What to Eat at the MN State Fair
And How to Make Sense of the Minneapolis DFL
Beer-Flavored Ice Cream
We couldn’t help ourselves. This isn’t a guide to fair food, but after watching the sausage-making inside the DFL these past weeks, we’re convinced party leaders would rather the public stay preoccupied with the Uncrustaburger than with their inner workings. We’re intrigued by the beer-flavored ice cream, but not enough to fight the crowds at the fair to try it. If you did, let us know what you thought—we welcome all food reviews.
The revocation on August 21 of Omar Fateh’s endorsement by the state DFL Constitution, Bylaws, and Rules Committee (CBRC) surprised us for several reasons. Until now, we were unaware that this committee even existed. We primarily focus on the Minneapolis government, and tracking its activities is a full-time task in itself. Expanding coverage to state politics may come later—but for now, we try to keep up with what goes on in this city.
The CBRC not only revoked Fateh’s endorsement. It barred the Minneapolis DFL from making any endorsements this year and placed the organization on probation for two years. In a clear show of state party power, the Minneapolis DFL must now operate under the oversight of the DFL State Executive Committee. To continue functioning, it must submit process-improvement plans proving it can “act in accordance with standard DFL principles and practices.”
Minneapolis residents are reminded once again that little-known state committees often make the decisions that shape local politics.
Crop Art Exhibit
The rules of politics in Minnesota fall under the jurisdiction of the DFL Constitution, Bylaws, and Rules Committee (CBRC). The CBRC has 30 members: two from each of the eight congressional districts, 11 from the State Central Committee, two from the State Executive Committee, and the State Party Chair, Richard Carlbom. One of its duties is to ensure that local DFL organizations follow state rules.
In reviewing the Minneapolis DFL City Convention held on July 19, the CBRC found “substantial flaws.” Among them: the Ward 5 credentials book was lost, the master check-in sheet was not properly secured, the official credentials record was left accessible to non-members, and errors in the delegate upgrading process left some delegates without voting badges.
The biggest breakdown came with an untested electronic voting system that crashed during the convention. As a result, 176 votes went uncounted—enough to have placed Dwayne Davis on a second ballot. In a sign of how unprepared organizers were, the Minneapolis DFL relied on the free version of Jotform until mid-convention, when the number of users forced them to upgrade to a paid plan.
Thousands of volunteer and delegate hours were wasted. We reported on the 13-hour convention and the ward meetings leading up to it. Chaos was hardly a surprise. Every step of the process was plagued by partisanship, sloppy record-keeping, and questions about rules and delegate selection. After watching this play out, it’s fair to ask whether the Minneapolis DFL can continue to function as a credible political organization.
Church of Cash
The Minneapolis DFL exists to endorse candidates and, in doing so, to influence the outcome of city races. As the past months have shown, it lacks the resources and expertise to do so effectively. We have enormous respect for the volunteers and delegates who gave their time and effort to make the process work. But it is time to rethink whether this body should continue to exist—and if so, in what form.
Serious consideration should be given to abandoning the endorsement process altogether. For anyone who attended the conventions, it was apparent that most participants already knew which candidate they supported. The speeches had little influence. The Q&A sessions were often designed to expose weaknesses rather than illuminate differences. In practice, the conventions were warm-up battles for the election to come. The real prize was the endorsement of a monolithic party and access to its voter database.
We can imagine a different role for the Minneapolis DFL, one closer to the League of Women Voters. It could hold debates, promote issues important to the party independent of specific candidates, register voters, and establish clear criteria for database access—for example, requiring candidates to gather 250 signatures from party members.
The state party’s intervention has further divided the Minneapolis DFL and prompted criticism from every direction. This is an opportune moment to reassess how we want to govern ourselves. When candidates who all carry the same endorsement hold such different positions on budgets, public safety, rent control, homelessness, and economic development, the label “DFL endorsed” offers little value to residents who aren’t digging into each candidate individually.
Sling Shot
Minneapolis residents hold a wide range of views, yet city politics have been dominated by one party for decades. A system of proportional representation—where all 13 council members are chosen based on their party’s share of the citywide vote—would bring us closer to accurate representation. In such a system, the council might include six Democrats, four Democratic Socialists, two Libertarians, and one Green Party member. The mayor would be the DFL candidate with the most votes. Of course, this is a simplified example. The larger point is that the current system is failing the city. The endless battles for a single-party endorsement primarily serve to maintain control by insiders—until, as we saw this year, the system becomes so flawed that it requires state intervention.
The Minnesota State Fair ends September 1. Once it does, more residents will begin paying attention to local candidates. Some may stop to ask why the DFL revoked the mayoral endorsement. Most will simply be looking for a candidate who speaks to their vision for Minneapolis and has the skills to deliver. Regardless of endorsements, candidates still face the harder task: convincing their neighbors that their vision for the city deserves their first-choice vote.
I'm glad Terry is writing about this. But the situation is probably even worse than he is making it out. Here is an important additional detail from the Star Tribune:
"In addition, Council Member Linea Palmisano, who supported Mayor Jacob Frey and left the voting floor toward the end of the convention, said she saw individuals picking up the delegate badges she and others had returned, and waving them as part of the final “show-of-hands” style vote that ultimately clinched the endorsement for Fateh."
https://www.startribune.com/minneapolis-mayor-dfl-endorsement/601458921
So let's be clear, it wasn't just incompetence here. Choudhary, Fateh supporters are evidently perfectly willing to commit fraud to get their candidate over the line.
The convention was so poorly run, I feel like the public needs a brighter light shone on Mpls DFL leadership itself. Who was the overall leader for the convention? Who was responsible for organizing and decision-making for different aspects? Tie convention failures to specific individuals. Those people should never be let anywhere near DFL leadership positions ever again. Embarrassing.