Minnesota Democrats gather for their state convention this weekend after months of hearing predictions that November's midterm elections will bring widespread losses for their party both at home and across the country.
But party activists and elected officials say they're not ready to concede anything — and that after the leak of a draft opinion earlier this month showing the U.S. Supreme Court is poised to overturn Roe v. Wade, they have more reason than ever to fight.
"Something changed a couple of weeks ago with the leaked draft of the Supreme Court decision, and it has quickly closed what some have described as an 'enthusiasm gap,' " said state Sen. Erin Murphy, DFL-St. Paul, the party's Senate campaign chair. "I think it is important that we are together to talk about the fact that the election is in front of us, and the outcome of that election is ours to determine with the people of Minnesota."
Over the course of a weekend during which delegates are expected to endorse a slate of incumbents — Gov. Tim Walz, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, Attorney General Keith Ellison, Secretary of State Steve Simon and State Auditor Julie Blaha — their biggest task will be to build unity, energy and optimism to carry through to November.
"Democrats are going to have to come out of this convention focused, together, unified and disciplined," said former state Sen. Jeff Hayden. "Because the stakes are so incredibly high."
Minnesotans haven't elected a Republican to statewide office since former Governor Tim Pawlenty narrowly won a second term in 2006. But the GOP has been galvanized by Democratic stumbles in key gubernatorial races last year, President Joe Biden's low approval ratings and the fact that the party controlling the White House tends to struggle in the midterms. At last weekend's convention, Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Emmer told delegates that this election is the party's "best opportunity in a decade."
In addition to statewide offices, all 201 legislative seats are up for grabs in November. Dozens of legislators — including some long-time power brokers — have announced they will not seek re-election, making way for a shakeup in the Legislature.
Minnesota Republicans have been deliberate and unified in their messaging, attributing nationwide economic and public safety challenges to the state's DFL leadership and regularly drawing a direct connection between Biden and Walz. Throughout the legislative session, they have kept tightly focused on pledges to slash taxes and get tough on crime.