Good morning. Happy end of the state’s fiscal year! And HBD to one of this newsletter’s authors and her spouse!

Several candidates for statewide elected offices are drawing on their experiences facing financial challenges early on to connect with voters on a key issue: affordability. As they give speeches and run ads, candidates on both sides of the political aisle are drawing from their past. In the U.S. Senate race, that means Angie Craig talks about being raised by a single mom in a trailer while Peggy Flanagan points to the apartment building her mom raised her in with the help of a housing voucher. Republican gubernatorial candidate Kendall Qualls highlights his experience growing up in housing projects in New York City before moving to a trailer with father in Oklahoma. The through line is that while the candidates might be in better financial positions now, they want to connect with voters and make the case that they should be the ones to help drive down prices in the offices they’re running for, Dana reports. University of Minnesota Political Science Professor Kathryn Pearson says it make sense. “Affordability in the economy are key issues for the midterm elections,” Pearson said. “In this particular cycle, with this particular economy and with affordability being such a big issue, I think it makes sense that we're seeing candidates really dig deep on their own backgrounds, their own struggles, their own experiences.”

Minnesota’s endorsed Republican for U.S. Senate has taken out a big line of credit with a bank to aid his campaign. According to a revised economic disclosure form Adam Schwarze filed late last week with the U.S. Senate, he has a $50,000 to $100,000 credit line from Chase bank, with a pretty hefty interest rate on demand of almost 27 percent. A version of the disclosure form he filed in May did not include the loan. Previously, Schwarze reported a $40,000 personal infusion to his campaign account. That was in March. Schwarze won the party’s backing in June but faces a multiple-candidate primary in August to determine who takes the Republican Party’s line on November’s ballot.

On top of the federal races, the legislative races and race for governor, Minnesotans will also vote on a constitutional amendment this November. Minnesotans will vote on whether the state changes up its formula for payments from the state’s permanent school fund endowment. The amendment would increase the formula to 4.5 percent of the fund’s three-year average. That would increase the amount of money each school district gets from the fund each year. So the push to get the amendment approved is on. A political fundraising committee has been started to urge a yes vote named The Permanent School Trust Fund Constitutional Committee, according to state campaign finance records. The key for the group will be getting people to vote. If people skip the question, it counts as a no vote.

U.S. Rep Angie Craig has now picked up the endorsements of both Twin Cities mayors. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey endorsed Craig on Monday. The U.S. Senate hopeful had already picked up the endorsement of St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her. Both mayors have successfully run as more moderate Democrats. Frey has served as Minneapolis mayor since 2018, winning two reelections since. Her is in her first term as St. Paul mayor, after leaving the Minnesota House to run for the city’s highest office. In a post on X, Craig posted a photo with Frey, “Minneapolis Mayor, Jacob Frey, knows I am relentless, tough, tested — and exactly who we need in Washington. I’m honored to have his endorsement in this race.”

Speaking of endorsements, Republican candidate for governor Mike Lindell says he’s still pursuing one from the president. The CEO of MyPillow told KSTP’s At Issue host Tom Hauser that he’s still seeking President Donald Trump’s seal of approval in the primary race against House Speaker Lisa Demuth and the Republican Party’s endorsed candidate Kendall Qualls. “I would welcome his endorsement, I think he’s the greatest president that we’ve ever had in history,” Lindell said. Trump has praised Lindell in the past but has come up short of issuing an endorsement. Lindell also defended his campaign’s decision to buy and give out thousands of copies of his autobiography, despite concerns about a potential breach of campaign finance rules.