DFL state convention

Roughly 1,400 DFL delegates gather in Rochester to endorse a candidate for two U.S. Senate seats, an open race for Minnesota governor, several other constitutional offices.

3rd & 7 37yd

Martin on potential primary challengers: "They need to know that they're taking on the full party and we're going to make sure that we defend and protect our endorsements."

by Tim Pugmire via twitter 6/2/2018 2:34:44 PM
Breaking from Rochester: Lake Superior is still cool #DFL2018 https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DesaLSBX0AAf2TM.jpg

by Briana Bierschbach via twitter 6/2/2018 2:45:46 PM
Day 2 of the #DFL2018 convention in Rochester. The abbreviated agenda:

Electronic Voting Orientation
Endorsement for Attorney General
Endorsement for Governor
Endorsement for Lieutenant Governor
Adjournment until Sunday

by Briana Bierschbach via twitter 6/2/2018 2:51:09 PM
DFL-endorsed congressional candidate Dean Phillips tells delegates he will win the 3rd District for Democrats for the first time since 1958. Calls Rep. Paulsen “Eric the generic.” #DFL2018 https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DeseDshWkAYox6t.jpg

by Briana Bierschbach via twitter 6/2/2018 3:02:31 PM
Congresswoman Betty McCollum addresses DFL convention. https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DesfKPbUYAAF5FT.jpg

by Tim Pugmire via twitter 6/2/2018 3:07:20 PM
Last-minute endorsements rolling in for DFL gov candidates, just hours before balloting beghins. Former Obama chief of staff Denis McDonough just endorsed Tim Walz. DFL state Rep. Rick Hansen backing Erin Murphy #DFL2018

by Briana Bierschbach via twitter 6/2/2018 3:11:46 PM
Rep. Betty McCollum on President Trump: “The billionaire who occupies the White House is liar, a racist, a bigot and a hater, and a danger to the future of this country and to this planet.”

by Tim Pugmire via twitter 6/2/2018 3:16:39 PM
DFL delegates nominate Matt Pelikan and incumbent Lori Swanson nominated for attorney general. Pelikan will speak first.

by Tim Pugmire via twitter 6/2/2018 3:26:35 PM
Speeches starting on attorney general race. Incumbent Lori Swanson is running for the endorsement and so is Matt Pelikan, an attorney and activist #DFL2018

by Briana Bierschbach via twitter 6/2/2018 3:27:50 PM
Matt Pelikan said his top three issues are "guns, drugs and anti trust." Takes a shot at current Attorney General Lori Swanson, who has been backed by the NRA in past elections #DFL2018

by Briana Bierschbach via twitter 6/2/2018 3:33:08 PM
Matt Pelikan is very critical of Swanson: Said she dropped the travel ban lawsuit "in the middle of the night," settled 3M lawsuit for too little and got in opioid lawsuit too late #DFL2018

by Briana Bierschbach via twitter 6/2/2018 3:35:01 PM
Live video coverage of the DFL convention from The UpTake:

by Andrew Krueger, MPR News 6/2/2018 3:39:12 PM
In intro for Lori Swanson, former AG Mike Hatch rebuts Matt Pelikan's criticisms of Swanson.

by Tim Pugmire via twitter 6/2/2018 3:44:53 PM
Former AG Mike Hatch introducing Lori Swanson in the endorsement race. To Matt Pelikan's comments about Swanson, Hatch said: "You can't sit in the wading pool and think you can swim in the ocean." #DFL2018

by Briana Bierschbach via twitter 6/2/2018 3:45:25 PM
Swanson filled most of her time with supporters impacted by her work speaking from the stage to nominate her. Her time is almost up. Baloting next #DFL2018

by Briana Bierschbach via twitter 6/2/2018 3:55:57 PM
A series of supporters speak on behalf of Lori Swanson, but she does not address the delegates ahead of balloting.

by Tim Pugmire via twitter 6/2/2018 3:57:56 PM
Vern Wagner of south Minneapolis (in red hat) was part of a crowd of Tim Walz supporters making their voices heard at the DFL state convention on Saturday, June 2, 2018. “Of course Santa wishes everyone could win, but I like Tim Walz," Wagner said of the gubernatorial candidate. The state DFL convention is being held this weekend at the Mayo Civic Center in Rochester, Minn. Photo by Jerry Olson for MPR News

by Andrew Krueger, MPR News 6/2/2018 4:04:15 PM
First ballot now closed in the race for attorney general. Options: Lori Swanson, Matt Pelikan or no endorsement. Results should becoming in the next 10 to 15 minutes #DFL2018

by Briana Bierschbach via twitter 6/2/2018 4:19:40 PM
Wow close race for AG endorsement. Second ballot needed https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DesxV1eU8AATOj1.jpg

by Briana Bierschbach via twitter 6/2/2018 4:26:47 PM
Swanson fails to get 60% on first ballot. Second ballot coming.

by Tim Pugmire via twitter 6/2/2018 4:27:31 PM
First ballot results: Swanson 52.2%, Pelikan 47.2%.

by Tim Pugmire via twitter 6/2/2018 4:28:23 PM
A better photo of the results of the first attorney general ballot. Activist Matt Pelikan coming in close behind incumbent Lori Swanson. Second ballot next #DFL2018 https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Desxq9yVMAAqG0Y.jpg

by Briana Bierschbach via twitter 6/2/2018 4:28:29 PM
NEW: Attorney General Lori Swanson is withdrawing from seeking the DFL endorsement

by Briana Bierschbach via twitter 6/2/2018 4:38:35 PM
Big upset: Matt Pelikan was just endorsed by acclamation at the DFL convention in Rochester

by Briana Bierschbach via twitter 6/2/2018 4:39:07 PM
Incumbent Lori Swanson withdraws from attorney general endorsement. DFL delegates endorse Matt Pelikan by acclimation.

by Tim Pugmire via twitter 6/2/2018 4:39:53 PM
Matt Pelikan the DFL endorsed candidate for DFL attorney general, addressing the convention. “Thank you for believing in a politics of hope, not fear.” https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Des0vDpWkAAHqu7.jpg

by Briana Bierschbach via twitter 6/2/2018 4:41:50 PM
DFL Gov. Mark Dayton addressing delegates and getting a standing ovation. Reminder: He wasn't let on the floor to the DFL convention in 2010 because he was heading to a primary

by Briana Bierschbach via twitter 6/2/2018 5:01:36 PM
“It’s my last speech to a DFL convention,” Dayton said. “Eight years ago I was locked out of the convention hall by our now sensational U.S. Senator Tina Smith." twitter.com/bbierschbach/s…

by Briana Bierschbach via twitter 6/2/2018 5:05:28 PM
“I can’t say enough about how crucial, absolutely crucial it is to reelect one of our DFL candidates to this seat January,” Dayton told the DFL crowd.

by Briana Bierschbach via twitter 6/2/2018 5:07:28 PM
Gov. Dayton: “This is the most important election in my political lifetime. This is an election for the soul of Minnesota. This last legislative session we saw what a Republican governor and a Republican legislature would do in Minnesota if given the chance." #DFL2018

by Briana Bierschbach via twitter 6/2/2018 5:14:34 PM
DFLers endorse newcomer Matt Pelikan for attorney general over incumbent Lori Swanson blogs.mprnews.org/capitol-view/2…

by Briana Bierschbach via twitter 6/2/2018 5:17:53 PM
DFLers endorse newcomer Matt Pelikan for attorney general over incumbent Lori Swanson ift.tt/2HdVFmp

by MPR Politics via twitter retweeted by bbierschbach 6/2/2018 5:18:01 PM
Now on to the nominations for governor: Murphy, Walz and Otto. Murphy up first to address the convention #DFL2018

by Briana Bierschbach via twitter 6/2/2018 5:21:12 PM
Ilhan Omar is introducing Erin Murphy ahead of her speech. "We are not just fighting for progressive values, we are fighting for the soul of our state. Now is not only the time to heal, it's a time to revive, and we need a nurse for that." (Murphy is a nurse by trade) #DFL2018

by Briana Bierschbach via twitter 6/2/2018 5:27:16 PM
Erin Murphy addressing the delegates: She said Minnesotans understand that "What is happening inside the Capitol and what is happening inside Washington D.C. is not working anymore." #DFL2018

by Briana Bierschbach via twitter 6/2/2018 5:31:36 PM
Erin Murphy said it's not time for "tippy-toe kind of politics." Mentions Tim Pawlenty: "We know his playbook….when the going got tough, he quit and he went away."

by Briana Bierschbach via twitter 6/2/2018 5:36:15 PM
Tim Walz up next at #DFL2018 endorsing convention

by Briana Bierschbach via twitter 6/2/2018 5:37:07 PM
Lt gov candidate Peggy Flanagan addressing the convention first, asking for delegates to support Tim Walz for gov: "Together we will make sure Tim Pawlenty never again darkens the doorstep of the Governor’s office." #DFL2018

by Briana Bierschbach via twitter 6/2/2018 5:41:50 PM
Rep. Flanagan: "I did not lead the fight to raise the minimum wage, or throw down for children and families at the legislature, or get up every day to fight for racial and economic justice, just to be someone’s arm candy...I joined this ticket because I know Tim, I trust Tim."

by Briana Bierschbach via twitter 6/2/2018 5:43:31 PM
Tim Walz sounds like he's losing his voice a bit: "I grew up farming with my family...went to high school with a graduating class of 24 - 12 were cousins. I learned my values from my parents." Talked about how his dad died when he was young, mom supported his family.

by Briana Bierschbach via twitter 6/2/2018 5:49:10 PM
Walz: "In a district that voted for Donald Trump by 15 points, I campaigned in favor of your right to marry whomever you love, and we won. I voted for cap and trade to fight climate change, and we won. I voted for the Affordable Care Act...and we won." #DFL2018

by Briana Bierschbach via twitter 6/2/2018 5:50:46 PM
State Auditor Rebecca Otto is up next #DFL2018

by Briana Bierschbach via twitter 6/2/2018 5:53:40 PM
Rebecca Otto: "We shouldn't be the party of big money, we should be the part of big ideas. We should be the party that inspires people to go to the polls. That's how we win." #DFL2018

by Briana Bierschbach via twitter 6/2/2018 6:02:04 PM
Otto talking about people she met on a listening tour across the state, citing individuals she met hit with student debt, who had family members who committed suicide, and who need medical marijuana. Repeating her slogan: "We must do better and we can do better." #DFL2018

by Briana Bierschbach via twitter 6/2/2018 6:07:16 PM
Otto, who went over her speaking time, ends with: "We have the brains, we have the backbones, we have the big ideas and we can beat Tim Pawlenty in the fall." #DFL2018

by Briana Bierschbach via twitter 6/2/2018 6:10:37 PM