By Michelle Griffith | Reporter
Good morning, Reformers.
A new KSTP/Survey USA poll shows that MyPillow guy and election conspiracy theorist Mike Lindell is leading over the other Republican candidates for Minnesota governor.
The poll found that 27% of likely Republican primary voters support Lindell, while 22% support House Speaker Lisa Demuth and 17% are in favor of former health care executive and perennial candidate Kendall Qualls.
Meanwhile, in the Star Tribune/KARE11/Hubbard School of Journalism poll, Lindell performs worst against presumptive Democratic nominee, U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar.
This is the Republican nightmare scenario: Klobuchar beats Lindell in a landslide and Democrats win a trifecta on her coattails.
The poll result is a 180-degree flip from the results of the GOP convention a few weeks ago, when Qualls won the Republican endorsement after 10 ballots. Demuth came in second followed by Lindell in third.
The Lindell and Qualls campaigns for governor are strapped for cash even as early voting for the Aug. 11 primary begins later this month. (Here’s my story on the latest campaign finance disclosures.)
Lindell had about $12,000 in cash as of the end of May, according to Minnesota campaign finance data. He’s said he’s personally broke, and it’s unclear whether his company is selling enough pillows to fund a late ad blitz.
Qualls’ campaign had about $34,000 in cash, but his campaign has an outstanding debt of $37,000 lent to the campaign by Qualls himself.
Qualls in a social media video said the $37,000 he loaned his campaign wasn’t actually a loan, and it isn’t intended to be repaid. He said he’ll amend that in the next campaign finance report.
Lindell’s campaign has spent almost all the money it’s raised since it launched in December. The campaign’s largest expenses include copies of Lindell’s own memoir, “What Are the Odds? From Crack Addict to CEO,” which Lindell says he’s handing out to people instead of typical campaign flyers.
Another big expense: a February fundraising event at President Donald Trump’s Palm Beach, Florida, club Mar-A-Lago. Lindell’s campaign spent over $155,000 to rent the facility and for food and beverage.
Lindell’s campaign in its previous campaign finance report said the Mar-A-Lago event had cost $135,000, but in the latest filing the campaign reported it paid a “final bill” in May for the food and beverage, which was $20,600 more than what they previously reported. Whoops!
Demuth — and a political action committee associated with her — has the cash to up her name ID and pull down Lindell, so we’ll see if she can do it, but every day counts.
Onto today’s Reformer.
A masked U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent knocks on a car window in Minnesota on Jan. 12. (Photo by Nicole Neri/Minnesota Reformer)
By Brian Martucci
A Richfield woman who says the U.S. government punished her for acting as a lawful observer during Operation Metro Surge told her story on Capitol Hill recently. Her June 9 testimony came with a warning that the Trump administration’s efforts to quell dissent threaten otherwise law-abiding Americans.
Nicole Cleland said her expedited airport security screening privileges were revoked after a confrontation with officers of the Department of Homeland Security during the immigration crackdown earlier this year.
She testified alongside a civil rights attorney and two former intelligence professionals as Congress debates reauthorization of an increasingly controversial set of surveillance tools that critics say are ripe for abuse.
Though there’s no indication that federal agencies examined Cleland’s private communications without a warrant, the experts testifying with her said her situation is one of countless examples of the government using its vast and increasingly powerful surveillance apparatus for questionable ends.
By Ashley Murray
The White House on Wednesday read to reporters a 14-point memorandum of understanding with Iran to stop the ongoing war and allow for further negotiations, but did not release the exact text.
The 60-day MOU outlines the opening of the Strait of Hormuz, sanctions relief and reconstruction funds for Iran, and the promise of negotiations on Iran ending its nuclear program. Senior administration officials say economic and sanctions relief will only occur if Iran is on “good behavior.”
President Donald Trump told reporters in France he “might” stay in Europe for the ceremonial signing of the memo, but doubted it.
Earlier Wednesday he told reporters at the G7, “If I don’t like it, we’ll go back to shooting at them, dropping bombs on their head.”
By Alexander Furneaux and Nat Turner
Our Streets board members write in commentary that a recent Bush Foundation grant demonstrates the importance of investing in organizations that help communities navigate long-term transformations.
The organization advocates for transforming transportation and infrastructure in Minnesota.
“Our Streets is demonstrating what leadership looks like in the 21st century, centering communities’ voices and desires in transportation decision-making. We’re focusing on building stronger communities,” the board members write. “Communities that have visions for how to repair what they inherited to become more connected and more resilient than before. When we put people first, we’re turning back the clock, putting communities in charge of their futures.”
IN OTHER NEWS
OH BY THE WAY
I was on vacation in Glacier National Park last week, though as Patrick Coolican mentioned I was pulled into a bit of work.
I discovered Olivia Rodrigo’s new album, “You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love,” which I’ve had on repeat this past week.
My favorite song on it so far is “Stupid Song,” which is my song recommendation for you today. For fans of The Cure and Robert Smith, listen to “What’s Wrong With Me” on the album.
I’m happy to be home, and my two cats have stopped pouting about my absence. Have a great Thursday!
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