June 10, 2006 - Amy Klobuchar's acceptance speech at the DFL state convention on run for MInnesota U.S. Senate seat.
June 30, 2006 - The Reverend Jesse Jackson will be in North Minneapolis today to hold a rally for Keith Ellison, the DFL endorsed candidate in Minnesota's 5th Congressional District. If elected, Ellison would be the first African American Congressman from Minnesota and the first Muslim Congressman in the nation's history. But Ellison's past, in particular his relationship with the group, Nation of Islam, is causing some Jewish activists and others to question whether he's the best candidate.
July 7, 2006 - MPR’s Tom Scheck reports on upcoming DFL battle for congressional seat. Ellison is the DFL-endorsed candidate for Congress in the Fifth Congressional District. Yesterday the former chair of the state DFL Party, Mike Erlandson, filed for the same seat. Erlandson is ignoring his party's endorsement and trying to beat Ellison in the September primary. Erlandson is getting help from his former boss, Congressman Martin Sabo, who is retiring at the end of the year.
July 11, 2006 - MPR’s Tom Scheck reports that Ford Bell has dropped out of the race for U.S. Senate. Bell intended to challenge Hennepin County Attorney Amy Klobuchar in a September primary. But he says difficulty raising money led to his withdrawal. Bell's announcement now clears the way for Klobuchar, the DFL endorsed candidate for Senate, to face Republican Congressman Mark Kennedy.
July 24, 2006 - MPR’s Tom Scheck reports on the four DFLers seeking to replace retiring fifth district Congressman Martin Sabo. Keith Ellison, State Representative; Ember Reichgott Junge, former state senator; Mike Erlandson, former DFL Party chair; and Paul Ostrow, Minneapolis City Council member, appeared at an event hosted by KFAI Radio and Insight News. With less than two months before the September primary, the four DFLers agreed on several major national issues but tried to differentiate themselves based on their experience. The debate included topics of the war in Iraq, health care and poverty issues.
July 25, 2006 - MPR's Tom Scheck reports on the television ads of two candidates running for Minnesota's open U.S. Senate seat. Republican Congressman Mark Kennedy hit the airwaves today with a minute-long ad touting his background. His DFL opponent, Hennepin County Attorney Amy Klobuchar, focuses her ads more on her experience as a prosecutor.
July 28, 2006 - MPR’s Greta Cunningham interviews renowned Minnesota mandolin player Peter Ostroushko about his new album “Postcards.”
August 1, 2006 - Hennepin County Sheriff Pat McGowan, a Republican, is endorsing former DFL Party Chair Mike Erlandson for Congress. Erlandson is one of seven DFLers running in Minnesota's Fifth District, which includes Minneapolis and several suburbs. McGowan says he's backing Erlandson because he's the best candidate on public safety issues. He says he's not endorsing Republican Alan Fine because he doesn't think anyone but a Democrat can win in the heavily DFL district. McGowan also criticized Keith Ellison, the DFL endorsed candidate, for not doing enough on public safety during his time in the state Legislature.
August 1, 2006 - Comments from Keith Ellison, the DFL endorsed candidate, regarding Hennepin County Sheriff Pat McGowan’s endorsement of Ellison’s congressional candidate opponent, Mike Erlandson.
August 4, 2006 - The Republican-endorsed candidate for Minnesota's U.S. Senate race stepped up his criticism of his chief opponent. Republican Congressman Mark Kennedy said DFLer Amy Klobuchar has not taken a clear stance regarding the war in Iraq. Kennedy also questioned the way Klobuchar is portraying herself in the campaign and called her another liberal lawyer. Kennedy, who is trailing in the polls, said Minnesota's Senate race could determine which party controls the Senate next year. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck presents report, including political commentary.