Local Races

Minnesota has to come first – always.
Today, I’m proud of the work we’ve done to make Minnesota the best place to live and raise kids.
I’ve decided to step out of the race and let others worry about the election while I focus on the work.

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— Governor Tim Walz (@governorwalz.mn.gov) January 5, 2026 at 9:33 AM

Governor Walz’s decision to not seek re-election is what it looks like when leaders put the interests of the people before politics.
Tim’s career has been defined by getting results for Minnesotans, doing the right thing, and always putting people first.

— Tina Smith (@smith.senate.gov) January 5, 2026 at 12:25 PM

Tim Walz is a lifelong public servant who has always known that this isn't about him—it's about making life better for the people of Minnesota. I have such a tremendous amount of respect for his decision to pass the torch and let others step up to serve. We need more leaders like him.

— Molly Coleman (@mollycoleman.bsky.social) January 5, 2026 at 1:55 PM

Tim Walz ending his reelection bid is a real loss, he genuinely cares about the people he serves. It’s concerning that Trump’s bully politics and false narratives keep driving real public servants out. But I, for one, can’t wait to see what an untethered Tim Walz does next. ✌️👌

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— Karly Kingsley (@karlykingsley.bsky.social) January 5, 2026 at 11:09 AM

Proud to call @governorwalz.mn.gov a friend. Here’s my statement on his announcement ??

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— Governor Tony Evers (@govevers.wisconsin.gov) January 5, 2026 at 12:18 PM

I am sad Tim Walz is dropping out of the gubernatorial race but I get it. Trump has targeted and bullied him and his state. Unfortunately, leaving encourages Trump to do that more.
It's all so disheartening.

— Caroleeena (@caroleeena.bsky.social) January 5, 2026 at 2:15 PM

The conservative celebrating over Tim Walz is hilarious because Amy Klobuchar is about to put them in a head lock and make them like it

— Isaiah Martin (@isaiahrmartin.bsky.social) January 5, 2026 at 11:54 AM

One thing I will say is that all things about politics aside, I'll always genuinely appreciate how Tim Walz embraced his son Gus and didn't try to change him. It is a role model for other parents of neurodivergent kids.
www.ms.now/opinion/msnb…

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— Eric Michael Garcia (@ericmgarcia.bsky.social) January 5, 2026 at 9:17 AM

While Governor Walz was making sure that all kids in Minnesota get a school breakfast and lunch, Trump was spending millions trying to prevent Americans from seeing the evidence against him in the Epstein files. @governorwalz.mn.gov

— MissKrisss (@misskrisss.bsky.social) January 5, 2026 at 11:44 AM

Here's something I wrote about Tim Walz before he was seen as VP prospect. After speech that got unprompted standing ovation from 20,000 scientists from around the world
He is a formidable, accomplished, genuinely decent, genuinely intelligent and visionary man
fallows.substack.com/p/election-c…

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— James Fallows (@jfallows.bsky.social) January 5, 2026 at 3:45 PM

(From Gothamist: “Unpacking the cultural references at Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s inauguration”.)

I don’t like that line at all. I would be strongly disinclined to support someone who said it. But it’s not like Mamdani’s opponents support individualism. Their slogan is “obey the dear leader, conform to conservatism, and send the garbage back where they came from.”

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— Nobody Can Stop Popehat (@kenwhite.bsky.social) January 2, 2026 at 1:21 PM

/2 That’s because I think the choice between a mainstream vibe-collectivist (who only seems extreme through Overton Window abuse) and a cult of white nationalist nihilists is not a close call. Taking the least charitable view of Mamdani, we’ve lived with it plenty before, and he’s not a psychopath.

/3 Also, Trumpism is more or less collectivism for the benefit of a white male conservative affluent polity rather than other groups. It’s not like Trumpism is remotely individualistic in terms of thought, speech, or tolerance. So going with the “not gleefully bigoted” one is an easy choice.

/4 Also, Mamdani’s skilled, but also super young and I don’t get that he means what older people take him as meaning by that line. He was born two years after the wall came down. The term means something else to him.

/5 Also, I’m not the audience, and even if I don‘t like it, I think politics is better served by sincere expressions of values than by vapid centrist message-neutering. Let a thousand slogans bloom.

/6 But it’s likely just age and bias that make me associate “collectivism” with bad things, like, say, hypersensitivity to the mildest criticism of a concept or candidate even if that criticism is expressly couched in acknowledging that candidate’s basic decency and superiority to alternatives.

this is such an important thing to recognize and call out
the fascism is mostly done being nice at this point, but it got here through well dressed men politely asking questions while the rest of us were scolded for pointing out where those questions led

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— Micah (@rincewind.run) January 1, 2026 at 3:35 PM

a Warrenite with Bernie's message discipline and Obama's charisma is a hell of a thing to watch in action

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— the abbot of unreason (an archaeologist) (@merovingians.bsky.social) January 1, 2026 at 7:20 PM

This is exactly correct. The rhetoric is Bernie Sanders but the execution has been Elizabeth Warren. Aside from the joy at seeing the city reimagined as a place where working folks can live and build a life, I hope this charts a winning path forward for the progressive left nationwide.

— Reviewer #2 (@rschlock.bsky.social) January 1, 2026 at 7:38 PM

I hasten to add that it helps immeasurably that he is young, male, and conventionally attractive. He’s got that Obama freshness about him as well. Elizabeth Warren suffered more than anything else from voters not wanting to be lectured to by an older woman.
(I will never not be angry about it.)

— Reviewer #2 (@rschlock.bsky.social) January 1, 2026 at 8:03 PM

Echoing others to say it's great that a guy with this level of retail politicking has already attained the highest office he'll likely aspire to and will use it there instead of pretending to love ethanol

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— Zeddy (@zeddary.bsky.social) January 1, 2026 at 8:21 PM

Good article and damned if I'm not sending more props to Curtis Sliwa! "Anybody that's rooting for him to fail, that's pretty selfish," he said. Wow.
Mamdani’s inauguration – through the eyes of five New Yorkers – City & State New York share.google/iVHPjowKUxqU…

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— Tilted Owl (@tiltowl.bsky.social) January 2, 2026 at 12:14 AM

Zohran Mamdani took office Thursday as New York’s first Muslim and South Asian mayor, bringing hope to Muslim residents who for decades have felt they were merely on the edges of municipal power.

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— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost.com) January 1, 2026 at 11:00 AM

Progressive reformers tend to be very good at political organizing and groundswell. But their disdain (often warranted) of patronage-style politics often makes it difficult for them to be connected to the larger communities they need to serve.
www.thenation.com/article/poli…

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— Eric Michael Garcia (@ericmgarcia.bsky.social) January 2, 2026 at 1:21 PM

John Lindsay was mayor when I left NYC for college in the Midwest, and one of the major reasons I never returned. He may have had the best intentions, but living under his regime convinced me that Finley Peter Dunne’s Gilded Age Goo-Goos still pranced the legislative Earth. I don’t respect most of the Nation‘s current positions, but this article is IMO extremely on point:

There are many ways a progressive politician can fail. They can fail to be elected. They can fail to deliver on their platform once in office. And they can also fail to build up the left’s power in a way that outlasts their administration.

This third possibility has often been overlooked by commentary around Zohran Mamdani’s election as New York City mayor. However, this scenario fits the tenure of John Vliet Lindsay perfectly: a New York mayor who, from 1966 to 1973, passed progressive legislation that leftists would dream of winning today, but whose administration nonetheless oversaw an erosion of working-class power.

Because of this failure, Lindsay’s good intentions and accomplishments were largely for naught. By the late 1970s, his legacy was all but undone and the ex-mayor himself became, in The New York Times’ words, an “exile in his own city.”

To avoid this melancholy fate, Mamdani must do more than deliver good policies on behalf of the city’s most marginalized. He must also build durable power among New York’s working class through his political organizations, coalitions, and approach toward the city’s political economy. If Mamdani can learn from Lindsay, he can establish a progressive legacy that can survive and be built upon. If he doesn’t, then he will become what a reporter once said of Lindsay: someone who “gave good intentions a bad name.”…

When asked if she will energize Republicans in addition to Democrats, Angle said, “She could. I think that that’s the real challenge is for her to be able to increase turnout for not just her race, but for other Democrats without motivating Republicans. I’ve been doing politics in Texas a long time. Republicans don’t have much to brag about at any level. I’m not sure that being upset with one or two Democrats is going to overcome the fact that they’re profoundly disappointed with Republican leadership that’s failing them.”

Vinny Minchillo, a Republican consultant in North Texas, told CBS News Texas that he agrees with those who believe Crockett cannot win a general election in the Lone Star State.

“I think she’s a real polarizing candidate,” Minchillo said. “She’s fun to watch, in which she goes crazy on the news. It’s always interesting to watch. But I just don’t think that’s going to work in a general election. I think she is too extreme and too far left for even Texas Democrats.” …

“We got a long way to go. This has already been a nasty race to begin with,” Minchillo said. “Cornyn came out of the gate saying that he was going to take Paxton to the woodshed and put in words stronger than that. This has been pretty nasty. Cornyn has spent the summer pounding on Paxton. He’s moved numbers in his favor. Now, we’re seeing a little bit of back and forth. So, this is going to be really rough. The Cornyn folks have actually opened a second front. They’re starting to beat on Wesley Hunt. So that’s going to be tough. I don’t see a path to be honest for Hunt. I just don’t think he can beat either Cornyn or Paxton. Maybe a better chance to beat Cornyn, but I just don’t think he can get there unless he’s got a lot of money.”

Minchillo predicts that, between all six candidates and their campaigns and the third-party groups that support them for both the primary, primary runoff, and general election, this race could cost at least $750 million…

Have y’all seen the nonsense with the candidate who failed to get honorable mention on Nov 4th going off on a voter calling her a Jasmine Crockett “type?”
Well I’m going to drop a Tshirt. If you have design ideas drop them below 😍👇🏾

— Jasmine Crockett (@jasmineforus.bsky.social) November 6, 2025 at 1:08 PM

I would absolutely buy this version:

This is a quick down and dirty version, but I’d buy a T-shirt like this. (Image is public domain, taken from the original WPA poster)

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— Jen (@jkmahal.bsky.social) November 6, 2025 at 1:38 PM