Political

Biden Administration Presses Senators To Avert Rail Strike

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. economy would face a severe economic shock if senators don’t pass legislation this week to avert a freight rail worker strike. That’s the message the Biden administration is delivering personally to Democratic senators in a closed-door session Thursday. The House acted soon after a request from President Joe Biden and on Wednesday passed legislation that would bind…

Biden Hosting Macron Amid Some Friction Over US Climate Law

WASHINGTON (AP) — Presidents Joe Biden and Emmanuel Macron are celebrating the long-standing U.S.-French relationship, but these are friends with differences. The French leader is using his visit to Washington to sharply criticize aspects of his ally’s signature climate law as a bad deal for Europe. Biden was set to honor Macron with the first state dinner of his presidency on Thursday evening. First, the presidents…

Landmark Same-Sex Marriage Bill Wins Senate Passage

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate passed bipartisan legislation Tuesday to protect same-sex marriages, an extraordinary sign of shifting national politics on the issue and a measure of relief for the hundreds of thousands of same-sex couples who have married since the Supreme Court’s 2015 decision that legalized gay marriage nationwide. The bill, which would ensure that same-sex and interracial marriages…

Vote Recounts For MN Districts 3A And 3B As Small Number Of Votes Separate Candidates

MINNESOTA — The Minnesota Secretary of State’s office has confirmed that two districts will have recounts next month. Districts 3A and 3B will see a recount of the votes for the state house seats. It includes St. Louis, Itasca, Koochiching, Cook, and Lake counties. In district 3A, Republican Roger Skraba leads incumbent Rob Ecklund with the DFL by 15 votes….

Senate To Vote On Landmark Bill To Protect Same-Sex Marriage

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate will vote Tuesday on bipartisan legislation to protect same-sex and interracial marriages, moving Congress closer to passing the landmark bill and ensuring that such unions are enshrined in federal law. The expected passage of the legislation with support from both parties is an extraordinary sign of the shifting politics on the issue and a measure…

High Court To Hear Arguments Over Biden’s Deportation Policy

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court is taking up a dispute over a blocked Biden administration policy that would prioritize deportation of people in the country illegally who pose the greatest public safety risk. Republican-led states sued and won a nationwide court order that is meant to limit immigration officers’ discretion in deciding whom to deport. The justices are hearing arguments in the case…

Biden Boosts US Effort To Stem Sexual Violence In War Zones

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is strengthening U.S. policy aimed at stemming sexual violence in war conflict zones, elevating the problem — increasingly documented in Ukraine and elsewhere — to the level of a possible serious human rights abuse that triggers sanctions and other actions against foreign perpetrators. Biden, a Democrat, on Monday will sign a presidential memorandum that seeks to combat the…

Biden Brings Thanksgiving Pies To Nantucket First Responders

NANTUCKET, Mass. (AP) — President Joe Biden on Thursday delivered at least half a dozen pies to Massachusetts firefighters during a Thanksgiving Day show of appreciation and his toddler grandson walked away with a red fire hat topping his blond curls. “Oh wow,” Biden was heard to say upon seeing Beau Biden, who is nearly 3, emerge from the headquarters building wearing…

Ramsay Joins ‘Legal Complaint’ Against Former Employer City Of Wichita

DULUTH, Minn. – Newly elected St. Louis County Sheriff Gordon Ramsay is part of a legal complaint against his former employer, the city of Wichita, claiming internal corruption and cover-ups within city hall and retaliation against him when he was police chief there. According to The Wichita Eagle, Ramsay has joined three deputy chiefs in the complaint. For Ramsay, he’s…

After Midterms, States Weighing Abortion Protections, Bans

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Democrats hope to use their newfound political control in some states to guarantee that women have access to abortion, while some GOP strongholds may temper their efforts to deepen restrictions after poorer-than-expected results in the midterms. Even after their gains this month, Democrats lack the power to codify abortion rights into federal law. That puts the abortion debate squarely on the…

Vacant Superior Council Seat To Be Filled In April Special Election

SUPERIOR, Wis. – Superior city councilors voted Tuesday to wait until a special election in April to fill now-former councilor Warren Bender’s seat who resigned suddenly a week ago. Bender cited a medical issue for leaving his 3rd District council seat after 15 years. He also apologized to anyone he inadvertently hurt. The letter of resignation came after a police…

Biden To Extend Student Loan Pause As Court Battle Drags On

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden announced Tuesday that his administration will extend a pause on federal student loan payments while the White House fights a legal battle to save his plan to cancel portions of the debt. “It isn’t fair to ask tens of millions of borrowers eligible for relief to resume their student debt payments while the courts consider…

Supreme Court OKs Handover Of Trump Tax Returns To Congress

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Tuesday cleared the way for the imminent handover of former President Donald Trump’s tax returns to a congressional committee after a three-year legal fight. The court, without comment, rejected Trump’s plea for an order that would have prevented the Treasury Department from giving six years of tax returns for Trump and some of his businesses…

Biden Opens Holidays, Pardons Turkeys Chocolate And Chip

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden continued a 75-year tradition Monday and pardoned a pair of Thanksgiving turkeys named after his favorite flavor of ice cream while cracking jokes about his political party’s better-than-expected performance in this month’s midterm elections. “The votes are in, they’ve been counted and verified,” Biden said as he welcomed Chocolate and Chip before hundreds of people gathered on…

Garland Names Special Counsel To Lead Trump-Related Probes

WASHINGTON (AP) — Attorney General Merrick Garland named a special counsel on Friday to oversee the Justice Department’s investigation into the presence of classified documents at former President Donald Trump’s Florida estate as well as key aspects of a separate probe involving the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection and efforts to undo the 2020 election. The appointment of veteran prosecutor Jack Smith, announced just three…

Pelosi Won’t Seek Leadership Role, Plans To Stay In Congress

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Thursday that she will not seek a leadership position in the new Congress, a pivotal realignment making way for a new generation of leaders after Democrats lost control of the House to Republicans in the midterm elections. Pelosi announced in a spirited speech on the House floor that she will step aside after leading Democrats…

Republicans Win Back Control Of House With Narrow Majority

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans won control of the U.S. House on Wednesday, returning the party to power in Washington and giving conservatives leverage to blunt President Joe Biden’s agenda and spur a flurry of investigations. But a threadbare majority will pose immediate challenges for GOP leaders and complicate the party’s ability to govern. More than a week after Election Day, Republicans secured…

Duluth Schools Superintendent Gets New Three-Year Contract

DULUTH, Minn. — The Duluth School Board is sticking with its top leader for another three years. Supt. John Magas joined the district in 2020, just days after COVID-19 was declared a pandemic and schools across the state would face major challenges to continue education among the virus. Magas will make $205,000 for the 2023-2024 contract year followed by $209,500…

Trump Criminal Probes Will Proceed — Even As He’s Candidate

WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump’s early announcement of his third White House bid won’t shield the former president from the criminal investigations already confronting him as an ordinary citizen, leaving him legally and politically exposed as he seeks the 2024 Republican nomination. The Justice Department is pushing ahead with its probes. And with the midterm elections now mostly complete and the 2024 presidential campaign…

Trump Seeks White House Again Amid GOP Losses, Legal Probes

PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) – Former President Donald Trump is running for president again. Trump made his plans official Tuesday night after teasing the potential of a comeback since before he even left the White House in 2021. He had hoped to piggyback off expected Republican gains in last week’s midterm elections and stave off potential challengers. Instead, Trump is…

Longtime Superior City Councilor Resigns Following Investigation

SUPERIOR, Wis. – Longtime Superior City Councilor Warren Bender has resigned from his 3rd District council seat, citing medical issues. Bender sent his resignation letter to Mayor Jim Paine’s office late Monday. The resignation became effective at 8 a.m. Tuesday, and it comes after a police investigation involving Bender’s communication with a woman through Facebook messenger. In his resignation letter,…

Biden Asks For More Than $37 Billion In Ukraine Aid

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is asking Congress to provide more than $37 billion in emergency aid to Ukraine, a massive infusion of cash that could help support the nation as Russian forces suffer battlefield losses in their nine-month-old invasion. The administration’s funding request, which comes as lawmakers begin their post-election session, also seeks $9.25 billion in COVID-19 funding to…

GOP On Cusp Of Retaking House Control With Slim Majority

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans were on the cusp of retaking control of the House late Monday, just one victory shy of the 218 seats the party needs to secure a majority, narrowing the path for Democrats to keep the chamber and raising the prospect of a divided government in Washington. Democrats have already won control of the Senate, securing 50 seats…

Trump Prepares To Launch 3rd Campaign For The White House

PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Former President Donald Trump is preparing to launch his third campaign for the White House on Tuesday, looking to move on from disappointing midterm defeats and defy history amid signs that his grip on the Republican Party is waning. Trump had hoped to use the GOP’s expected gains in last week’s elections as a springboard to vault himself to his party’s nomination by locking in…

Biden: Still Not Enough Votes To Codify Abortion Rights

NUSA DUA, Indonesia (AP) — President Joe Biden said Monday that Democrats still lack the power to codify abortion rights into law despite his party’s stronger-than-expected performance in the midterm elections. “I don’t think there’s enough votes,” he said at a press conference during the Group of 20 summit in Indonesia. Biden’s blunt comments reflected how Democrats’ euphoria over their strength…

Biden Says Climate Efforts ‘More Urgent Than Ever’ At Summit

SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt” (AP) — President Joe Biden, speaking Friday at an annual international summit on climate change, urged world leaders to “double down” on their resolve to fight global warming, saying Russia’s invasion of Ukraine reinforces the need to phase out fossil fuels. “We can no longer plead ignorance to the consequences of our actions, or continue to repeat our…

Biden To Climate Talks, 1st Leg Of Around-The-World Trip

SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt (AP) — President Joe Biden arrived Friday in Egypt for a global climate meeting with a giant domestic investment in tow — and he’s likely to face questions about how far the U.S. will go to pull other large greenhouse gas emitters along. His attendance at the U.N. climate conference, known as COP27, in the resort town of Sharm…

GOP Nudges Closer To House Win; Senate Could Hinge On Runoff

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans inched closer to a narrow House majority Wednesday, while control of the Senate hinged on a few tight races in a midterm election that defied expectations of sweeping conservative victories driven by frustration over inflation and President Joe Biden’s leadership. Either party could secure a Senate majority with wins in both Nevada and Arizona — where the races…

MN Attorney General Keith Ellison Wins Re-election

(FOX 9) – Attorney General Keith Ellison on Wednesday morning claimed re-election victory, with results showing a lead of more than 20,000 votes over Republican challenger Jim Schultz. In a statement, Ellison said he’s “grateful” for the win, adding: “But this election was tough. Millions of dollars were spent to sow division, hate, and fear. And we overcame it: we were positive,…

Wisconsin Gov. Evers Defeats Foe He Called Democracy Threat

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Gov. Tony Evers defeated Republican Tim Michels to keep battleground Wisconsin under a Democratic governor heading into the 2024 presidential election, declaring in his victory speech Wednesday that his win showed that voters wanted to protect democracy. Evers had argued that democracy was on the ballot with Michels, who was endorsed by Donald Trump and who cast doubt…

Minnesota Election Results: Walz Re-elected Governor

(FOX 9) – Gov. Tim Walz has defeated Scott Jensen in the race for Minnesota governor, earning a second term leading the state. Jensen on Tuesday night told FOX 9’s Paul Blume he will not concede – he wants all votes counted. But then after midnight Wednesday, Jensen’s campaign took the stage and conceded. “Tim Walz is the governor for four more years,”…

DFL Wins Full Control Of Minnesota Legislature For First Time In Decade

(AP Photo/Steve Karnowski)(FOX 9) – For the first time in a decade, and only the second time in a century, the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor (DFL) party will have full control of the Minnesota Legislature following Tuesday’s election. Despite predictions of a potential “red wave” nationally and throughout the state, election results in Minnesota show the balance of power will now shift in the Minnesota…

Democrat Kaul Wins 2nd Term As Wisconsin Attorney General

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Democrat Josh Kaul defeated Republican Eric Toney in Tuesday’s election to win a second term as Wisconsin’s attorney general in a race defined by sharp differences over abortion and attacks over crime and election administration. Before The Associated Press called the race, Kaul declared victory with a lead of just over 1 percentage point, just outside…

Wisconsin’s Johnson Beats Barnes; Key Senate Seat Stays GOP

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Republican U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson defeated Democrat Mandela Barnes in the midterm elections, keeping a seat in GOP hands while turning back Barnes’ attempt to make history as Wisconsin’s first Black senator. The win for Johnson, one of former President Donald Trump’s biggest backers, came after Trump narrowly lost the state to President Joe Biden two years ago….

Abortion Supporters Win In Conservative, Liberal States

WASHINGTON (AP) — Abortion rights supporters won in the four states where access was on the ballot Tuesday, as voters enshrined it into the state constitution in battleground Michigan as well as blue California and Vermont and dealt a defeat to an anti-abortion measure in deep-red Kentucky. In all, it was a dramatic illustration of how the U.S. Supreme Court’s…

Minnesota Statewide General Election Results

U.S. House 8th District, St. Louis County Sheriff, and St. Louis County Commissioner District 6.

Here are the results of the Minnesota General Election- key candidates. For Minnesota Governor: DFL: Tim Walz and Peggy Flanagan- 1,311,607 (52%)     Republican: Scott Jensen and Matt Birk- 1,119,181 (45%)   Legal Marijuana Now: James McCaskel and David Sandbeck- 29,425 (1%) Independence Alliance: Hugh McTavish and Mike Winter- 18,171 (.7%) Socialist Workers: Gabrielle M. Prosser and Kevin A….

Dems Beating Back GOP Surge, But Control Of Congress Unclear

WASHINGTON (AP) — Razor-thin margins around the country left control of Congress still undetermined Wednesday, but Democrats showed surprising strength in the midterm election, topping Republicans in a series of competitive races and defying expectations that high inflation and President Joe Biden’s low approval ratings would drag his party to key defeats. In the most heartening news for Democrats, John Fetterman flipped Pennsylvania’s Republican-controlled Senate…

Minnesota State Senate And House Election Results

Duluth City Question

Here are the election results for the Minnesota State Senates and House, as well as Duluth City Question. State Senate District 3: DFL: Grant Hauschild- 21,717 (50%) GOP: Andrea Zupancich- 20,975 (49%)     State Senate District 7: DFL: Ben DeNucci- 17,926 (46%) GOP: Robert Farnsworth- 20,659 (53%)     State Senate District 8: DFL: Jen McEwen- 26,518 (72%) GOP: Alex Moe-…

2022 Wisconsin Election Results

WISCONSIN — Here are the results of key races in Wisconsin. Wisconsin Governor: Democratic Tony Evers/Sara Rodriguez- 1,348,563 (51%) Republican Tim Michels/Roger Roth- 1,263,768 (48%) Independent Joan Beglinger/no Lt. Gov- 23,354 (1%)    Secretary of State: Incumbent Democrat Doug La Follette- 1,256,268 (48%) Republican Amy Lynn Loudenbeck- 1,254,908 (48%) Libertarian Party Neil Harmon- 54,069 (2%) Green Party Sharyl McFarland- 54,069…

2022 Minnesota Statewide Election Preview

Along with key St. Louis County races.

MINNESOTA — With Election Day being on Tuesday, here is a look at Minnesota’s key races. Democratic Gov. Tim Walz is going for his second term in Minnesota’s top race this year. Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan is running alongside Walz once again. They are up against Republican challenger Scott Jensen, a family practice physician and former state senator and Matt…

Where To Find Your Polling Location And Sample Ballot

MINNESOTA/WISCONSIN — Midterm election day is on Tuesday, and there are plenty of key races happening in Minnesota and Wisconsin with close margins. If you haven’t voted yet, your last chance is between 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday. Some of the big contests on the ballot this year include the Minnesota and Wisconsin governor and attorney general races,…

Tuesday’s Election: Could Minnesota See Its First Split Statewide Results Since 2006?

(FOX 9) – A one-party sweep of Minnesota’s statewide races has been the norm since the mid-2000s, but a split result in Tuesday’s election looks not only possible, but likely. DFL Gov. Tim Walz and Secretary of State Steve Simon held leads on their respective Republican challengers, Scott Jensen and Kim Crockett, according to polling conducted in October by MinnPost/Embold Research and KSTP/SurveyUSA. But Republicans…

Putin-Linked Businessman Admits To US Election Meddling

(AP) — Kremlin-connected entrepreneur Yevgeny Prigozhin admitted Monday that he had interfered in U.S. elections and would continue to do so — confirming for the first time the accusations that he has rejected for years. “Gentlemen, we have interfered, are interfering and will interfere. Carefully, precisely, surgically and in our own way, as we know how to do,” Prigozhin boasted…

Wisconsin Candidates Make Final Push Ahead Of Election Day

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers and U.S. Senate candidate Mandela Barnes planned to rally Monday with union members as part of a final push to get out Democratic voters, while Republican gubernatorial candidate Tim Michels and U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson continued to blanket the state on the last day of campaigning before Election Day. Polls show both races to be about even. Each…

Biden, Trump To Make Final Appeals Ahead Of Crucial Midterms

WASHINGTON (AP) — An election year that unfolded against the backdrop of economic turmoil, the elimination of federal abortion rights and broad concerns about the future of democracy is concluding with a final full day of campaigning in which leaders of both parties will issue urgent appeals to their supporters. President Joe Biden is holding a Monday evening rally in Maryland, where Democrats have…

Republican Candidates For Attorney General, State Auditor Visit Hermantown

HERMANTOWN, Minn. — Minnesota Republican candidates Jim Schultz, who is running for attorney general, and Ryan Wilson, who is running for state auditor, made a campaign stop in Hermantown on Sunday. In the AG race, prosecuting criminals is the central theme for Schulz, especially for areas like the twin cities which has seen a large number of violent crimes like…

Wisconsin Governor Evers in Superior for Doing the Right Thing Bus Tour

Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers campaigns at UW-Superior on November 4, 2022. Image courtesy of Tony for WisconsinSUPERIOR, Wis. – Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers spent Friday traveling the Northland as part of his “Doing the Right Thing” bus tour as he seeks re-election next week. He rallies with supporters at UW-Superior and encouraged them to get out the vote. Evers faces a…

Wisconsin Governor’s Race Shatters Spending Record

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin’s hotly contested race for governor is the most expensive in state history. Spending as of last week by Gov. Tony Evers, Republican challenger Tim Michels and special interest groups on both sides neared $115 million, the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign said Thursday. The group tracks campaign spending. That tops the previous record of $93 million, set in 2018,…