Good morning. For weary parents of littles or those wistful about a bygone era, this story about “toddler raves ” is a delightful listen. 

As they campaign around the state, Democrats and Republicans raise two key issues as top ones they’d confront if voters hand them control of the Capitol next year: affordability and fraud. But the proposals they’re raising to address these issues vary. Dana spoke with legislative leaders about their first priorities if they’re elected to a trifecta next year, with control of the governor’s office and both chambers of the Legislature at their disposal. They spelled out their plans for what would be at the top of their lists in 2027. Read more here.

DFL U.S. Senate candidate Peggy Flanagan used a west central Minnesota swing yesterday to hold an event outside of a private prison that will be used in upcoming immigrant detentions. Vocal opposition to Trump administration immigration enforcement tactics helped propel Flanagan in the party primary, but it remains to be seen how potent it will be in a general election. The lieutenant governor visited with protesters in Appleton who oppose the ICE detention facility set to open in a former private prison sold to the federal government by Core Civic. She noted the prison’s place as a community flashpoint between opponents and those who see it as a job creator. “You should be able to live wherever you want in this beautiful state and have access to a good job — and healthcare, and a good school and infrastructure. We do not have to rely on detaining people in private institutions that are only created to make money to do that.” Her Republican opponent, Michele Tafoya, is swinging through southern Minnesota today along with Senate Majority Leader John Thune. 

The Minnesota Secretary of State's Office reports that more than 63,000 absentee ballots have been accepted so far. The office reported on Friday that 63,396 absentee ballots had been accepted out of more than 424,000 standard mail and absentee ballots that have been requested. The ones sent in by voters represents a mix of ballots cast in person and by mail. More than a third of those have been cast by voters in Hennepin County. With a little more than four weeks to go until Election Day, more in-person early voting options are set to come online this month. Races for governor, U.S. Senate, all legislative seats and constitutional offices are on the ballot. 

DFL Attorney General Keith Ellison and Republican trial attorney Ron Schutz tangled over questions about fraud, financial holdings and Minnesota’s role in multi-state lawsuits in their first head-to-head debate. In their joint appearance on “Politics Friday,”  Schutz and Ellison predictably sparred on the attorney general’s role in combatting and prosecuting Medicaid fraud (in Minnesota, the attorney general runs the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and has the ability to prosecute Medicaid fraudsters). But the candidates did agree on some things — each said they would continue to prosecute the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, the two Minnesotans killed by immigration enforcement agents in January. Watch a video of the debate here. 

In that debate, both candidates said they’d continue to defend a new Minnesota law that aims to prohibit use of technology that makes people appear nude when those images are faked. That comes as a federal appeals court put enforcement of the law on hold. Friday’s ruling was sought by the AI company that operates social media site X. The law is effectively suspended as a lawsuit over it plays out. The 8th Circuit Court of Appeals granted the injunction sought by Elon Musk’s xAI after a lower court refused to do so. DFL state Sen. Erin Maye Quade said the ruling “gave child predators their favorite tool back.” Minnesota’s law passed this spring with bipartisan backing.

We recommend these two deep-dive stories on the top-of-ticket races over the weekend about geography and identity. Both appeared in the Minnesota Star Tribune. Ryan Faircloth hit the road for northwestern Minnesota to explore Amy Klobuchar’s past connection with voters in Norman County that helped her overperform the DFL ticket. The article suggests that might be a taller task in her run for governor as attitudes shift on what the party stands for. Walker Orenstein looks at the way Republicans Lisa Demuth and Michele Tafoya are bringing up their personal diversity while also trying to keep talk about it at bay. This year’s GOP ticket is the most competitive in years but it has also meant walking a tightrope.