2 seats in Minnesota's state legislature are being contested tonight. The senate seat is in play, thanks to a strong DFL candidate,
Tarryl Clark. The house seat is considered a safe DFL/Democrat seat, and the GOP candidate was
thrown off the ballot due to a residency issue (her mother is a write-in candidate now). Extremist right-wing governor Tim Pawlenty picked GOP senator Keis for a state job, and set the special election for December 27, a time when a lot of college kids won't be around to help offset the conservative pull of the area (St. Cloud). Although the district is generally Republican, a strong candidate can swing the vote, as happened last month when
Terri Bonoff won a senate seat that had been in GOP hands for over a decade.
The man running for the senate seat is a "shock jock" named Ocshner who is pretty far to the right on any number of issues and
used photo magic to make it look like a huge cheering pro-Dubya crowd was actually cheering for him (Bret Schundler redux). Clark is more of a moderate. She may not be as progressive as some, but Democrats need every seat they can get in the Minnesota state legislature. They are a few seats away from control of the house and have
very narrow control of the senate.
Last year they were pressured by Republicans to pass an amendment that would ban most legal contracts for gays. The senate leader, Dean Johnson, refused, and the far right Michelle Bachmann (AKA crouching bush hidden wingnut)/Pawlenty groupies said the public would lash out. They did lash out...at the extremist Republicans, costing them 13 seats in the state house.
If Democrats have principles, and stand up for themselves, and find the strongest candidate in a persuadable district, then they can and will win. That's the message that Democrats are learning in Minnesota, and this victory will help prove that even in a "values" district, the ultime value is common sense and responsibility. Not gay-bashing or warping Christianity for political gain.
Please get out and vote in this district, or tell people you know who live in this district to go vote. Even one vote can make a difference.