♪ ♪ >> CATHY: WE'RE ENDING THE SHOW TONIGHT TALKING WITH THE CHAIRS OF THE TWO MAJOR STATE PARTIES.

POLITICAL CANDIDATES HAVE BEEN OUT AT THE STATE FAIR ALL WEEK, CAMPAIGN ADS ARE ALL OVER THE AIRWAVES, AND QUESTIONS ABOUND REGARDING THE STATE OF MAIL-IN VOTING HEADING INTO THE MIDTERMS.

HERE TO DISCUSS THEIR PARTIES' POSITIONS AND CANDIDATES, RICHARD CALRBOM IS THE CHAIR OF THE MINNESOTA DEMOCRATIC FARMER LABOR PARTY.

JOINING HIM IS ALEX PLECHASH, CHAIRMAN OF THE MINNESOTA GOP.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU BOTH HERE ON A HOLIDAY WEEKEND.

CHAIR PLECHASH, I'M GOING TO START WITH YOU, A FEDERAL JUDGE EARLIER TODAY IN BOSTON BLOCKED THE PRESIDENT'S PLAN TO IMPLEMENT NEW MAIL-IN BALLOT RESTRICTIONS.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THAT?

THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THIS JUDGE HAS DONE THIS.

>> WELL, THAT'S ACTUALLY NEWS TO ME.

IT'S A LITTLE HARD FOR ME TO REACT TO THAT.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE PARTY IS DEFINITELY FOCUSED ON, MAKE SURE THAT ELECTIONS ARE FAIR, THAT THERE'S GOOD INTEGRITY IN THOSE, SO WE'RE GOING TO BE FOCUSED ON THAT.

AND TO THE EXTENT THAT WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH THINGS, WE WILL.

>> Cathy: I'D LIKE TO ASK CHAIR CARLBOM THE SAME THING.

>> FIRST, YOU KNOW, FIRST AND FOREMOST, SECRETARY OF STATE STEVE SIMON WOULD TELL YOU, NOTHING'S CHANGED IN MINNESOTA.

THE WAY WE VOTE IS VERY SAFE AND SECURE.

THE VOTE IS COUNTED LOCALLY BY LOCAL ELECTIONS OFFICIALS.

AND IF PEOPLE WANT TO MAIL IN THEIR BALLOT, IT WILL BE COUNTED.

WE'RE VERY CONFIDENT, THEY CANNOT CHANGE THE RULES OF THE GAME THIS LATE.

AND I TRUST THAT OUR MAIL-IN BALLOTS WILL BE COUNTED.

>> Eric: DO YOU FELLAS SEE ANY ISSUES ON ELECTION DAY AS FAR AS INTIMIDATION, DISRUPTIONS?

DO YOU THINK ALL OF THAT TALK IS OVERBLOWN?

>> I REALLY DON'T HEAR ABOUT IT.

WE'RE NOT FOCUSED ON IT.

WE'RE FOCUSED ON GETTING PEOPLE OUT TO VOTE, WHETHER IT'S EARLY VOTING OR ON ELECTION DAY.

WE'RE NOT REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT IT.

>> WE KNOW THAT BECAUSE OF METRO SURGE, PEOPLE WERE VERY CONCERNED AROUND PRECINCT CAUCUSES ABOUT I.C.E.

AGENTS SHOWING UP.

SO THERE CONTINUES TO BE A CONCERN THAT FEDERAL AGENTS WILL BE DEPLOYED TO MINNESOTA LEADING UP TO NOVEMBER 3rd.

WHAT I WILL SAY IS, WE TRAINED 10,000 CONSTITUTIONAL OBSERVERS IN JUST 48 DAYS AT THE DFL.

AND NOW WE'RE RETRAINING THEM TO BE POLL PROTECTORS, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GIVE PEOPLE CONFIDENCE THAT THE POLLING LOCATIONS WILL BE SAFE AND SECURE.

>> Cathy: WHAT DO YOU THINK OF POLL PROTECTORS?

>> WELL, WE DON'T CALL THEM POLL PROTECTORS, WE CALL THEM POLL WATCHERS.

I THINK THAT'S A GOOD THING.

THERE SHOULD BE A GOOD BALANCE OF PEOPLE ATCHING TO MAKE SURE THAT THE THINGS ARE BEING DONE THE RIGHT WAY.

>> Cathy: SAY, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE STATE FAIR OFF AIR HERE.

YOU HAVE NOT GONE YET.

YOU'VE BEEN THERE FOR SIX DAYS.

SO WHAT ARE YOU HEARING IN TERMS OF YOUR CANDIDATES AT THE FAIR?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

FIRST AND FOREMOST, THEY'RE LISTENING TO THE VOTERS.

I THINK DOUG CHAPIN, WHO'S RUNNING AGAINST TOM EMMER AID THAT IT'S LIKE A REVERSE DOOR KNOCK, WHERE EVERYBODY COMES TO YOU AND OU GET TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS.

WHAT WE'RE HEARING IS THAT THE AFFORDABILITY CRISIS IS REAL AND IT'S CAUSING A LOT OF ANXIETY.

THE ECONOMIC CHAOS BECAUSE OF TARIFFS ON CANADA TWO WEEKS AGO AND THE UNENDING WAR IN IRAN, IT'S REALLY CREATING A LOT OF DISCONTENT, WHETHER YOU'RE IN THE CATTLE BARN OR THE HOG BARN OR YOU'RE TALKING TO PEOPLE AT THE DFL BOOTH, THEY'RE ALL TALKING ABOUT THE COST OF LIVING.

AND THEY'RE ESPECIALLY CONCERNED ABOUT HEALTHCARE.

>> athy: CHAIR PLECHASH, WHAT ARE YOUR FOLKS HEARING?

>> WELL, INTERESTING, WE SEE A LOT OF ENERGY... [ AUDIO DIFFICULTY ] A LOT F PEOPLE COMING UP TO OUR CANDIDATES WHO DO SHOW UP, ARE HEARING, INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, I'VE NEVER VOTED REPUBLICAN BEFORE BUT I'M GOING TO VOTE REPUBLICAN THIS TIME.

OR THEY SAID, I'VE ALWAYS BEEN A DEMOCRAT BUT I'M GOING TO VOTE FOR YOU NOW BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE TOTALLY FED UP WITH THE FRAUD THAT'S BEEN GOING ON IN OUR STATE AND THE LACK OF ATTENTION TO IT BY THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION.

SO, WE'RE PRETTY CONFIDENT, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE EALLY JAZZED UP ABOUT THIS ELECTION.

>> Eric: ALONG THE LINES, MAYBE YOU'VE SEEN A COMMERCIAL FROM A WESTERN WISCONSIN ASSEMBLY MAN, AND HE'S RUNNING FOR ELECTION, AND HIS TAG LINE IS, KEEP THE MINNESOTA MESS OUT OF WISCONSIN.

>> I HAVE NOT SEEN THAT COMMERCIAL.

BUT WHAT I WOULD SAY TO YOU IS, SENATOR AMY KLOBUCHAR IS RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR, SHE HAS A PLAN TO FIGHT FRAUD.

SHE THE ONLY CANDIDATE IN THIS RACE WHO HAS ACTUALLY PROSECUTED AND SENT FRAUDSTERS TO PRISON WHEN SHE WAS A PROSECUTOR IN HENNEPIN COUNTY.

AND, SO, HER PLAN FOR A TOP HAD BOTTOM AUDIT ON DAY ONE I THINK IS VERY REASSURING TO MINNESOTANS.

WHEN IT COMES TO FRAUD, IT'S ABOUT THE SECOND OR THIRD ISSUE THAT WE'RE HEARING FROM VOTERS, AFFORDABILITY, HEALTHCARE ARE NUMBER ONE AND TWO ALL THE TIME.

>> Eric: KEEP THE MINNESOTA MESS OUT OF WISCONSIN.

>> I WOULD AGREE WITH THAT STATEMENT.

WE ON'T WANT THE MESS THAT WE'VE BEEN EXPERIENCING BEING EXPORTED ANYWHERE.

WE'D LIKE TO FIX IT IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

UNLIKE WHAT YOU'VE BEEN HEARING, FRAUD IS THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE FOR US.

PEOPLE ARE REALLY BRINGING IT UP.

THEY'RE SICK AND TIRED OF IT.

THERE ARE POLL THAT IS SHOW THAT 85% OF PEOPLE ARE DISGUSTED WITH THE FRAUD, THAT SPANS BOTH PARTIES.

AND ONE THING THAT KIND OF BECAME AN EPIPHANY TO ME THIS WEEK WAS THAT WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT FRAUD, THERE'S KIND OF LIKE TWO PERSPECTIVES.

THERE'S THE REPUBLICAN PERSPECTIVE AND THERE'S THE DEMOCRAT PERSPECTIVE, IF I MAY.

YOU KNOW, FROM THE REPUBLICAN POINT OF VIEW, FRAUD IS LOOK AT ALL THE MONEY THAT WAS WASTED.

MONEY THAT SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN TAXED, SO ON.

WE LOST THIS MONEY, IT WENT OVERSEAS, WHEREVER.

THAT'S THE PERSPECTIVE, MAYBE, OF A REPUBLICAN.

THE DEMOCRAT PERSPECTIVES, WE'RE ALSO FED UP WITH FRAUD BECAUSE THINK ABOUT ALL THE MONEY THAT DIDN'T GO TO HELP THE PEOPLE IT WAS SUPPOSED TO HELP.

SO, BOTH SIDES ARE REALLY AFFECTED BY THAT.

>> Cathy: MAKE A COMMENT TO THAT AT ALL?

>> WELL, I WOULD SAY THAT I THINK 100% OF PEOPLE ARE FURIOUS AND ANGRY ABOUT THE FRAUD.

THAT WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT T. WE NEED TO GET A HANDLE ON IT.

AND I THINK AMY KLOBUCHAR HAS THE BEST PLAN IN TERMS OF WHO'S RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR TO ADDRESS IT HEAD ON.

SO I'M CONFIDENT THAT AMY HAS THAT PLAN.

YES, ANY PENNY THAT WAS STOLEN FROM TAXPAYERS IS BHORRENT AND WE NEED TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO PROSECUTE PEOPLE WHO STOLE IT.

>> Eric: LEGISLATIVE RACES, WHAT ARE YOU HEARING?

IT'S A COIN FLIP AT THE LEGISLATURE RIGHT NOW.

SO CLOSE.

WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM YOUR LEGISLATIVE CANDIDATES?

>> EVERYBODY SEEMS TO BE PRETTY OPTIMISTIC IN MOST PARTS OF THE STATE.

WE KNOW WHICH SEATS ARE SECURE.

WE KNOW WHICH SEATS ARE ON THE EDGE.

AND WE'RE OCUSING A LOT OF OUR ENERGY THERE.

BUT REALLY FOCUSING MOSTLY AT THE TOP OF THE TICKET.

AND I WOULD COUNTER THE CHAIR OVER HERE, CHAIR CARLBOM, AND I DON'T BELIEVE THAT AMY KLOBUCHAR IS THE BEST CANDIDATE FOR THIS AT ALL.

I MEAN, WE GOT INTO THIS MESS, EVERYTHING THAT'S GONE ON -- WRONG WITH INNESOTA, BE IT FRAUD OR EDUCATION OR COST OF LIVING CAN BE PUT AT THE DOORSTEP OF THE DFL.

YOU KNOW, AMY'S A 30-YEAR CAREER POLITICIAN.

YOU KNOW, LAST 30 YEARS IN WASHINGTON.

AND PEGGY FLANAGAN'S NEVER DONE ANYTHING BUT BE IN POLITICS.

AND KEITH ELLISON ALSO, THE LAST NEARLY THREE DECADES HAS BEEN IN GOVERNMENT.

AND IT'S GOVERNMENT THAT'S ACTUALLY PRODUCED THIS PROBLEM.

SO, WHY WOULD WE TRUST THAT THE PEOPLE WHO PUT US INTO THIS MESS ARE GOING TO BE THE SAME PEOPLE TO GET US OUT OF THIS MESS?

>> Cathy: WHY WERE YOU TRUST HOUSE SPEAKER LISA DEMUTH TO GET THE STATE OUT OF THIS MESS?

>> SHE'S BEEN A TERRIFIC LEGISLATOR, GOOD BACKGROUND AS WELL, SHE'S GOT SOME REAL IDEAS ON REAL ISSUES THAT REPUBLICANS CAN FIX AND THE DEMOCRATS HAVE ACTUALLY PUT US INTO IT.

>> I THINK THE PROBLEM FOR THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES IN 2026 IS THAT THEY'RE EITHER IN LOVE WITH DONALD TRUMP OR THEY'RE AFRAID OF HIM, AND EITHER WAY IT'S NOT GOOD FOR MINNESOTA.

WE HAVE LISA DEMUTH, WHO SAYS THAT TARIFFS ARE A GOOD THING.

AND THAT'S JUST NOT TRUE FOR SMALL BUSINESSES AND FAMILIES IN THE STATE.

MICHELE TAFOYA SAYS YOU SHOULD HAVE A STIFF UPPER LIP, BE MORE PATRIOTIC, SUPPORT THE WAR IN IRAN THAT'S DRIVING UP THE HIGHEST DIESEL FUEL COSTS EVER.

AND, SO, I THINK REPUBLICANS, THEIR PROBLEM IS THAT MINNESOTANS HAVE A VERY CLEAR CHOICE.

DO YOU WANT TO STAND WITH DEMOCRATS WHO ARE STANDING WITH YOU AND FIGHTING ON YOUR BEHALF?

OR DO YOU WANT TO STAND WITH REPUBLICANS WHO ONLY STAND WITH DONALD TRUMP?

>> Eric: IMMIGRATION ISSUES?

>> WELL, I'D LIKE TO JUST END ON THIS.

>> Eric: GO AHEAD.

>> THE LAST TIME I CHECKED DONALD TRUMP IS NOT ON THE BALLOT.

AND THE PEOPLE IN MINNESOTA WORRIED ABOUT MINNESOTA ISSUES.

DONALD TRUMP IS NOT THAT.

>> Eric: DO YOU EXPECT HIM TO BE INVITED TO MINNESOTA OR HAS THAT DECISION BEEN MADE YET?

>> IT'S NEVER EVEN TALKED ABOUT.

I CAN'T ANSWER THAT.

IF HE WANTS TO COME, HE CAN COME.

BUT WE'RE FOCUSED ON LOCAL RACES.

YOU KNOW, WHAT'S GOING ON HERE IN MINNESOTA.

>> I THINK THE CHALLENGE FOR THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, AGAIN, IS THAT -- WELL, DONALD TRUMP IS NOT ON THE BALLOT, WHEN LISA DEMUTH WAS ASKED VERY CLEARLY, WHAT IS ONE THING YOU DISAGREE WITH DONALD ON TRUMP, SHE COULDN'T ANSWER.

[ AUDIO DIFFICULTY ] SHE WAS ASKED BY THREE DIFFERENT REPORTERS.

>> Cathy: WHY IS THAT SO CLOSE, ACCORDING TO POLLS?

>> WELL, I THINK EVERYBODY'S LOOKING AT THESE RACES.

I ASSUME THAT EVERY ONE OF THESE RACES IS GOING TO BE CLOSE, YOU KNOW.

IN MY POLITICAL BACKGROUND, WE'VE LWAYS SAID, RUN LIKE YOU'RE TEN POINTS DOWN, DON'T TAKE ANYTHING FOR GRANTED.

SO WE'RE GOING TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN.

I'VE SEEN NUMBERS THAT LOOK LIKE KEITH ELLISON'S GAINING GROUND AND HE'S GOING TO BE, I THINK, OUT OF THE MARGIN OF ERROR SOON IN TERMS OF THE POLLING THAT'S HAPPENING.

SO I FEEL GOOD ABOUT THE POSITION HE'S IN.

HE'S IN A BETTER POSITION THAN IN '26 THAN HE WAS IN '22.

I'LL SAY, OUR GROUND GAME IS UNBELIEVABLE.

THIS LAST WEEK WE CROSSED 1.2 MILLION DOORS KNOCKED IN MINNESOTA.

IN 2026 ALONE.

THAT'S 380,000 DOORS AHEAD OF WHERE WE WERE JUST WO YEARS AGO.

THAT KIND OF GROUND GAME IS GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT KEITH ELLISON'S, AMY KLOBUCHAR, PEGGY FLANAGAN, STEVE SIMON FILIPVICH GETS LECTED.

>> WE'VE GOT A HECK OF A GROUND GAME.

I'D LIKE TO GO BACK TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL RACE SPECIFICALLY.

RON CHUTES IS OUR CANDIDATE AND HE'S ONE OF THE BEST LAWYERS IN AMERICA.

SCHUTZ.

HE WAS A GENERAL PARTNER, MANAGING PRINCIPAL, ONE OF THE LARGEST LAW FIRMS IN MINNESOTA.

HE IS VERY VERY QUALIFIED TO BE ATTORNEY GENERAL.

WHERE KEITH ELLISON, ON THE OTHER HAND, GOING BACK TO FRAUD, HE WAS VERY AWARE OF WHAT WAS GOING ON, HE EVEN MET WITH SOME OF THESE PEOPLE, TOOK MONEY FROM SOME OF THESE PEOPLE.

HE WAS IN THE POSITION TO ACTUALLY EXECUTE THE FRAUD, TO COMBAT IT.

AND, INSTEAD... [ AUDIO DIFFICULTY ] THE FEDS HAD TO COME IN.

>> Cathy: SO YOUR GROUND GAME IS PRETTY GOOD.

GIVE US A SENSE OF WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE RIGHT NOW.

>> WE HAVE QUITE A FEW FIELD OFFICES MANNED RIGHT NOW, WE'RE SCALING IT UP, MONEY'S COMING IN.

WE'RE GOING TO DO A HECK OF A JOB ON DOOR KNOCKING, PHONE CALLING, A LOT OF PHONE BANKS.

SIMILAR NUMBERS TO WHAT THE CHIEF -- THE CHAIR HERE OF HE DFL IS SAYING.

WE HAVE A SIMILAR THING GOING ON IN OUR SIDE.

IT'S GOING TO BE A HORSE RACE, I THINK.

>> Eric: EARLIER PRIMARY, ANYBODY?

>> WE SHOULD TALK ABOUT IT.

>> SAY AGAIN.

>> Eric: WOULD YOU LIKE AN EARLIER PRIMARY.

>> I THINK WE SHOULD TALK ABOUT IT AGAIN, AS WELL.

>> Eric: AND THE FUTURE OF THE ENDORSEMENT SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE?

>> THAT'S A LEGISLATIVE MATTER.

AS A CHAIR OF A PARTY, WE HAVE TO DO WHAT THE LEGISLATURE TELLS S WE HAVE TO DO.

NOW WE WILL GO FULL FORCE.

IF THAT GETS CHANGED BY THE LEGISLATURE, THAT'S WHAT WE'LL DO.

>> 100% OF DFL-ENDORSED CANDIDATES WON ON PRIMARY ELECTION NIGHT IN MINNESOTA, FIRST TIME THAT'S EVER HAPPENED, AND WE HAVE 201 CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR THE LEGISLATURE.

THE REPUBLICANS FAILED TO RECRUIT IN 20 OF THOSE RACES.

>> Eric: OUT OF TIME.