"Rather than debating actual policy or articulating a vision for the city, energy is being spent policing who’s allowed in the room."
Amen. I stopped being a delegate to city conventions several cycles ago, seeing how easily manipulated by bloc voting groups they had become, and that the only way to endorsement was to have your delegates outlast your opponent's delegates. Providing child care and pizza was often the deciding factor! MN should break ranks with the few states that use the caucus/convention system (along with Guam and American Samoa!) and go to a well-run primary system.
Thank you for this post. I would add a few other details.
On caucus night, some precincts had only a handful of people attend, while others had dozens. One precinct had no online registrations according to the online form data (precinct 6-5, Phillips West); it's possible some people showed up in-person but it's hard to say without easily accessible data. So some parts of the city are overrepresented in the caucus system, while others have zero representation.
Then consider the case of a large and politically-engaged precinct like 10-1 (Lowry Hill East). That caucus lasted well over 4 hours on April 8th. The people who managed to stay the entire evening (and many left early, because of the grueling, confusing and frustrating nature of the experience) are now expected to go to a city convention on July 19th that could last 12 hours, with expensive food options (and no ability to bring your own food), that will likely not result in any endorsement.
It's not fair or democratic to ask people to spend upwards of 16 hours to participate in what should be a straightforward vote. And based on the backgrounds of the delegates and alternates, you can see at a glance that the majority of them don't represent mainstream views (and if mainstream views are "wrong," the DFL and its delegates are effectively saying the average person is not worth listening to, and can be easily overpowered and disenfranchised in the general election initially via the caucus system).
To put it mildly, it’s messy. And I don’t like it. The other extreme, though, is what’s happening nationally with the GOP: the subservient, sycophantic, cultish following of an evil authoritarian leader. If I have to choose between one or the other, I’ll take the former.
Well, are we perhaps headed that way? MAGA didn't spring up over night, it started with the Tea Party and - with Fox as their broadcaster -- their message took hold. Old school Republicans like Arne Carlson no longer have a party, and if the DFL keeps trending DSA, I won't either.
Less may feel comfortable aligning themselves with, or identifying themselves as Democrats, hence more calling themselves Independents. Never/ever thought I would, but I have listed that way myself, ( at least in Mpls) agreeing with Carville on some of this.
Post election excerpt ..
"Democratic strategist James Carville said support from some on the left for the push to defund the police has become a major hindrance for the party’s candidates, including Vice President Harris during her presidential campaign.
“We could never wash off the stench of it,” Carville said in an interview with The New York Times.
He added that the phrase “defund the police” is “the three stupidest words in the English language.”
quite the dilema and I sadly agree. At least there is a more pubic squabbling and chance for may ideas/views to get aired. A no endorsement is so much better than the NO choice given to the rest of the world through the totally broken Republican collapse.
"Also, by supporting Democratic candidates, we are giving material and ideological support to an imperialist party. As socialists living in the heart of the Imperialist beast, we have a distinct responsibility to stand in solidarity with our comrades suffering Imperialist oppression. Because even the left flank of the Democratic party (people like Bernie Sanders) support imperialism, supporting such a party betrays our anti-imperialist obligation. "
A newer statement from the Twin Cities DSA, just out in June 2025.
Excerpt..
"As we build this movement against Trump, we will not be promoting the Democratic Party because the Democrats failed to beat Trump twice, they have failed to wage an effective resistance against him, and they are contributing to economic inequality, wars, deportations, the climate crisis, etc."
When I read this latest DSA pronouncement, my only thought, ( as they blame the Democrats) was that this group, the DSA, (party/ org) is likely one of the reasons that Trump got back in.
This comment comes from Steve Brandt, who is sometimes misidentified by Substack's comments box as George somebody or another.
Your comments today may be valid for mayoral endorsements. It did take R.T. Rybak three tries to win DFL endorsement although he had majority support in the general electorate. . But your viewpoint ignores the value of the endorsement in the four citywide positions and the six park district positions that will also be considered. As a candidate for Board of Estimate and Taxation, I view the endorsement as very important to my campaign, even as someone who currently faces no announced opposition for reelection.
I won without endorsement last time. But that happened after the virtual convention reached consensus on only one of two endorsements for Board of Estimate and Taxation, and the endorsed candidate had to drop out due to a job change that prohibited political activity. I supported her until that point but also campaigned vigorously for the second spot. However, my path to my goal of winning second term will be much improved if I win endorsement this weekend. It's a symbol that my candidacy has been vetted by a group of Minneapolitans who are civically aware.
My understanding is that the main reason for shortening the convention to one day was the financial burden of renting a large enough facility for two days. It's likely more cost-effective to rent one location for endorsing park district candidates than to rent six different locations. The location also provides security and screening that has grown more important since the Hortman-Hoffman shootings but that also comes at an extra price.
I worked hard in rules/agenda debates to get the endorsement for my position scheduled on the proposed agenda ahead of the mayoral endorsement to increase chances that it would be considered before adjournment instead of being crowded out by a continuing mayoral deadlock. I supported the same for the Park Board endorsements. But they will be considered after four hours allotted to mayoral endorsement but at least at a time certain of 6 p.m., or four hours before the scheduled adjournment.
For issues regarding party officials supporting another candidate over the endorsee, see Article IV, especially subsection H, of the Minnesota DFL constitution. In my Senate District, Central Committee members who feel that they can't support the endorsed candidate have taken a leave of absence from their position during the relevant campaign. Supporting a non-endorsed candidate over an endorsed one is a disciplinable offense under the constitution's code of conduct. The effort to ban dual DFL-DSA endorsements that you reference was dropped on July 10, according to an email from its main proponent.
Your criticism of the party for not adopting an ideologically united position on city issues ignores that DFL platforms generally are adopted at the state level for statewide issues and only in even years when the state party endorses. There will be only limited opportunities on Saturday to adopt resolutions because the main priority will be to decide whether or not to endorse candidates.
I look forward to seeing you at the convention, Terry.
I strongly feel a primary is the BEST option. Especially after attending the April caucus and finding that the only way to get my candidates a caucus vote was to be a delegate as none of the delegates chosen in my Ward supported either of my candidates for Mayor or City Council. I felt like I wasted 2 hours at the caucus. And some of the delegates said they hadn't even decided who they would vote for. How can those who just want to take off one night from work be heard?
That said, this was the city response regarding a primary: Because Minneapolis uses Ranked-Choice Voting, there is no Primary Election for our Municipal Races (Mayor, City Council, Park Board, and Board of Estimate & Taxation) Instead, everyone running for those offices goes straight to the General Election, held this year on November 4.
Jon Martin, CERA
Deputy Director – Elections & Voter Services
City of Minneapolis – Elections & Voter Services
Office of the City Clerk
980 E. Hennepin Ave
Does that mean we would have to get rid of RCV to get a primary?
And why should the DFL supporters have to compromise on wanting MPD fully staffed, and wanting our city clear of homeless fentanyl camps to contribute to the BIG TENT for the Federal election? Shouldn't the DSA compromise? Omar Fateh wants to get rid of fencing--which has gotten rid of camps under freeways, and he supports the "(misnomer 'Safe')Outdoor Spaces" Ordinances: camps and parking spaces for homeless (who don't want to live with rules in public housing). Don't we have enough vandalism as it is? Why become a MECCA for the region's addicted? Besides, these camps enable and keep people in the addicted state rather than being forced to change. They really aren't humane at all.
"Rather than debating actual policy or articulating a vision for the city, energy is being spent policing who’s allowed in the room."
Amen. I stopped being a delegate to city conventions several cycles ago, seeing how easily manipulated by bloc voting groups they had become, and that the only way to endorsement was to have your delegates outlast your opponent's delegates. Providing child care and pizza was often the deciding factor! MN should break ranks with the few states that use the caucus/convention system (along with Guam and American Samoa!) and go to a well-run primary system.
Thank you for this post. I would add a few other details.
On caucus night, some precincts had only a handful of people attend, while others had dozens. One precinct had no online registrations according to the online form data (precinct 6-5, Phillips West); it's possible some people showed up in-person but it's hard to say without easily accessible data. So some parts of the city are overrepresented in the caucus system, while others have zero representation.
Then consider the case of a large and politically-engaged precinct like 10-1 (Lowry Hill East). That caucus lasted well over 4 hours on April 8th. The people who managed to stay the entire evening (and many left early, because of the grueling, confusing and frustrating nature of the experience) are now expected to go to a city convention on July 19th that could last 12 hours, with expensive food options (and no ability to bring your own food), that will likely not result in any endorsement.
It's not fair or democratic to ask people to spend upwards of 16 hours to participate in what should be a straightforward vote. And based on the backgrounds of the delegates and alternates, you can see at a glance that the majority of them don't represent mainstream views (and if mainstream views are "wrong," the DFL and its delegates are effectively saying the average person is not worth listening to, and can be easily overpowered and disenfranchised in the general election initially via the caucus system).
To put it mildly, it’s messy. And I don’t like it. The other extreme, though, is what’s happening nationally with the GOP: the subservient, sycophantic, cultish following of an evil authoritarian leader. If I have to choose between one or the other, I’ll take the former.
Well, are we perhaps headed that way? MAGA didn't spring up over night, it started with the Tea Party and - with Fox as their broadcaster -- their message took hold. Old school Republicans like Arne Carlson no longer have a party, and if the DFL keeps trending DSA, I won't either.
https://theconversation.com/in-2024-independent-voters-grew-their-share-of-the-vote-split-their-tickets-and-expanded-their-influence-245125
Related to the piece above..
Less may feel comfortable aligning themselves with, or identifying themselves as Democrats, hence more calling themselves Independents. Never/ever thought I would, but I have listed that way myself, ( at least in Mpls) agreeing with Carville on some of this.
Post election excerpt ..
"Democratic strategist James Carville said support from some on the left for the push to defund the police has become a major hindrance for the party’s candidates, including Vice President Harris during her presidential campaign.
“We could never wash off the stench of it,” Carville said in an interview with The New York Times.
He added that the phrase “defund the police” is “the three stupidest words in the English language.”
quite the dilema and I sadly agree. At least there is a more pubic squabbling and chance for may ideas/views to get aired. A no endorsement is so much better than the NO choice given to the rest of the world through the totally broken Republican collapse.
The DSA, in 2025, is continuing with their parasitic use of the Democratic Party, as we are STILL seeing in Mpls.
The result, the/ any DFL endorsement means very little here now.
From 2018...
This article was originally published on the NY DSA website.
https://www.leftvoice.org/dsa-it-s-time-to-abandon-the-democrats/
Excerpt...
"Also, by supporting Democratic candidates, we are giving material and ideological support to an imperialist party. As socialists living in the heart of the Imperialist beast, we have a distinct responsibility to stand in solidarity with our comrades suffering Imperialist oppression. Because even the left flank of the Democratic party (people like Bernie Sanders) support imperialism, supporting such a party betrays our anti-imperialist obligation. "
A newer statement from the Twin Cities DSA, just out in June 2025.
Excerpt..
"As we build this movement against Trump, we will not be promoting the Democratic Party because the Democrats failed to beat Trump twice, they have failed to wage an effective resistance against him, and they are contributing to economic inequality, wars, deportations, the climate crisis, etc."
When I read this latest DSA pronouncement, my only thought, ( as they blame the Democrats) was that this group, the DSA, (party/ org) is likely one of the reasons that Trump got back in.
We're the party of the Big Tent, but we don't act like we are. I'm all for direct primaries.
This comment comes from Steve Brandt, who is sometimes misidentified by Substack's comments box as George somebody or another.
Your comments today may be valid for mayoral endorsements. It did take R.T. Rybak three tries to win DFL endorsement although he had majority support in the general electorate. . But your viewpoint ignores the value of the endorsement in the four citywide positions and the six park district positions that will also be considered. As a candidate for Board of Estimate and Taxation, I view the endorsement as very important to my campaign, even as someone who currently faces no announced opposition for reelection.
I won without endorsement last time. But that happened after the virtual convention reached consensus on only one of two endorsements for Board of Estimate and Taxation, and the endorsed candidate had to drop out due to a job change that prohibited political activity. I supported her until that point but also campaigned vigorously for the second spot. However, my path to my goal of winning second term will be much improved if I win endorsement this weekend. It's a symbol that my candidacy has been vetted by a group of Minneapolitans who are civically aware.
My understanding is that the main reason for shortening the convention to one day was the financial burden of renting a large enough facility for two days. It's likely more cost-effective to rent one location for endorsing park district candidates than to rent six different locations. The location also provides security and screening that has grown more important since the Hortman-Hoffman shootings but that also comes at an extra price.
I worked hard in rules/agenda debates to get the endorsement for my position scheduled on the proposed agenda ahead of the mayoral endorsement to increase chances that it would be considered before adjournment instead of being crowded out by a continuing mayoral deadlock. I supported the same for the Park Board endorsements. But they will be considered after four hours allotted to mayoral endorsement but at least at a time certain of 6 p.m., or four hours before the scheduled adjournment.
For issues regarding party officials supporting another candidate over the endorsee, see Article IV, especially subsection H, of the Minnesota DFL constitution. In my Senate District, Central Committee members who feel that they can't support the endorsed candidate have taken a leave of absence from their position during the relevant campaign. Supporting a non-endorsed candidate over an endorsed one is a disciplinable offense under the constitution's code of conduct. The effort to ban dual DFL-DSA endorsements that you reference was dropped on July 10, according to an email from its main proponent.
Your criticism of the party for not adopting an ideologically united position on city issues ignores that DFL platforms generally are adopted at the state level for statewide issues and only in even years when the state party endorses. There will be only limited opportunities on Saturday to adopt resolutions because the main priority will be to decide whether or not to endorse candidates.
I look forward to seeing you at the convention, Terry.
I strongly feel a primary is the BEST option. Especially after attending the April caucus and finding that the only way to get my candidates a caucus vote was to be a delegate as none of the delegates chosen in my Ward supported either of my candidates for Mayor or City Council. I felt like I wasted 2 hours at the caucus. And some of the delegates said they hadn't even decided who they would vote for. How can those who just want to take off one night from work be heard?
That said, this was the city response regarding a primary: Because Minneapolis uses Ranked-Choice Voting, there is no Primary Election for our Municipal Races (Mayor, City Council, Park Board, and Board of Estimate & Taxation) Instead, everyone running for those offices goes straight to the General Election, held this year on November 4.
Jon Martin, CERA
Deputy Director – Elections & Voter Services
City of Minneapolis – Elections & Voter Services
Office of the City Clerk
980 E. Hennepin Ave
Does that mean we would have to get rid of RCV to get a primary?
And why should the DFL supporters have to compromise on wanting MPD fully staffed, and wanting our city clear of homeless fentanyl camps to contribute to the BIG TENT for the Federal election? Shouldn't the DSA compromise? Omar Fateh wants to get rid of fencing--which has gotten rid of camps under freeways, and he supports the "(misnomer 'Safe')Outdoor Spaces" Ordinances: camps and parking spaces for homeless (who don't want to live with rules in public housing). Don't we have enough vandalism as it is? Why become a MECCA for the region's addicted? Besides, these camps enable and keep people in the addicted state rather than being forced to change. They really aren't humane at all.