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ELECTION 2022-MINNESOTA-HOUSE

Finstad, Ettinger take early leads in Minn. US House race

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Former state Rep. Brad Finstad and Rep. Jeremy Munson were well ahead of their fellow Republicans in early returns for a special primary in the race to complete the congressional term of Minnesota’s late U.S. Rep. Jim Hagedorn. Meanwhile, former Hormel Foods CEO Jeff Ettinger took the early lead among Democrats in that party’s primary. The winners will meet in August to determine who will finish the last few months of Hagedorn’s term. And the winners are likely to see a bump in their chances to win a full term later in November.

BIDEN-POLICING

Biden to sign policing order on anniversary of Floyd’s death

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden plans to sign an executive order on policing Wednesday, the second anniversary of George Floyd’s death. Most of the order is focused on federal law enforcement agencies — for example, requiring them to review and revise policies on use of force. It would also create a database to help track officer misconduct. The administration cannot require local police departments to participate in the database, which is intended to prevent problem officers from hopping from job to job. But officials are looking for ways to use federal funding to encourage their cooperation. The order would also restrict the flow of surplus military equipment to local police.

MINNESOTA LEGISLATURE

Minnesota lawmakers get some hits, lots of misses in session

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — There were a few hits but lots of misses as the divided Minnesota Legislature blew a deadline for passing a package of tax cuts and new spending using the state’s massive budget surplus. Democratic Gov. Tim Walz met Monday afternoon with Republican Senate Majority Leader Jeremy Miller and Democratic House Speaker Melissa Hortman. But the governor acknowledged afterward that they’re still searching for common ground, and he has no immediate plans to call a special session. Walz says the leaders indicated their members need time to decompress. He says it might do lawmakers good to go home and hear from their constituents.

WALZ-TRANSPORTATION COMMISSIONER

Walz names Nancy Daubenberger as transportation commissioner

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Gov. Tim Walz has named Nancy Daubenberger as his new transportation commissioner. It’s a post she had filled on an interim basis since the departure of former Commissioner Margaret Anderson Kelliher. Daubenberger has worked for the Minnesota Department of Transportation for over 22 years, in engineering and management positions. Kelliher, a former speaker of the Minnesota House, left earlier this year to become public works director for the city of Minneapolis.

ABORTION-NORTH DAKOTA

Planned Parenthood to step in if North Dakota clinic closes

FARGO, N.D. (AP) — Planned Parenthood says it will offer abortion services at its clinic in Moorhead, Minnesota, if North Dakota’s only abortion clinic does not quickly relocate from Fargo should the U.S. Supreme Court overturn Roe v. Wade. Planned Parenthood says it expected Red River Women’s Clinic, a private clinic not affiliated with it, to make the short move across the river by July 1 if necessary. The Fargo clinic has long operated as the only abortion provider in the state. Owner Tammi Kromenaker says she would cross over to Moorhead if forced to do so, but has been too busy to explore details of such a move. She adds that “there are too many unknowns to confirm a specific date” for relocation.

ELECTION 2022

Kemp wins Georgia GOP gov’s race in stinging rebuke of Trump

ATLANTA (AP) — Gov. Brian Kemp of Georgia has easily dispatched with Donald Trump’s hand-picked challenger in a Republican primary that demonstrated the limits of the former president and his conspiracy-fueled politics in a critical swing state. Kemp will face Democrat Stacey Abrams this fall in what will be one of the nation’s most consequential governor’s races. The results serve as a stinging rebuke of Trump in a race that he prioritized above almost all others. Angered by Kemp’s refusal to go along with his extraordinary effort to overturn the 2020 election results in Georgia, Trump personally recruited former Sen. David Perdue. But Kemp ultimately emerged as a powerful candidate.

ELECTION 2022-THE LATEST

Midterm updates | Kemp celebrates win, doesn’t mention Trump

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp celebrated his primary victory without mentioning former President Donald Trump, who had endorsed former U.S. Sen. David Perdue in the governor’s race. Speaking to supporters at the College Football Hall of Fame in downtown Atlanta on Tuesday night, Kemp thanked Perdue for a nice phone call and for his support. He then turned his attention to his upcoming rematch with Democrat Stacey Abrams. He attacked Abrams’ agenda and said she’s not interested in Georgia and just wants to use the state as a steppingstone to the White House.

ELECTION 2022-VOTING

Georgia primary running smoothly despite new election law

ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia’s high-stakes primary election appeared to be running smoothly with no reports of major problems. Tuesday’s election was the first statewide test of new voting restrictions passed by Republicans after the 2020 presidential election. A record number of ballots cast during the early voting period in the three weeks before Election Day helped ease the strain at polling places. There were no reports of long lines or widespread equipment problems despite hotly contested GOP primary races for governor and U.S. Senate. Voting in Alabama and Arkansas, the other two states holding regular primaries, also appeared to be problem-free.