>> ERIC: THIS WEEK SAW A >> ERIC: THIS WEEK SAW A >> ERIC: THIS WEEK SAW A ^ >> ERIC: THIS WEEK SAW A ^ TENUOUS START TO A DRAWDOWN OF FEDERAL AGENTS IN THE STATE, THE PARTIAL GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN BROUGHT TO AN END, AND THE LIKELY FRONT RUNNERS FOR MINNESOTA GOVERNOR SOLIDIFYING THEIR POSITIONS COMING OUT OF TUESDAY NIGHT'S CAUCUSES.

WHAT COMES NEXT ON ALL THESE FRONTS?

HERE'S OUR PANEL OF FOLKS WHO DEFINITELY HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS TO THAT QUESTION.

REPUBLICANS UP FIRST TONIGHT.

FRITZ KNAAK IS A FORMER STATE SENATOR, NOW AN ATTORNEY IN PRIVATE PRACTICE.

ANNETTE MEEKS, FORMER CONGRESSIONAL STAFFER AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR CANDIDATE WHO NOW HEADS UP THE FREEDOM FOUNDATION OF MINNESOTA.

DEMOCRATS ON THE COUCH WITH THEM, KARLA BIGHAM IS A FORMER STATE LAWMAKER WHO SERVED IN BOTH LEGISLATIVE CHAMBERS, SHE'S NOW A WASHINGTON COUNTY COMMISSIONER.

AND LAST, BUT NOT LEAST, SARA LOPEZ, PARTY ACTIVIST AND POLICY DIRECTOR AT UNIDOS MINNESOTA.

GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL.

ANNETTE, DEMUTH THE LEADER NOW IN THE REPUBLICAN GUBERNATORIAL WEEPSTAKES?

>> I THINK THAT'S PRETTY MUCH WELL AGREED UPON, YES.

THAT SHE HAD SUCH A STRONG SHOWING.

AND NORMALLY WHAT'S KIND OF A -- NORMALLY IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF THIS, A LITTLE BIT OF THAT, SHE WAS PRETTY DEFINITIVELY DECLARED THE WINNER ON CAUCUS NIGHT, AND OFF TO A STRONG START, BOTH WITH FUND-RAISING AND OBVIOUSLY WITH ORGANIZING.

>> Eric: YOU HAD 12 CANDIDATES, I THINK, AT SOME OF THE FORUMS.

HOW MANY DECIDE TO DROP OUT NOW AND CONCENTRATE ON THE BIG FOUR OR FIVE?

>> OH, THAT'S ALWAYS A HARD QUESTION BECAUSE EVERYBODY BELIEVES THAT THEY'RE THE REAL ANSWER, OF COURSE.

BUT, YOU KNOW, I THINK THE SHOWING OF DEMUTH WAS VERY IMPORTANT AND THERE'S SOME INDICATION, THE DANGERS YOU END UP EING A FRONTRUNNER AND THAT MAKES YOU SOMETHING OF A TARGET.

AND SHE IS GETTING SOME SUPPORT FROM THE RIGHT PLACES IN WASHINGTON, VERY QUIETLY, MAKING IT LIKELY THAT SHE'S GOING TO BE ABLE TO RAISE MONEY, WHICH IS GOING TO BE ABSOLUTELY CRUCIAL IN THAT RACE.

SO, YEAH, YOU'D HAVE TO SAY SHE'S DEFINITELY STARTING, BUT I'M SURE SHE'S GOING TO HAVE TO NAVIGATE THAT VERY CAREFULLY.

>> Eric: RUN-OFF, KSTP HAD SOME TRIAL HEATS IN THEIR POLL.

>> YEAH.

>> Eric: AND KLOBUCHAR WAS LEADING PRETTY HANDILY.

>> SURPRISES NO ONE.

>> Eric: THE REPUBLICANS DID MAKE A CASE, THOUGH, THAT SHE WAS UNDER 50% IN ALL OF THOSE RUN-OFFS.

>> SO, AMY KLOBUCHAR KNOWS MINNESOTA.

SHE'S ALWAYS BEEN HERE FOR MINNESOTA.

ESPECIALLY IN OUR TIMES OF NEED.

WHETHER IT HAS BEEN 35W BRIDGE WHEN THAT COLLAPSED, WHETHER IT WAS THE PANDEMIC, CIVIL UNREST, SHOOTING AT ANNUNCIATION, SHE KNOWS MINNESOTA AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN HERE TO HELP LEAD THROUGH THESE TRYING TIMES, AND SHE'S GOING TO DO IT AGAIN.

SHE'S GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF SUPPORT ACROSS THE STATE.

>> WELL, SHE'S REALLY THE ONLY CANDIDATE.

IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT FOR THE DEMOCRATS.

>> ND THERE WERE SOME UNDECIDED FOLKS, I THINK THAT SHE HASN'T HAD A CHANCE TO STATE, LIKE, HER VISION FOR THE STATE.

AND I THINK THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THERE'S A LOT OF HUNGER FOR, A BOLD VISION THAT INCLUDES EVERYBODY.

WE HAVE A CRISIS OF BELONGING.

I THINK SHE'S GOING TO DO ONE HELL OF A JOB RUNNING A CAMPAIGN TATEWIDE.

[ OVERLAPPING CONVERSATION ] >> Cathy: WHERE ARE HER AWARDS, THOUGH?

WHERE ARE THE -- WHERE ARE THE WARTS?

WHERE ARE THE CHALLENGES WITH HER?

>> I THINK THE CHALLENGES START WITH THE PROGRESSIVE LEFT THAT HAS DOMINATED THE DFL IN RECENT YEARS.

I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE VERY TOUGH TO RECONCILE MANY OF HER VOTES N WASHINGTON WITH THE RUNNING THE STATE.

AND I THINK HER OTHER BIG PROBLEM, FRANKLY, IS STATE GOVERNMENT.

SHE'S NEVER HELD A JOB IN STATE GOVERNMENT, AND WE'VE GOT SOME BIG HILLS TO CLIMB AND SOME BIG MESSES TO CLEAN UP.

>> AND THAT'S -- >> SHE'S GOING TO GET ALL OF THAT.

>> AND THAT'S THE PERSON THAT NEEDS TO COME IN THERE AND DO IT, WHICH IS AMY KLOBUCHAR, IT'S WHAT SHE'S ALWAYS DONE, LEADING ON EDUCATION, ON WORK FORCE, ON FARMERS, ON ALL OF THAT.

AND THAT'S THE LEADERSHIP WE NEED RIGHT NOW.

AND THAT'S WHAT -- THE LEFT IS NOT GOING TO BE -- ONE BIG UPSET -- >> Cathy: I'VE HEARD RUMBLINGS ON THE FAR LEFT, THOUGH.

[ OVERLAPPING CONVERSATION ] >> ONE THING THAT I WAS PRETTY SURPRISED ABOUT MY CAUCUS, WE WERE ALL QUITE UNITED.

>> YES.

>> MINE WAS DONE IN AN HOUR AND A HALF.

EVERYBODY CAME TOGETHER.

IT'S VOLUNTEER RUN.

BUT I WAS PRETTY SURPRISED ABOUT THE UNITY OF THE GROUP THAT I WAS WITH.

AND THERE WERE A LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE, THEY HAD QUESTIONS, BUT I DO FEEL THAT KLOBUCHAR HASN'T HAD A CHANCE TO PUT OUT HER CAMPAIGN, HER VISION.

I I DO THINK THEY'RE GOING TO FALL IN LINE.

JUST BECAUSE THE OPTIONS ARE NOT SO GREAT ON THE GOP SIDE.

>> SHE'S GOT A COUPLE MAJOR PROBLEMS THAT SHE HASN'T HAD TO ADDRESS YET.

I MEAN, EVERYTHING THAT WE'VE HEARD SO FAR, THE NICE CAMPAIGN AD, KIND OF BACKGROUND STUFF, WITH SMILING AMY DOING THIS, OR SMILING AMY DOING THAT.

SHE HAS TO DECIDE WHETHER SHE'S GOING TO RUN AGAINST THE DFL AND THE RECORD THAT THEY'VE GOT, FRAUD ISSUE, ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF, ACTUALLY RUN AGAINST THEM, IN WHICH CASE, IN A WAY SHE'S DISPARAGING EVERYBODY ELSE ON THE TICKET, OR RUN WITH THEM, IN WHICH CASE ALL OF A SUDDEN SHE'S GOING TO GET TARRED WITH MANY OF THE SAME PROBLEMS.

AND I DON'T THINK SHE CAN ENTIRELY ESCAPE THAT.

SO, SHE HASN'T HAD TO NAVIGATE THAT, BUT WE TALK ABOUT THE DIFFICULTY OF BEING THE FRONTRUNNER, THAT'S HER PROBLEM, AND HER PROBLEM, TOO, IS THERE'S NO COMPETITION.

SO IT'S JUST HER.

>> AND I WOULD LIKE TO ADD, SHE'S GOING TO BE RUNNING AGAINST THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN WHO COULD BE OUR GOVERNOR.

>> YEAH.

>> AND I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING THAT MANY MANY VOTERS, LIKE ME, WILL LOOK AT AND SAY, THIS WOULD INDEED BE -- YOU WANT TO BREAK NEW GROUND IN MINNESOTA?

LET'S DO IT WITH A REPUBLICAN BLACK WOMAN WHO HAS LED OUR LEGISLATURE DURING SOME OF THE MOST TUMULTUOUS TIMES WE'VE EVER HAD WITH DEFENDANT AND GRACE.

>> AND SPEAKER DEMUTH WOULD CONTINUE THE ATROCIOUS AGENDA OF TRUMP AND THE REPUBLICAN PLATFORM THAT HAS HURT- MIATFORM THAT HAS HURT- MINNFORM THAT HAS HURT- MINNESRM THAT HAS HURT- MINNESOT THAT HAS HURT- MINNESOTA.HAT HAS HURT- MINNESOTA.HAT HAS HURT- >> I THINK THAT EVERY SINGLE NEIGHBORHOOD IN RAMSEY AND HENNEPIN COUNTY, WHICH ARE SUPER HIGH DENSITY, ARE NOT GOING TO FORGET WHAT'S HAPPENING TO THEIR CHILDREN.

>> RIGHT.

>> Cathy: SAY, BY THE WAY, MIKE NUCOM, HOW MIGHT HE MAYBE THROW A WRENCH INTO THIS, HE'S WITH THE INDEPENDENCE PARTY, ISN'T W THE ANDREW YANG EFFORT, REMEMBER THAT?

>> HE COMES FROM A WHITE BEAR FAMILY, HE COMES FROM BASICALLY, IF THERE'S NOBILITY AMONG REPUBLICANS IN WHITE BEAR, IT'S THE NEWCOMS, RIGHT, AND HE LOOKS SO MUCH LIKE HIS DAD, IT'S ALMOST SCARY, BUT MY PROBLEM WITH MIKE, HE'S NOT RUNNING AS A REPUBLICAN.

I MEAN, I HAVE A REAL EASY TIME GETTING ENTHUSIASTICALLY BEHIND HIM IF HE WAS PART OF, YOU KNOW, A PARTY EFFORT.

HE'S NOT.

>> Eric: BUT HE WAS ONE, LIKE THE FOURTH OR FIFTH LEADING FUND-RAISER FOR REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR CANDIDATES IN '25.

>> YUP.

>> Eric: $100,000.

>> AND I THINK HE WILL RAISE MONEY AGAIN.

>> Eric: I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW IF WE'RE LOOKING AT ANOTHER VENTURA THING HERE, BUT IF HE TAKES 10, 12%, HE'S A GAME CHANGER IN NOVEMBER.

>> THAT'S SO UNLIKELY, THOUGH.

NUMBER ONE, JESSE GOT PUBLIC FINANCING, AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT MADE THE DIFFERENCE IN THAT CAMPAIGN.

>> THAT'S TRUE.

THAT'S FAIR.

>> HE RAISED VERY LITTLE MONEY.

AND WITHOUT A PARTY TO GIVE YOU LISTS AND ALL THE OTHER THINGS THAT THE DFL HAS OR WE HAVE, IT'S VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO GET EVEN THE 5% THAT MAKES YOU A MAJORITY PARTY CANDIDATE.

[INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC] MICHELE TAFOYA, REPUBLICAN SENATE.

EVERYBODY'S SMILING.

SHE'S PRO CHOICE, IS THAT A DISQUALIFIER?

>> IT'S A PROBLEM.

>> I HAD A GREAT CONVERSATION WITH HER ABOUT THIS ISSUE, BECAUSE I'M AS SOLIDLY PRO LIFE AS ANYONE, AND SHE PLEDGES TO SUPPORT THE PRESIDENT'S NOMINEE, IF THERE ARE ANY, TO THE COURTS, AND THAT'S NOT A DECIDING ISSUE ANY LONGER IN THE U.S.

SENATE.

ABORTION'S A DECIDED ISSUE.

AND IT'S CERTAINLY A DECIDED ISSUE HERE IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

>> WELL, YOU'RE GETTING THE REPUBLICAN VERSION OF THE AMY KLOBUCHAR ARGUMENTFUL -- ARGUMENT, WHICH IS, SHE'S THE FRONTRUNNER AND WE WANT HER TO WIN AND SHE'S GOT ALL THE RIGHT ATTRIBUTES IN TERMS OF ELECTABILITY.

THERE'S A COUPLE F OTHER VERY GOOD CANDIDATES, BY THE WAY, STILL IN THE RUNNING ON THAT SIDE.

RIGHT NOW SHE'S THE ONE THAT HAS, FOR EXAMPLE, THE SENATE COMMITTEE'S BACKING, AND SO THE FUND-RAISING HEAD START THAT'S GOING TO BE CRITICAL IS GOING TO BE HERS.

AND I THINK SHE WOULD BE PERSONALLY A VERY GOOD CANDIDATE, BUT I'M NOT GOING TO PRETEND FOR A SECOND THAT THAT ABORTION ISSUE ISN'T GOING TO BE A PROBLEM FOR HER DOWN THE LINE.

>> AND SHE ISN'T FOCUSED ON FEDERAL ISSUES.

ALL I'VE HEARD HER TALK ABOUT IS STATE ISSUES IT'S BECAUSE ALL SHE'LL DO IS FALL IN LINE, AS ANNETTE SAID SHE WILL HELP WITH THE TRUMP NOMINEE, SHE'S GOING TO HELP TRUMP WITH EVERY SINGLE AGENDA THAT HE WANTS TO MOVE FORWARD, UNFEDERALLED, THAT HAS -- UNFETTERED, THAT HAS HURT OR ECONOMY, OUR PEOPLE HERE IN MINNESOTA.

>> Cathy: ON THE DFL SIDE, WE HAVE ANGIE CRAIG AND PEGGY FLANAGAN.

>> RIGHT.

>> Cathy: OW, WERE YOU SURPRISED THAT SENATOR SMITH ENDORSED LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR FLANAGAN?

>> I AM NOT.

I THINK THAT BOTH ARE VERY MUCH IN LINE WITH THE WAY THAT THEY HAVE BEEN APPROACHING THEIR POLITICS FOREVER.

AND I WAS EXCITED TO SEE THAT ENDORSEMENT PERSONALLY.

I THINK PEGGY IS GOING TO DO A GREAT JOB WHEN SHE GETS ELECTED.

I THINK SHE'S GOING TO DO A FANTASTIC JOB WITH WOMEN IN THE SUBURBS.

RIGHT NOW, AS OUR STATE CONTINUES TO BE UNDER SIEGE WITH 2,300, AGENTS, WHAT'S HAPPENING SPEAKS BY ITSELF.

[ OVERLAPPING CONVERSATION ] >> Eric: YOU'VE ENDORSED?

>> ANGIE CRAIG, 100%.

YOU KNOW, ANGIE IS THE MOST ELECTABLE CANDIDATE STATEWIDE.

TIME ND TIME AGAIN, WHEN SHE'S BEEN ON THE BALLOT, SHE'S HELPED THE REST OF THE TICKET IN C.D.

.

AND ALSO, SHE'S THE LABOR CANDIDATE, RIGHT?

I MEAN, SHE HAS OVER 2 LABOR ENDORSEMENTS, AND WHEN OU'RE LOOKING AT BOOTS ON THE GROUND TO HELP YOU GET AN ENDORSEMENT, TO HELP YOU GET THROUGH A PRIMARY, THAT'S WHO I WOULD WANT IN MY CORNER IS LABOR.

>> I TELL YOU WHAT I'M DOING IS POPPING POPCORN AS A REPUBLICAN WATCHING THESE TWO BATTLE IT OUT FROM THE MAY CONVENTION UNTIL THE AUGUST PRIMARY.

BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BE ROCK 'EM SOCK 'EM ROBOTS AND WHEN ANGIE CRAIG'S, THE CONGRESSWOMAN IS A PRODIGIOUS FUND RADARS, WHEN SHE COMES AFTER THE PARTY'S NOMINEE, WHO I BELIEVE WILL BE THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, MAN, THEY ARE GONNA JUST HAVE TO FIGHT IT OUT IN THE STREET AND IT'S GONNA BE WORTH WATCHING.

>> I DON'T THINK MINNESOTANS ARE GOING TO FORGET WHO VOTED FOR LINCOLN REILLY, PERSONALLY.

I'M A DFLer, BUT I DO WANT A CANDIDATE THAT IS REPRESENTATIVE OF THE PRIORITIES OF WHAT PEOPLE ARE SEEING IN THE STREETS AND N THEIR COMMUNITIES, PERSONALLY.

BUT WE'LL SEE.

>> AND I THINK ANGIE HAS DONE A GREAT JOB OF FOCUSING ON OUR FARMERS, ON OUR WORKERS, ON OUR EDUCATORS, ON HEALTHCARE, AND ALSO HAS DONE A TREMENDOUS JOB DEALING WITH THIS IMMIGRATION ISSUE THAT'S RIDDLED OUR STATE.

>> Cathy: 30 SECONDS.

>> AS A REPUBLICAN, I HAVE TO SAY I AGREE WITH YOU.

I THINK ANGIE CRAIG IS PROBABLY THE STRONGER OF THE TWO CANDIDATES.

BUT I DO THINK TAFOYA BEATS HER.

[ Laughter ] >> Eric: COMING UP, THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, WHICH I HEAR IS GOING TO BE VERY UNPRODUCTI