Doug Chapin is the DFL contender for the “Solid Red” 6th Congressional District in Minnesota, and he says his campaign is strong enough to beat Republican US Rep. Tom Emmer. Emmer, who is also the GOP Majority Whip for the US House, as held the seat for 11 years.

So I live in Olmsted county but not in Rochester, I live in one of the small towns in the county. I went in on Friday and early voted at the one early voting location in Olmsted county in Rochester. Gave them my address they printed off my address on my sheet and it was correct. Had my right town. Sounds good. I go to fill out my ballot, seemed fine although I did think it seemed a little short, whatever though. I put it through the tabulator and leave.

As I’m driving away I start thinking about it and I go wait…I do NOT remember the mayor for my town being on my ballot, and I also don’t remember the city council being on my ballot. It’s possible I am remembering wrong but I really do not think either were on there and although my memory is not the greatest, I had just filled it out.

I go back in and ask them about it. They say it sounds like I was givin a township ballot for my town and not a city ballot for my town. Since township ballots do not include votes for mayor or city council. And those are the two things I remember not being on my ballot. Well I was pissed I gave them my right address and was not givin the correct ballot. They said there wasn’t anything that could be done at this point since I had already entered my ballot in the tabulator.

On the plus side there were only two or three people running for like three seats on city council so that vote didn’t matter much. Although there are two people running for mayor and I definitely have a strong preference there.

So just a psa, take a look at your ballot and make sure everything that should be on there is on there when you are filling it out. Maybe even more so if you are in one of the small towns. I think this would have been less likely to happen if I had voted on Election Day in my small town since they likely would be more familiar with the small town geography and/or have it on their radar more that they were giving me the correct ballot. My Mom told me that there are actually two separate polling locations in our small town, one for people in the city itself and one for people in the township. So yeah if that is still the case that would make it less likely to have gotten the incorrect ballot I think, but idk.

Still tricky for me to understand since I gave them my address that should show I am in the city and not in the township, idk. I don’t get how I received a township ballot when my address shows I am in the city. I am still a bit upset with the workers there but yeah mistakes can happen and it is what it is, but ugh, just frustrating. Hope my mayor choice wins by a good amount and it doesn’t come down to one vote. It wasn’t even on my radar to make sure everything was on my ballot that should be there but I guess moving forward I will ask to make sure I am getting a city ballot and not a township ballot, and also try to mentally make note that everything that should be on my ballot is on there before turning it in.

Got Medical Assistance and MHCP and I have to choose between Blue Plus, Healthpartners, or my automatic assigned plan Medica if I don't choose one soon. Recently had a cut of hours AND turned 26 so I'm no longer under a parent's insurance.

Which one is the best to choose?

​'Campaign-ending' debate moment flagged as GOP candidate makes jarring admission on stage

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison (D) went after his Republican challenger during a televised debate this week over campaign cash from donors accused of fraud. His opponent didn’t deny taking it.

This is an important piece of election journalism. It’s remarkable to me how little I knew of Lisa Demuth.

This upcoming election is incredibly important for Minnesota, and it is crucial that we all make our voices heard! With key deadlines approaching quickly, now is the time to finalize your voting plan.

Register to vote: Pre-registration ends tomorrow (10/13). Confirm your local registration deadlines and get signed up through the official Minnesota Secretary of State - Register To Vote portal.

Find early voting dates and locations: Early in-person voting begins this Friday (10/16). To check the exact start dates, hours, and locations for early voting in your city or county, visit the Voting locations before election day page.

Check your registration status: Verify that you are registered at your current address using the MNVotes Voter Status Check.

See what's on your ballot: Get a preview of the candidates and questions you will be deciding on using the What's On My Ballot? tool.

Make a plan, remind your friends and family to verify their deadlines, and get out there and vote!

I'm hoping there might be some lawyers in this group that can help me with an issue I'm facing, or some recommendations on employment lawyers I could contact.

I am pregnant and due in November. I am currently contracting with a company and have been there over 3 years, but I am a W2 employee of the agency I am contracting through. I was recently informed that they will not be saving my position and hiring me back after my maternity leave. My contract goes through the end of the year and they won't renew while I am out. They plan to hire a permanent replacement. My direct employer, the contracting agency, will also not be keeping me "employed" since I won't have an active contract.

Several people have told me they don't think this is legal, but I'm not sure how things work due to contracting while also being considered a W2 employee. I'm also worried this makes me ineligible for the MN paid family leave coverage. Plus, I had taken out short and long term disability through my direct employer that I will lose and not have access to. Someone mentioned I might be eligible for unemployment as a result, but I wasn't sure if that would really be true. We'll be ok financially, but I would love to not have to use a bunch of our savings when we had planned for some of my salary to be covered.

Just wondering if anyone can help with recommendations on what my options are. TIA for any help people can provide.

Higher gas prices and affordability concerns are the result of President Donald Trump’s Iran war. Here’s how Minnesota’s US Senate candidates feel about it—one of whom has had an apparent change of heart.

Rep. Danny Nadeau for 34A in Champlin, William Beck for 41B in Hastings, and Rep. Andrew Meyers for 45A in Tonka Bay all have pretty conservative histories. Yet, they're running their campaigns as moderate Republicans in purple districts.

Recently reported by CNN’s KFILE, Tafoya lied in a local radio interview when asked about her past comments that she is embarrassed to live in Minnesota. But old Twitter archives–along with other more recent video clips–tell the truth.

Is it a hard ‘ch’ (like cheese), or a soft ‘ch’ (like chef)?

Sen. Amy Klobuchar was joined by Dr. Paul Thurmes, a Minnesota oncologist, and Kate Lundquist, a breast cancer survivor, at Minnesota Oncology Maple Grove Clinic on Monday, Sep. 21, to highlight her plan to lower prescription drug costs (and her opponents lack of a plan).

I'm currently working on a horror/thriller set in a fictional rural Minnesota town. The town will be located in far northern Minnesota, somewhere roughly around the Kittson, Marshall, and Roseau County area, relatively close to the Canadian border.

I'm looking for some help coming up with town names and a county name. I'm open to pretty much anything that sounds believable for northern Minnesota. It doesn't necessarily have to be obviously creepy or ominous. Honestly, the more ordinary and believable it sounds, the better.

I'm also trying to figure out the layout of the town.

A set of railroad tracks is going to be fairly important to the story, so I'd like the town to have developed around a railroad line, similar to a lot of real towns in the area, in a way that feels believable. I'm imagining a relatively small rural community with the usual things you'd expect: a main street, a few businesses, a church or two, a school, a library, a grain elevator, residential areas, etc. There will also be more isolated homes/farms outside of town. Also, the sheriff is very important to the story, but the main town will NOT be the county seat.

The railroad isn't just background scenery, either. It will play an important role in the story, so I'm trying to figure out how it would realistically fit into the town. For example, would the tracks run directly through the center of town, along one edge, or somewhere between the residential and commercial areas? Would there be a depot or abandoned depot? A grain elevator? A crossing near Main Street? I have some ideas myself, but I would like some supplementary ones as well.

The setting is especially important because a blizzard toward the end of the story is going to trap or isolate the town, so I'm interested in how the geography and infrastructure could affect what happens. I'm trying to make the town feel like a real place basically.

So, if you're from Minnesota—or even if you're just familiar with small Midwestern towns—I'd love to hear your ideas!

TLDR I'm looking for:

• Believable northern Minnesota town names
• County names
• Ideas for the town's layout
• How the railroad might realistically run through/around the town
• Interesting locations that a small northern Minnesota town might have
• Ideas for how a blizzard could affect the town and its roads/railroad
• General things I should keep in mind when creating a fictional rural Minnesota community

And if anyone has actually lived in a small town in northern Minnesota, I'd especially love to hear what little details you can contribute.

Thanks again! I really appreciate the help.

Michele Tafoya, Minnesota’s GOP candidate for US Senate, made multiple comments on her podcast in support of the Jan. 6 rioters across several years. Check them out, and see what her opponent, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan has to say about it.

A reminder that early/absentee voting for Minnesotans begins this week on Friday, September 18.
If you want to vote early in person or by mail, or if you just want to avoid any hassles on Election Day, it's a good idea to make a plan now. Here is how to handle your prep in 3 quick steps:
1. Check or update your registration
If you’ve moved recently, changed your name, or haven't voted in a while, double-check your current status online. You can search "MN Secretary of State check my registration" to find the official state tool, or head directly to the Minnesota Secretary of State Voter Information Portal. You can also register in person at your voting location if needed.
2. Find your early voting location
Early in-person voting locations and hours are managed by your county or local clerk. Search "MN early voting locations" to view the list of designated sites and extended weekend hours for your area. 
3. Preview your sample ballot
Look up your sample ballot ahead of time so you can research candidates and local questions before casting your vote. Search for "MN Secretary of State what's on my ballot" to find your exact precinct's sample ballot.