Good morning. Brutal close of the week for all the Minnesotans who got Naz Reid tats.

Early voting for the primary starts today! Well, technically it’s absentee voting, which means you place your ballot in an envelope and mail it in or submit it in person at a polling place. Absentee ballots then go through extra verification before votes are counted after the polls close on Election Day. A new period that the state calls “early voting” (though it starts later than absentee voting) starts in July — 18 days before the election. At that time voters will be able to mark their ballot and place it directly in a tabulator machine, just like on Election Day. But the bottom line is today voters can start submitting their ballots for the Aug. 11 primary. Check out Cait’s explainer on absentee and early voting. She also breaks down some of the most competitive primary races.

A state lawmaker will be arraigned today on DWI charges stemming from a traffic stop earlier this year. Rep. Elliott Engen of Lino Lakes will have an arraignment hearing in a Ramsey County courtroom. Engen was pulled over by White Bear Lake police in the early hours of March 27 for speeding. According to the criminal complaint, police say Engen also had a headlight out and expired registration. Police say Engen initially denied drinking, but later admitted to consuming beer earlier in the night. The complaint says his blood alcohol concentration was .13 — well above the legal limit for driving. Engen had been running for state auditor, but ended his campaign. Earlier this month, he unexpectedly filed for another term for his House seat but withdrew soon after.

A prominent Minnesota businesses advocacy group has cut ties with a top leader for reasons that aren’t entirely clear. Minnesota Business Partnership, which represents top executives at the state’s largest companies, announced former CEO Kurt Zellers had resigned and that Erika Nelson and Abby Loesch would lead as interim co-CEOs. Zellers started leading the business partnership in 2023 and previously served as Republican state House speaker. Brian reports that the partnership didn’t offer a reason for the shakeup , nor did Zellers answer messages about the move. Nelson has been chief of staff at the partnership and is a former top staff member to U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, a Democratic candidate for governor. Loesch was in charge of the group’s education and workforce policy efforts and has deep experience in Republican politics. 

A new plaque honoring military families could soon be added to a memorial on the Capitol grounds honoring those who served in various conflicts. The Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs has applied to add a plaque honoring Gold Star and Blue Star families to the Court of Honor . Gold Star families are those who’ve had a loved one die during active military duty. Blue Star families are those who have a loved one on active military duty. "This plaque really kind of promises that no family's grief will be forgotten, and that the sacrifices will remain engraved in our collective memory out on the Capitol grounds,” said Dave Bellefeuille, the chief of staff for the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs. The plaque was approved by the Legislature in 2025. It is moving through the approval process of the Capitol Area Architectural and Planning Board, which is taking public comment through July 22 on the plaque.

Minnesota Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Emmer had critical words Thursday for immigrants who don't assimilate to this country. In comments at a conservative advocacy organization gathering , Emmer said his home state "let immigrants who come into this country, not wanting to assimilate, like, cheat and steal from them." Emmer said Minnesotans are afraid of being called racist or Islamaphobic, adding that he's done being careful. "We celebrate everyone's culture. We're happy with that, as long as you are an American,” he said. “Celebrate your culture. I don't care, Italian, Polish, you know, Somali, okay, but they don't assimilate, and if they don't assimilate, then they should go the hell back to where they came from." The town hall was for the 250th anniversary of America. Emmer represents the state's Sixth District that covers parts of central Minnesota. Responding to a video of Emmer’s speech, Democratic U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar wrote: “I assimilated all the way to Congress and this idiot still tells me to go back where I came from,” and called him xenophobic in another post. Emmer has become increasingly critical of the Somali community in recent years, but defended the community early in his congressional career.