Over the decades, MPR has presented the many different perspectives of Minnesota politics and politicians. This collection is home to a multitude speeches, interviews and debates on the issues of the day. Important topics of civil rights, environment, crime, budget, legislation, and campaigns are addressed.
Click on link to these well-known figures to see audio segments directly related to them: Michele Bachmann Arne Carlson Keith Ellison Hubert Humphrey Amy Klobuchar Eugene McCarthy Walter Mondale Tim Pawlenty R.T. Rybak Jesse Ventura Paul Wellstone
November 6, 2002 - MPR’s Michael Khoo breaks down the numbers of 2002’ election results. Republican House Majority Leader Tim Pawlenty won his bid to be Minnesota's next governor. With 96% of precincts reporting, unofficial returns show Pawlenty leading DFL rival Roger Moe 45% to 36%. Independence Party candidate Tim Penny was trailing a distant third with 16% of the vote. The Green Party's Ken Pentel finished with just over 2%.
November 6, 2002 - Morning Edition’s Cathy Wurzer talks with political reporter Mark Zdechlik as voting results come in showing Minnesotans have apparently sent Republican Norm Coleman to the U.S. Senate, rejecting calls to honor Sen. Paul Wellstone's memory by putting Democrat Walter Mondale in his seat.
November 6, 2002 - Morning Edition’s Cathy Wurzer talks with Secretary of State Mary Kiffmeyer about dealing with absentee ballots and polling places being swamped by a higher than expected turnout.
November 6, 2002 - MPR's Mark Zdechlik reports on Republican Norm Coleman celebrating his election to the U.S. Senate. Coleman defeated former Vice President Walter Mondale, who entered the race less than a week prior, taking Senator Paul Wellstone's place on the ballot after Wellstone was killed in a plane crash.
November 7, 2002 - Minnesota Senator-elect Norm Coleman says he hopes to persuade interim Senator Dean Barkley to step down before the newly elected members of Congress are sworn in. On November 4th, 2002, Governor Ventura appointed Barkley to replace the late Senator Paul Wellstone who died in a plane crash two weeks ago. Coleman will follow Barkley after defeating former Vice President Walter Mondale in Tuesday's election.
November 7, 2002 - Minnesota Republicans - fresh from a near sweep in Tuesday's elections - are looking ahead to the future. But many Democrats can't seem to move beyond last week's Wellstone memorial service. The public ceremony was seen by many as a partisan political rally and has been called the spark that motivated Republican voters. Much focus has been put on Rick Kahn, Wellstone's campaign treasurer and close friend, whose speech ignited much of the controversy. Trent Gegax (GHEE-gacks) is a correspondent for Newsweek magazine. He conducted the only media interview Rick Kahn has given since the Wellstone memorial service. Gegax says Kahn is in an unfortunate, and perhaps undeserved, position.
November 8, 2002 -
November 11, 2002 - Veterans and the public gathered across the state today (MONDAY) to honor the men and women who served in the nation's armed forces. Two of Minnesota's incoming state political leaders say they'll make veteran's issues a priority in office. Senator-elect Norm Coleman and Governor-elect Tim Pawlenty spoke at a Veterans Day observance at the Minneapolis Veterans Home. They said the nation will continue to honor those who sacrificed themselves on behalf of the nation. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports...
November 11, 2002 -
November 12, 2002 - Vice President Dick Cheney swore-in Minnesota interim Senator Dean Barkley this afternoon on the floor of the Senate. Barkley's first Senate floor speech eulogized the man whose term he was appointed to fill - Senator Paul Wellstone. The senator died in a plane crash late last month. Republicans and Democrats spent much of the remainder of the day remembering Wellstone. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik is in Washington this week and joins me now. Mark, what did Barkley have to say about Wellstone? To lead to cut, Mark will say : ...said Wellstone carried on Minnesota's tradition of populist politicians: