This week in politics felt different. The wildfires in Northern Minnesota are bringing elected officials together. U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and U.S. Rep. Pete Stauber (R-MN) stood side-by-side to announce a coordinated response to the unprecedented fire and smoke event expected to continue the rest of the summer. They both spoke of unity and bringing the state and federal governments together. Much more on the response tonight on Twin Cities PBS on Almanac.
Also on the show, I’ll highlight another bipartisan duo and tell you about a partnership that had Republican Rep. Danny Nadeau taking on some the work of Democratic Sen. John Hoffman while he was hospitalized last summer after being shot by an assassin who took the life of former House Speaker Melissa Hortman. They represent the same divided legislative district and have always worked well together, but that partnership took on new meaning while Hoffman was recovering from his wounds. You have to see them to believe how they have fought to find the middle of politics and gotten pushback from their own political parties. One gets accused of not really being a Democrat and the other is called a RINO—and they both laugh about it. The Republican representative is on some lists targested to flip. We will soon launch our Races to Watch series this summer and fall. Let us know which legislative seats you think we should feature.
