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49-745: Minnesota Legal Marijuana Now! became a major party in Minnesota in 2018 when their candidate for State Auditor , Michael Ford, received 5.3 percent of the vote. During the 2010s the party began expansion attempts to other states, continuing during the 2020s, as the Legal Marijuana Now Party . They lost their major party status in a 2024 case with the Minnesota Supreme Court. In 2020, the Minnesota Legal Marijuana Now! nominee for United States Senator received 190,154 votes in

98-676: A St. Cloud Times analysis of votes cast in the November 3, 2020, election found that the marijuana candidates took at least as many votes, if not more, from Republican candidates than they took from Democratic candidates. Kevin O’Connor, the Legal Marijuana Now nominee for United States Senator in 2020, received 190,154 votes in the November 3 election, the largest number of votes received by any such third-party candidate nationwide. Legal Marijuana Now congressional candidate Mickey Moore entered

147-406: A Star Tribune reporter that federal prohibition laws against cannabis, overseeing implementation of the state's regulated market, and expungement of past criminal records, illustrate tasks that remain for Minnesota Legal Marijuana Now Party, planning their campaign in 2024 for United States Senate. Minnesota Legal Marijuana Now! Party held a presidential nomination primary on March 5, 2024, for

196-463: A Fair Employment Practice (FEPC) bill was moving through Congress, there was a surge of civil rights activism in the Twin Cities. Factional battles were intensified by differing views on how to address the left-wing influence within the party, with significant conflicts between proponents of Henry A. Wallace 's progressive policies and the more moderate wing led by figures like Hubert Humphrey . By

245-444: A 2021 federal court ruling in the wake of Adam Weeks' death, the congressional election would go ahead as scheduled on November 8, and Overby's name would remain on the ballot. Without remedy for replacing their deceased nominee, under state law, Legal Marijuana Now encouraged supporters to cast their votes for Overby. The party was joined in support of voting in memoriam by Right Now USA, a conservative political action committee , while

294-524: A Legal Marijuana Now Party founder, said that marijuana prohibition has not stopped people from using cannabis, but prohibition has "succeeded perhaps in terrorizing or intimidating citizens, in canceling civil liberties, blighting both urban and rural communities, all without eradicating the outlawed substance." Some political scholars have remarked that Minnesota's single-issue marijuana parties and strong third parties such as Independence , which evolved from Governor Jesse Ventura 's Reform Party , motivated

343-515: A U.S. Senator who ran for the Democratic nomination for president in 2020; Dean Phillips , a U.S. Representative who ran for the Democratic nomination for president in 2024 ; and Tim Walz, two-term governor chosen as Kamala Harris ' running mate in the 2024 presidential election . The DFL has had varied success beginning in the late 1970s and through the late 2010s, in part due to the growth of single-issue splinter groups after reforms brought by

392-640: A disabled American war veteran , to run for United States Representative from Minnesota's 1st congressional district in the August 9, 2022, special election . On August 9, 2022, Minnesota Legal Marijuana Now Party held a gubernatorial primary between James McCaskel and David Sandbeck, and Chris Wright and L.C. Converse. McCaskel was nominated for Governor of Minnesota by 52 percent of Legal Marijuana Now voters. In 2022, Minnesota Legal Marijuana Now Party nominated substitute teacher and former city clerk Eric Leitzen for Minnesota State Senator from District 26. In

441-558: A governor or a U.S. senator. DFL The Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party ( DFL ) is a political party in the U.S. state of Minnesota affiliated with the national Democratic Party . The party was formed by a merger between the Minnesota Democratic Party and the Minnesota Farmer–Labor Party in 1944. The DFL is one of two state Democratic Party affiliates with a different name from that of

490-459: A major party candidate died during an election campaign, a special election would be held. Prior to his death, Weeks had boasted in a voicemail left for an estranged friend that a Republican had offered him money to run against the Republican and Democratic candidates. Federal judges ruled that the election should go ahead because federal law setting the date of the election preempted the state law, so

539-416: A person must be qualified voter, permanently resident in the state of Minnesota at least 30 days prior to the election, and at least 21 years of age. In the event of a vacancy in the office of the state auditor, the governor may appoint a successor to serve the balance of the term. The state auditor may also be recalled by the voters or removed from office through an impeachment trial . In Minnesota,

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588-910: A pivotal shift influenced by academic liberals at the University of Minnesota who advocated for integrating the New Deal's progressive reforms within a more centralized, managerial political framework, transitioning from the movement-oriented politics of the Farmer-Labor party to a structure that emphasized interest-group pluralism. During the post-war years, the DFL confronted various social issues, including antisemitism , which reflected broader national conversations about race and ethnicity. The DFL also navigated with its stance on civil rights and economic justice, influenced significantly by Minnesota's small but politically active African American communities. In early 1946, as

637-526: A strong presence in the Twin Cities metropolitan area . The DFL has lost support in traditional DFL strongholds such as the Iron Range since 2016. Out of the eight seats Minnesota is apportioned in the U.S. House of Representatives , four are held by members of the DFL. Through 1975, the party's constitution called for the election of a separate chairman and chairwoman to head state party activities. Only

686-440: Is a constitutional officer in the executive branch of the U.S. state of Minnesota . Nineteen individuals have held the office of state auditor since statehood. The incumbent is Julie Blaha , a DFLer . The state auditor is elected by the people on Election Day in November, and takes office on the first Monday of the next January. There is no limit to the number of terms a state auditor may hold. To be elected state auditor,

735-475: Is an independent stronghold. "About one-third of the voters lean Democrat, one-third lean Republican, and the other third of voters don't really like Democrats or Republicans. They like their personal rights and freedoms and don't want politicians telling them what to do," Craig said in November. On October 5, 2022, Overby died during recovery in a hospital following surgery for a heart valve condition. Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon stated that due to

784-544: Is responsible for setting the party's platform, electing party officers, and conducting other party business. The DFL also has a constitution and bylaws that govern its operations. The party operates several community caucuses that organize and represent different communities within Minnesota; they not defined geographically. These include the: The DFL's base of support is diverse, and it includes urban and suburban voters, working class voters, labor unions , environmentalists , and other progressive groups. The party has

833-657: The 2024 presidential election . The contest was held on Super Tuesday alongside primaries in 14 other states and territories . The race was the first Legal Marijuana Now! presidential primary, and the first third party presidential primary run by the state of Minnesota since 1916 . On May 10, 2024, the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled that Legal Marijuana Now! no longer met the criteria for major party status in Minnesota. Among other things, this removed their automatic ballot access and some legal protections. Minnesota State Auditor The state auditor of Minnesota

882-550: The 1930s, the Farmer–Labor Party had gained traction with radical platforms that challenged economic and social inequalities, backed by Governor Floyd B. Olson . However, by 1938, the party's influence waned due to internal conflicts and accusations of incompetence and corruption, leading to a loss in gubernatorial elections. On April 15, 1944, the Farmer–Labor Party merged with the Minnesota Democratic Party , forming

931-659: The 2021 Ward 9 Minneapolis City Council race. In the nonpartisan municipal election, Moore was endorsed by the Minneapolis Area DFL Senior Caucus, Operation Safety Now, Minneapolis’ firefighters union. Other candidates in the race had endorsements including the Minneapolis Democratic Party, Twin Cities Democratic Socialists , Somali Business Association. Minnesota Legal Marijuana Now Party nominated Richard Reisdorf of Mankato ,

980-512: The 2nd congressional district. Overby, an information technology director and author of the 2017 book The Transgender Myth: Through the Gender Looking Glass, had previously been nominated by Legal Marijuana Now Party for the 2nd congressional district in 2020 after candidate Adam Weeks' death. Overby’s platform included marijuana legalization and universal Medicare. According to Representative Craig, Minnesota's 2nd congressional district

1029-666: The Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL). Leading the merger effort were Elmer Kelm, the head of the Minnesota Democratic Party and the founding chairman of the DFL; Elmer Benson , effectively the head of the Farmer–Labor Party by virtue of his leadership of its dominant left-wing faction; and rising star Hubert H. Humphrey , who chaired the Fusion Committee that accomplished the union and then went on to chair its first state convention. This merger marked

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1078-596: The Department of the Public Examiner, the elected state auditor took on the duty of supervising and auditing local government finances. At the same time, audits and evaluations of state agency financial management and performance were reassigned to a newly created office of legislative auditor, which is appointed by and reports to the Legislative Audit Commission. Aside from the statewide single audit, which

1127-454: The District 54A race for Minnesota State Representative , Legal Marijuana Now Party nominated Ryan Martin, an automobile mechanic who was the party’s nominee for District 55A representative in 2020. Paula Overby, a supporter of Bernie Sanders who sought the DFL nomination for U.S. Senator in 2020, was nominated by Minnesota Legal Marijuana Now Party, in 2022, to run for U.S. Representative from

1176-535: The Legal Marijuana Now Party, a person’s right to sell the products of their garden is protected by the Minnesota Constitution . Minnesota does not allow voters to petition to put the law itself onto the ballot for a vote. The only petition the people can use in Minnesota is to nominate independent and third party candidates for office. In 2014, Dan Vacek ran for Minnesota Attorney General as

1225-408: The Legal Marijuana Now candidate and got 57,604 votes, qualifying the party to be officially recognized and to receive public funding from the state. Minnesota Legal Marijuana Now! held their first convention and adopted a party constitution on November 26, 2014. Founding members Oliver Steinberg , Marty Super, and Dan Vacek comprised the organization's 2015 leadership council. In 2016, Michael Ford

1274-566: The Minnesota Democratic Party to prioritize cannabis legalization, in 2023. The Minnesota Grassroots Party was formed in 1986 as a response to Ronald Reagan 's War on Drugs . In 1996 the party split, with some former members forming the Independent Grassroots Party for one election cycle. In 1998, members of the Independent Grassroots Party formed the Minnesota Legal Marijuana Now! political party. According to

1323-522: The Minnesota D—F—L Party paid for advertisements against Legal Marijuana Now, in District 2. The dead candidate in 2022, Overby, won 10,728 votes in the race. In the 2022 election for United States Representative from District 7 , Travis "Bull" Johnson, a Beltrami, Minnesota , goat farmer and U.S. Army veteran, was endorsed by former District 7 Representative Collin Peterson , a Democrat who held

1372-568: The November 3 election, the largest number of votes received in 2020, in the U.S., by any such third-party candidate. Democrats have stated that Legal Marijuana Now! candidates are detrimental to the Democratic Party . An analysis of votes cast in the 2020 Minnesota elections found that Legal Marijuana Now! candidates might have helped Democratic candidates in swing districts, by pulling a greater number of votes from Republican candidates. Scholars have credited Legal Marijuana Now! with motivating

1421-497: The Union on May 11, 1858, and lasted until a 1973 reorganization of state government. During the intervening years, the state auditor acted as the comptroller for the whole of state government. In that capacity, the state auditor prescribed and maintained the statewide accounting system, preaudited claims by and against the state, issued warrants on the state treasury in payment of claims approved, monitored county finances, and managed

1470-439: The ballot for the November 6, 2018, election. Their candidate for State Auditor, Michael Ford, who is African-American, received 133,913 votes or 5.28%, qualifying Minnesota Legal Marijuana Now Party to be an official major party in the state, which gives Legal Marijuana Now candidates ballot access without the task of having to petition. The Legal Marijuana Now Party placed a candidate, John “Sparky” Birrenbach , of Pine City on

1519-646: The ballot in the Minnesota State Senate District 11 Special Election , in February 2019. In 2020, Legal Marijuana Now candidate Adam Weeks who was on the ballot in Minnesota's 2nd congressional district where Democratic Representative Angie Craig was seeking re-election in a close race, died four weeks before the November 3 election , throwing the election into chaos because a Minnesota state law said that if

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1568-634: The condition of local public finances . These reports inform the budgetary and fiscal policies of the governor and Legislature . Aside from his or her functional responsibilities, the state auditor is by virtue of office a member of the following public bodies: The state auditor's office has its origins in the Minnesota Territory , when the territorial governor appointed an auditor to ensure that both territorial and county finances were in good order and handled properly. This function continued with an elected state auditor upon Minnesota's entry into

1617-494: The fiscal year. The state auditor's authority transcends jurisdictions and applies to all local governments, be they counties, cities, towns, school districts, local pension funds, metropolitan and regional agencies, or myriad special purpose districts, and to every state agency that receives federal financial assistance . Public expenditures overseen by the state auditor thus exceed what state agencies are authorized to spend annually. In keeping with this position of trust,

1666-470: The name of the candidate, Paula Overby, who was nominated by Legal Marijuana Now Party to replace Weeks, was not on the ballot. State Legal Marijuana Now Party leaders encouraged their supporters to cast their votes for Weeks, in memoriam, and the dead candidate received 5.83% of votes in the three-way race. During the 2020 election campaign, Minnesota Democratic Party leaders said that the Legal Marijuana Now Party made it harder for DFL candidates to win. But

1715-555: The national party, the other is the neighboring North Dakota Democratic–Nonpartisan League Party . The DFL controls four of Minnesota's eight U.S. House seats, both of its U.S. Senate seats, the Minnesota House of Representatives and Senate , and all other statewide offices, including the governorship , making it the dominant party in the state. Its main political rival has been the Republican Party of Minnesota . During

1764-401: The national party. Following the 2022 Minnesota elections , the DFL became the dominant party in the state, retaining every executive office, winning majorities in the state House and Senate , and re-electing all incumbent congressional representatives. With their newly elected trifecta , the DFL pursued a progressive agenda in their first legislative session . Governor Tim Walz described

1813-447: The office for 30 years, from 1991 to 2021. Finishing third in the election, Legal Marijuana Now candidate Johnson got 16,421 votes, placing fourth highest out of 126 contests nationally, in 2022, with third party or independent candidates in three-way races. During testimony supporting Minnesota Senate File 73 to create a regulated commercial cannabis market, at the bill's first Minnesota Senate committee hearing, in 2023, Oliver Steinberg,

1862-558: The party have included Humphrey and Walter Mondale , who each went on to be United States senators , vice presidents of the United States , and unsuccessful Democratic nominees for president ; Eugene McCarthy , a U.S. senator who ran for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1968 as an anti-Vietnam War candidate; Paul Wellstone , a U.S. senator from 1991 to 2002 who became an icon of populist progressivism ; Amy Klobuchar ,

1911-507: The party's second convention in 1946, tensions had re-emerged between members of the two former parties. While the majority of delegates supported left-wing policies, Humphrey managed to install a more conservative, anti-communist ally, Orville Freeman , as party secretary. Some disaffected Farmer–Labor leaders such as Benson moved to the Progressive Party . Freeman was elected the state's first DFL governor in 1954. Important members of

1960-423: The past 50 years, two incumbent auditors - Arne Carlson and Mark Dayton - have won competitive gubernatorial races. Conversely, no incumbent or former secretary of state has ever won an election for governor or U.S. senator in that timeframe; the same goes for any incumbent or former attorney general . Likewise, Rudy Perpich and Tina Smith are the only lieutenant governors since 1972 to ever be elected

2009-572: The session as "the most successful legislative session, certainly in many of our lifetimes and maybe in Minnesota history." The newly elected government passed large expansions in welfare programs and spending. Notable policies passed include the expansion of abortion rights , new programs to provide reproductive healthcare, protection of gender affirming care , the legalization of recreational cannabis , indexing education spending to inflation, investments in public transit, and paid sick leave for Minnesota workers. Former President Barack Obama praised

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2058-487: The state Democratic—Farmer—Labor Party to pass a marijuana legalization law, in 2023. On Saturday, April 29, 2023, after the Minnesota Senate voted to pass Senate File 73, Legal Marijuana Now Party held a rally on the state capitol steps, in celebration, featuring speakers and music by Paul Metsa and Kung Fu Hippies. Party spokesperson Dennis Schuller, who was nominated for Minnesota House of Representatives in 2020, told

2107-455: The state auditor is charged with supervising and auditing the finances of the state's approximately 3,600 local governments , which altogether tax and spend over $ 40 billion annually. Likewise, the state auditor performs under contract the annual single audit of federal programs administered by state agencies and their subrecipients (i.e., nonprofits and localities), which accounts for another $ 20 to $ 26 billion of public spending depending on

2156-438: The state auditor prescribes uniform systems of accounting and budgeting applicable to all local governments, collects and analyses local government financial data, and provides training opportunities to local government officials and employees on matters of public administration and financial management . The state auditor also issues annual statutory reports on matters of asset forfeiture , municipal lobbying , and

2205-463: The state auditor renders opinions on the presentation of governments' financial statements and their overall fiscal health , examines compliance over financial management with internal controls , conducts best practices reviews of locally-delivered public services , reviews audit reports prepared by private accounting firms , and investigates complaints of waste , fraud , or abuse of public funds and resources. In addition,

2254-459: The state government's actions, saying that "Minnesota has made progress on a whole host of issues – from protecting abortion rights and new gun safety measures to expanding access to the ballot and reducing child poverty. These laws will make a real difference in the lives of Minnesotans." The DFL is governed by a state central committee, which is composed of representatives from each of the state's congressional districts. The state central committee

2303-551: The state's land records. Following reorganization, the responsibilities of the state auditor's office were transferred to a state agency known today as the Department of Management and Budget . The Office of the State Auditor then shifted to its present role, which was previously handled by the public examiner, a Cabinet official appointed by the governor that audited local governments and state agencies alike. Following elimination of

2352-589: Was elected chairperson of the Minnesota Legal Marijuana Now Party. From 2018 through 2019, Marty Super served as chairperson. Tim Davis was chairperson of Minnesota Legal Marijuana Now from 2020 until 2023, when Dennis Schuller became chairperson of the Minnesota party. The Legal Marijuana Now Party placed a candidate, Zach Phelps, on the ballot in the Minnesota State Senate District 35 Special Election , in February 2016. Minnesota Legal Marijuana Now nominated candidates by petition to appear on

2401-490: Was transferred from the legislative auditor to the state auditor beginning in 2021, this division of auditing responsibility has remained constant since 1973. The state auditor's term of office was originally three years. In 1883, voters approved a constitutional amendment changing it to four years. The position of state auditor has become a stepping stone in Minnesota for individuals that hold aspirations of higher office, more so in fact than any other constitutional office. In

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