Good morning. For some cool traditions, it’s best to just not ask why and give it a whirl.

There was a notable stance shift in Minnesota’s U.S. Senate race yesterday from Democratic U.S. Rep. Angie Craig. She said she regrets a vote in support of an immigration law sought by President Donald Trump that provided agents more detention power. Last January’s passage of the Laken Riley Act, which allows for detention of noncitizens without bail if they’re charged with burglary, assaulting a police officer or other crimes, saw little Democratic support. But Craig, who represents the swing 2nd Congressional District, was the only Minnesota DFL member to break ranks. In a commentary published in the Minnesota Star Tribune, Craig said she has reflected on the vote following the federal immigration enforcement action in the state that led to thousands of arrests and the deaths of two U.S. citizens shot by immigration agents. Looking back, she wrote she would do things differently. “It is true that the president is not using any laws to carry out these sweeping immigration raids that have terrorized Minnesotans, but it’s also become clear that supporting any bill that gives ICE new authority in this administration was the wrong decision,” Craig wrote. “And I regret my vote.” You can read more about the messaging pivot here.

 

A Hugo woman is charged with making violent threats toward Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth, who is also a Republican candidate for governor. Charges filed last Thursday accuse the 42-year-old woman of making multiple threats toward Demuth. Charging documents say Rachel Marie Welsch contacted more than one lawmaker and left escalating voicemails from early January through late February. The federal immigration crackdown and federal spending freezes were referenced in the complaint as motivating factors. According to the charges, Welsch is only charged in the Demuth threats because of threats to use a gun toward the speaker. When State Patrol troopers visited her, Welsch declined to speak in detail with them about the messages. Authorities petitioned for and received an extreme risk protection order to remove any firearms from the woman’s possession. Demuth petitioned for a restraining order. A judge allowed Welsch to post bond and be out of custody pending an April court hearing as long as she does not possess firearms or have contact with Demuth. Given last summer's attacks on lawmakers, authorities are on high alert for threats against public officials.

 

A Hortman highway, state park, solar garden program and office building. Sen. John Hoffman, DFL-Champlin, is the chief sponsor of four Senate bills to honor his late friend and former colleague, slain former House Speaker Melissa Hortman. Hortman helped shape the state’s solar standards and secure funding for Highway 610 in the Twin Cities metro. She helped line up the current renovation to the building home to House members’ offices that is greatly expanding the footprint. The fourth bill would turn the Minnesota Capitol grounds into a park, which Hoffman said was a dream of Hortman’s that she hoped could bring more visitors to the Capitol. Designating the Capitol complex and surrounding blocks the Melissa and Mark Hortman Memorial State Park would open up park funding to beautify the grounds for visitors without dipping into general legislative funds. Hoffman told our Cait Kelley that he’ll never forget Hortman suggesting that to him. “I sat back and I went, oh, that's brilliant. I mean, she really was thinking outside the box.” Hoffman said he anticipates bipartisan support for the bills.

 

New gun restrictions still face a tough path to get through the Legislature, but it’s possible that lawmakers will impose stricter punishment for gun-related crimes. Legislation introduced yesterday by Senate Republicans would subject repeat offenders who use a gun to longer prison terms, making it mandatory that they get the maximum sentence. That could include requiring them to serve out concurrent sentences rather than being eligible for earlier release. The companion bill was introduced last month in the House, also with Republican sponsors. Another bill making the rounds would enhance penalties for people who illegally transfer guns to an ineligible person. Any gun proposals need bipartisan buy-in to advance through the closely divided Legislature.

A DFL gun proposal that might have a path?  A House health committee considered a bill yesterday that would create a state office of gun violence prevention. Rep. Robert Bierman, DFL-Apple Valley, said gun violence is a public health threat and should be studied as such. “Bringing together researchers, medical professionals, educators, law enforcement and community leaders to reduce injuries and save lives,” Bierman said. “We cannot solve what we refuse to study.” Republican committee members raised questions about whether the office would duplicate existing resources and whether it might be better situated within the Department of Public Safety rather than the Department of Health. Bierman said he would continue working with others to address their concerns before it’s up again and prior to any up-or-down vote from the panel.

GOP contenders for statewide and federal offices are taking a different approach on abortion after losses in previous races. The Star Tribune’s Walker Orenstein and Ryan Faircloth wrote about how some Republican candidates are recalibrating their message on abortion this election year. The story points to Republican gubernatorial candidate Kendall Qualls who in 2022 declined to pick Michele Tafoya as a running mate in his 2022 race because she favors some level of abortion rights. This year, they write, Qualls would focus more on “personal persuasion, not legislation, to reduce abortions in a state where ‘70 percent of people want access to it, including like 30 percent of Republican women.’” They also point to Tafoya being the front runner GOP candidate for U.S. Senate. Fallout from a Supreme Court ruling on abortion helped give Democrats a trifecta in 2023. The story notes that several GOP candidates for governor have taken a more measured approach to the issue, while still appealing to the party faithful. 

A member of the House has a new member of her house. Congratulations to DFL Rep. Katie Jones and her family, who welcomed a baby this week. Jones, a first-term lawmaker from Minneapolis, could be away from the Capitol for a bit. As she bonds with her newborn, there are rules that allow for remote voting for members. That’s key because the House, as we’ve been reporting all year, remains knotted at 67 DFLers and 67 Republicans so any absence could loom large on key votes. The new baby’s name has a Scandinavian touch: Hans.