In the final days before the election, Gov. Mark Dayton, Sen. Al Franken and DFL leaders will tour the state for the 2014 GOTV Bus Tour.

“Thanks to the DFL’s work to improve the economy, create jobs and invest in education, voters have been supportive of our candidates,” said DFL Chairman Ken Martin. “The statewide bus tour is a chance for our elected officials to capitalize on the momentum we’ve built as we head toward Election Day.”

The tour runs Oct. 29 through Nov. 3. It kicks off Wednesday, Oct. 29 at 9 a.m. with a press conference and rally at the State Capitol. The first day the bus will visit communities in Congressional District 1. In the following days the bus will visit communities in every congressional district. The tour comes to a close on election eve back in St. Paul. 

“We’ll visit college campus, union halls and DFL action centers,” Martin said. “We look forward to celebrating the progress DFL leaders made over the past two years and firing people up to get DFLers to the polls Nov. 4.”

Martin said the tour will also be used to remind voters about the no excuse absentee voting sponsored by Steve Simon, the DFL-endorsed candidate for Secretary of State. For the first time in Minnesota, people have been able to vote by mail or in person without an excuse.

“During the week, we’ll encourage people to stop and vote on their way to or from the rally,” Marin said. “And it’s also important for voters to know that all county election offices, and cities that offer voting in person, will be open Saturday, Nov. 1 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.”

Martin said all rallies are free and open to the public.  A complete schedule is available at www.dfl.org/gotvtour.

Al Franken · DFL · Gov. Dayton · Ken Martin · Mark Dayton · Minnesota DFL · Sen. Franken · Steve Simon

The afternoon of October 18, Sen. Franken and Sen. Warren come to the CD3 DFL’s Campaign Office to talk with volunteers between shifts of door knocking and phone calls. Our thanks to Kevin McColl for the photos from the event:

Al Franken · Buck Humphrey · cd3 · DFL · Elizabeth Warren · HD48A · HD48B · House District 48A · House District 48B · Joan Howe-Pullis · Rep. Selcer · Sen. Franken · Sen. Warren · third congressional district DFL · Yvonne Selcer

The Minnesota DFL is celebrating our 70^th anniversary this year. We’ll celebrate this milestone at the Minnesota State Fair Aug. 21 through Sept. 1. The DFL booth is located at the corner of Dan Patch Ave. and Cooper St.

I am personally inviting you to stop by and help us celebrate this milestone. We’ll have visits from our DFL elected officials and buttons and t-shirts for sale. At the booth you’ll be able to register to vote and to learn more about early voting. In fact, early voting for the Nov. 4 election begins Sept. 19, just weeks after the State Fair ends.

Each day we’ll host panels featuring dynamic DFL leaders, including: Speaker of the House Paul Thissen and House Majority Leader Erin Murphy will talk about the progress made to build the middle class during the 2013 and 2014 session; we’ll hear from up-and-coming leaders Council Member Dai Thao, the first Hmong American to be elected to the St. Paul City Council and Council Member Andrew Johnson, the first millennial to be elected to the Minneapolis City Council; and Congressman Keith Ellison who will talk about progressive power. All panels start at 1 p.m. Come early, the seats fill fast for these popular conversations. A daily schedule is available at www.dfl.org.

The DFL has stood the test of time because it has stayed true to the principals on which it was founded – fairness and opportunity for all. The DFL believes that we’re greater together than we are on our own—that this state succeeds when every Minnesotan gets a fair shot, does their fair share, and plays by the same rules.

Help us celebrate this success at the Minnesota State Fair and stop by and join the Party!

70th anniversary · DFL · Minnesota DFL · Minnesota State Fair

Matt Gieske, Rep. Yvonne Selcer (HD48A), Sharon Sund (CD3), Rep. Steve Simon (Sec. of State), Audrey Britton, Laurie McKendry (SD48), Joan Howe-Pullis (HD48B) and Lyndon Carlson

Members of the Democratic Farmer Labor (DFL) Party marked 100 days until the Nov. 4 election with a weekend of volunteers taking action. DFL Chairman Ken Martin said over the weekend DFL elected officials, candidates, volunteers, and staff reached nearly 100,000 voters.

“The weekend’s pre-primary drive was unprecedented in Minnesota,” Martin said. “With so many boots on the ground, DFLers were able to reach out to voters not only about the upcoming primary and general elections, but about the new early voting options. This is a huge accomplishment.”

Official kickoffs for “100 Days of Action” were held with DFL leaders Sunday, July 27 at nearly 20 locations around the state. Martin appeared at the St. Paul “100 Days of Action” kickoff with State Auditor Rebecca Otto, Mayor Chris Coleman, and Gov. Mark Dayton.

“I can think of more than 100 reasons to make sure we re-elect Governor Dayton, Senator Franken and make sure we keep the majority in the Minnesota House,” Martin said. “We have to make sure we don’t take anything for granted because the stakes couldn’t be any higher.”

Martin talked about the progress made under DFL leadership in the past two years. There are more jobs than any other time in state history (160,000 jobs have been created since Gov. Dayton was elected); free all-day kindergarten will begin this fall; and Minnesota’s lowest-paid workers will receive a wage increase, impacting 137,000 children whose parents make minimum wage.

“We can make a difference in people’s lives,” Martin said, “let’s go out there and fight for that.” (more…)

100 Days · Audrey Britton · DFL · Joan Howe-Pullis · Laurie McKendry · Lyndon Carlson · Matt Gieske · Rep. Selcer · Sharon Sund · Yvonne Selcer

Party is powered up, ready to win in November

With a focus on turning out base DFL voters, the Minnesota DFL has opened 18 offices across the state.

“Thanks to our strong fundraising, the DFL has built a campaign organization to help us win up and down the ballot,” said DFL Chairman Ken Martin. “The DFL is staffed up to talk about our growing economy, historic investment in education and tax relief for the middle class and get voters out to the polls for the DFL this fall.”

Three metro area offices are hosting official openings in the coming days.

• Congressional District 5, 2410 E. 38^th St., Minneapolis: Gov. Dayton and his running mate Tina Smith, Sen. Al Franken, Congressman Keith Ellison and legislators will speak at the office opening and barbeque at noon, Saturday, June 21.
• Congressional District 3, 915 Main St. W, Hopkins: Rep. Steve Simon, the DFL-endorsed candidate for Secretary of State, Sharon Sund, the DFL-endorsed candidate for CD 3 and DFL legislators and candidates will speak at the office opening event 12:30 p.m., Saturday, June 21.
• Congressional District 2, 4555 Erin Dr., Suite 260, Eagan: DFL Chairman Ken Martin, House Majority Leader Erin Murphy, Mike Obermueller, the DFL-endorsed candidate for CD 2, Rep. Steve Simon, the DFL-endorsed candidate for Secretary of State, and DFL legislators and candidates will speak at the office opening event Tuesday, June 24, at 7 p.m.

The DFL also has offices open in Albert Lea, Bemidji, Brainerd, Duluth, Grand Rapids, Hibbing, Mankato, Moorhead, Morris, Rochester, Shoreview, St. Cloud, St. Paul, Virginia, and Willmar.

Martin said in addition to talking with voters about the promises made, promises kept by DFL leaders, field staff will also promote the new no excuse absentee balloting.

“Voting is now easier than ever in Minnesota,” Martin said. “No excuse absentee balloting makes voting more accessible to people with busy lifestyles or have concerns about getting to the polls. People can vote early in person or by mail and not worry about getting to the polls Nov. 4.”

For information on how to request an absentee ballot to vote early, visit the Minnesota Secretary of State’s Office at www.sos.state.mn.us and click on “Elections & Voting.”

3rd Congressional District · absentee voting · cd3 · Congressional campaign offices · Democratic Farmer Labor Party · DFL · early voting · Minnesota Secretary of State