag committee — until this year.

Republican Party of Minnesota fined over $100,000 by FEC

The penalties stem from campaign finance violations during the 2018 and 2020 election cycles.
Two South Dakota medical cannabis companies are suing a fund managed by former Democratic political operative Will Hailer.

Lawsuit: Former DNC and Minnesota political operative defrauded S.D. cannabis companies

Will Hailer, who has worked with Minnesota Democrats and for the Democratic National Committee, allegedly did not return nearly $1.7 million to investors.
U.S. Rep. Angie Craig’s campaign shared a series of aggressive and expletive-filled messages her office has received.

Minnesota Rep. Angie Craig facing threatening, violent messages after attack in elevator

The Democrat was assaulted earlier this month in her Washington, D.C., apartment building.
Rep. Angie Craig fought off her attacker in an incident not believed to be politically motivated.

Rep. Angie Craig said she had to fight her way out of elevator with attacker

Her alleged assailant, Kendrid Hamlin, has an extensive criminal record.
RowVaughn Wells, center, mother of Tyre Nichols, who died after being beaten by Memphis police officers, and her husband Rodney Wells, second left, ar

Biden calls for police reform after past congressional failures

Congress has been unable to send major police reform legislation to the president's desk following the 2020 death of George Floyd.
Andre Locke, the father of Amir Locke, speaks alongside attorney Ben Crump and Karen Wells, Amir’s mother, to announce they are suing the city of Mi

Rep. Ilhan Omar's State of the Union guest: Amir Locke's father

Omar plans to reintroduce legislation to limit no-knock warrants shortly after the first anniversary of Amir Locke's killing during a no-knock raid.
Civil rights attorney Ben Crump has represented the family of George Floyd and is now working with Tyre Nichols’ family.

Congress faces familiar questions on police reform

Attempts on Capitol Hill to pass major police reform legislation into law have failed in recent years.