>> CATHY: AS WE HAVE NOTED SEVERAL TIMES TONIGHT, THIS WEEK'S ELECTION WAS HISTORIC HERE IN MINNESOTA AND AROUND THE NATION.

THIS WEEK'S VERSION OF THE POLITICAL PANEL HAS ABOUT THE NEXT TEN MINUTES TO ANALYZE IT ALL.

DEMOCRATS UP FIRST TONIGHT.

JEFF HAYDEN IS A FORMER SENATE DEPUTY MAJORITY LEADER, NOW A LEGISLATIVE LOBBYIST.

SARA LOPEZ IS A PARTY ACTIVIST AND POLICY DIRECTOR AT UNIDOS MINNESOTA.

REPUBLICANS HERE: FRITZ KNAAK IS A FORMER STATE SENATOR, NOW A LAWYER IN PRIVATE PRACTICE.

BRIAN MCCLUNG IS A FORMER GOVERNOR PAWLENTY SPOKESPERSON AND LONGTIME CAPITOL OBSERVER.

WELL, SENATOR HAYDEN, WHAT DID YOU THINK OF THE RESULTS?

>> I WAS, LIKE, UM, MINNEAPOLIS KIND OF WENT ALONG WITH WHERE IT WAS TRENDING, AND SO THERE WASN'T TOO MANY SURPRISES THERE.

THE MAYOR -- IT WAS JUST WEIRD JUST WAITING FOR THE SECOND AND THIRD BALLOTS TO SEE IF THAT PROCESS IS WHERE THE FOLKS HAD COALESCED AS A SLATE.

ST.

PAUL WAS LIKE WOW.

I KNEW IT WAS GETTING TIGHTER.

BUT I STILL THOUGHT THAT MAYOR CARTER WOULD GET THROUGH.

SO I SAW YOU HAD REPRESENTATIVE HER WHO I KNOW VERY WELL AND SHE PUT ON A HECK OF A CAMPAIGN, I THINK THE SHORT CAMPAIGN ACTUALLY HELPED HER, BECAUSE IT LOOKED LIKE SHE WAS READY TO GO AND HAD A BUNCH OF FOLKS THERE AND CAUGHT MAYOR CARTER BY SURPRISE.

>> Cathy: DID YOU SEE THAT, BRIAN?

>> CLEARLY, THE BIGGEST NEWS ON ELECTION NIGHT WAS REPRESENTATIVE HER'S WIN IN ST.

PAUL.

AND A LOOT AND A LO LOT OF US, THE WEEK BEFORE, I WAS WITH A LOT OF ST.

PAUL INSIDERS AND THEY WERE TELLING ME, YOU KNOW, IT'S REAL CLOSE AND DON'T BE SURPRISED IF REPRESENTATIVE HER WINS AND THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME I'D HEARD THAT.

I THINK SENATOR HAYDEN IS RIGHT.

SHE HAD THAT MOMENTUM.

REALLY ONLY A THREE-MONTH CAMPAIGN BUT SHOWED HOW ENERGETIC HE WAS AND IT'S NOT A BIG POLICY CHANGE, RIGHT?

ON A POLICY PERSPECTIVE, SHE'S NOT ALL THAT DIFFERENT FROM MAYOR CARTER, BUT I THINK SHE BROUGHT A FRESH VOICE AND A FRESH ATTITUDE AND WE'RE IN ST.

PAUL, WE'RE AROUND ST.

PAUL.

ST.

PAUL HAS BEEN STRUGGLING.

THERE ARE CERTAINLY HARD TIMES IN PARTS OF ST.

PAUL.

AND I THINK PEOPLE JUST FELT LIKE IT NEEDS KIND OF A NEW ENERGY.

>> Cathy: WHAT DO YOU THINK HER NEW LEADERSHIP WILL FEEL LIKE?

>> I THINK PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR BOLD NEW LEADERSHIP.

THAT'S RESPONDING TO THE MOMENT.

I THINK THAT PEOPLE ARE REALLY LOOKING INTO CREATIVE WAYS TO THINK ABOUT SPACES LIKE DOWNTOWN, RIGHT?

THAT NEED A LOT OF ECONOMIC INVESTMENT.

I ALSO THINK THAT COMMUNITIES, ESPECIALLY THE MOST VULNERABLE ARE HURTING, AND PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO JUST PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO LEAD FORWARD, BE BOLD, AND PROTECT AND REALLY LOVE THE CITY.

PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR THAT COMMITMENT.

TO THEIR CITIES RIGHT NOW.

AND I'M REALLY EXCITED.

>> Eric: SENATOR, MAYOR FREY WINS A THIRD TERM.

WHERE DOES THIS LEAVE KIND OF THE SOCIALISTS VERSUS THE LIBERALS?

IN A ONE-PARTY TOWN LIKE MINNEAPOLIS, AND LOOKING AHEAD TO THE 2026 ELECTION WHEN EVERY MINNEAPOLIS VOTE'S GOING TO BE IMPORTANT FOR STATEWIDE CANDIDATES?

>> YEAH, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT.

IT'S KIND OF LATTE VERSUS MOCHA OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

I MEAN, THEY'RE BOTH PRETTY FAR TO THE LEFT.

WHAT I'M HOPING IS THAT THEY CAN START TO WORK TOGETHER.

THEY'RE ABOUT 6-6, WITH COUNCIL MEMBER OZ MAN SAYING EMPS LOOK AT EVERY ISSUE AND HE WANTS TO BE SWING VOTE.

NOT ONLY IS THAT GOING TO BE GOOD FOR THE CITY BUT FOR THE REPAIR -- >> IT WAS VERY PROMISING WHEN JACOB SAID THAT HE WAS WILLING TO PUT IDEOLOGY ASIDE AND LOVE FOR THE CITY FIRST.

SO I THINK IT SOUNDS LIKE THEY'RE OPENING AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK TOGETHER.

>> MINNEAPOLIS IS SORT OF FLYOVER LAND IF YOU'RE A REPUBLICAN.

IT'S THE SOCIALISTS VERSUS THE DEMOCRATS.

YEAH AND THE DIFFERENCE IS?

AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO THE REST OF THE STATE, THOUGH.

I THINK BOTHERSOME TO ME ABOUT THIS, IT'S THAT ULTIMATELY, THE SUCCESS OF MINNEAPOLIS AS A DOWNTOWN DOESN'T MATTER TO THE REST OF THE STATE.

AND IT WOULD BE NICE IF THEY COULD SORT THINGS OUT.

IT'D BE A LOT NICER IF THEY ELECTED A REPUBLICAN LIKE THEY USED TO AND THINGS RAN WELL.

>> WHEN WAS THAT?

[ Laughter ] >> I DO THINK, THOUGH, THAT'S THE ONGOING CONCERN THAT I HAVE THERE.

OTHERWISE, IT'S JUST, LIKE I SAID, FLYOVER LAND AND WHO IN WHAT WARD IS DOING WHAT AT HOME REALLY DOESN'T MATTER TO ANYBODY WHEN YOU'RE OUTSIDE OF THE CITY.

>> Eric: LET ME DO SOME HISTORY AND NAME SOME NAMES AND YOU TELL ME WHY THEY ARE CONNECTED.

DAVE JENNINGS, PAUL THISSEN, MARGARET ANDERSON KELEHER, TRIED TO BE GOVERNOR.

>> NOW YOU HAVE ANOTHER ONE, RIGHT?

>> NO, NO, NOTED ONE RIGHT?

>> A SPEAKER WHO'S RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR.

>> FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, I'M REALLY EXCITED TO SEE SPEAKER DEMUTH IN THE GOVERNOR'S RACE.

I THINK YOU'VE SEEN HER GROWTH AS A KIND OF A PUBLIC FIGURE OVER THE LAST YEAR, IT HAS BEEN REALLY SOLID.

SO FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, I THINK REPRESENTATIVE KRISTA ROBBINS, REPRESENTATIVE LISA DEMUTH, SPEAKER DEMUTH, ARE BOTH EXCEPTIONAL CANDIDATES AND TO HAVE TWO REALLY STRONG SOLID CANDIDATES RUNNING AS REPUBLICANS AND WE HAVEN'T SEEN THAT IN A LITTLE WHILE, SO THIS IS A POSITIVE DEVELOPMENT.

>> Eric: SOME MORE HISTORY.

BACK IN THE DAY, DICK CHENEY KAOHLYS PAWLENTY, AND SAYS, YOU'RE RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR.

>> THANK THEM FOR THAT.

>> COULD REPRESENTATIVE ROBBINS GET A SIMILAR KAOHLY, YOU'RE RUNNING FOR SENATE?

>> I DON'T THINK DONALD TRUMP MAKES THOSE KIND OF KAOHLYS, RIGHT?

I THINK THAT MIGHT BE A TRUTH SOCIAL POST.

THAT'S KIND OF THE WAY THAT ACTS OUT NOW.

BUT I DON'T REALLY SEE DONALD TRUMP GETTING INVOLVED IN THAT WAY IN MINNESOTA POLITICS RIGHT NOW.

WE'LL SEE.

TO ME, I THINK MINNESOTA'S PROBABLY A LITTLE BIT DOWN THE LIST FOR THINGS THAT DONALD TRUMP IS WORRIED ABOUT.

YOU KNOW, HE'S UNPREDICTABLE.

>> IF HE THOUGHT THAT HE COULD INFLUENCE THE OUTCOME OF A OBTAINABLE SEAT, HE'D BE ALL OVER THIS.

AND THE REAL QUESTION I'VE GOT AND YOU'RE DANCING AROUND IT A LITTLE BIT IS WHETHER PAWLENTY IS GOING TO RUN OR NOT.

>> Cathy: I THINK HE ALREADY SAID NO.

AM I WRONG ABOUT THAT?

>> NO, YOU'RE RIGHT ABOUT THAT.

I ALWAYS GO BACK TO, GOVERNOR PAWLENTY WAS AT THE "STAR TRIBUNE" NORTH STAR SUMMIT A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, AND WHAT HE SAID WAS, IF I SAW A PATH, I WOULD DO IT.

SO IF THAT WERE TO CHANGE SOMEHOW, RIGHT, I THINK THAT'S THE QUESTION MARK THAT'S OUT THERE.

BUT AS IT EXISTS RIGHT NOW, IT'S NOT -- >> LET ME INTERJECT HERE.

YOU SAID SOMETHING THAT IF DONALD TRUMP CALLED AND STARTED TO DICTATE IT, THAT'S THEIR ACHILLES HEEL, RIGHT?

IF THEY'RE RUNNING WITH THE PRESIDENT, THEY HAVE NO CHANCE.

IN OTHER WORDS, IT IS GOING TO BE REALLY HARD TO RUN WITH THE PRESIDENT AND THAT FAR TO THE RIGHT OR WHEREVER IN THE WORLD M.A.G.A.

IS AND THEN COME BACK AND TRY TO GENERATE ENOUGH VOTES TO WIN STATEWIDE.

>> Cathy: SPEAKER DEMUTH DID SAY THAT SHE WANTS TO HAVE TRUMP'S BACKING.

>> SURE, OF COURSE.

>> Cathy: SO MIGHT THAT BE POISON BY NEXT YEAR?

>> NO, I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT IT WOULD.

EVERY TIME IT SEEMS THAT THAT GETS PREDICTED, IT DOESN'T REALLY HAPPEN, I DON'T THINK.

AND I AGREE, WE'VE GOT A BLUE ZOMBIE PROBLEM INSIDE THE BELTWAY HERE.

>> MINNESOTANS ARE SOPHISTICATED VOTERS AND I THINK THAT -- I JUST DON'T KNOW.

FOR ME IT WOULD BE MORE OF A POISON PILL JUST BECAUSE OF THE TYPE OF VOTER THAT WE HAVE IN THE TWIN CITIES AND IN THE STATE.

THE FIRST TIME TRUMP RAN, THE PRIMARY WAS WON BY MARCO RUBIO, SO THAT WAS QUITE TELLING.

>> YEAH, I MEAN, DONALD TRUMP HAS LOST THREE TIMES IN MINNESOTA BETWEEN ONE AND A HALF PERCENTAGE TO SEVEN PERCENTAGE POINTS, BUT THE GOVERNOR'S ELECTION IS GOING TO BE A REFERENDUM ON TIM WALZ.

THIS IS GOING TO BE ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT TIM WALZ DESERVES A THIRD TERM.

SO I THINK THAT'S WHY ULTIMATELY TRUMP SUPPLEMENTER INFLUENCE IS NOT THE DECIDING FACTOR IN THAT GOVERNOR'S RACE.

>> I THINK THAT'S WISHFUL THINKING.

I THINK THIS IS GOING TO BE A REFERENDUM ON THE PRESIDENT AND I THINK YOU'RE SEEING IT RIGHT NOW.

YOU SAW IT IN NEW JERSEY, YOU JUST SAW IT IN VIRGINIA.

THAT WAS A REFERENDUM ON TRUMP.

I CAN'T EVEN NAME THE CANDIDATES THERE, BUT I KNOW THEY WERE VOTING AGAINST THE PRESIDENT.

[Overlapping conversations] IT WORKED.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, IT WORKED IN MINNEAPOLIS AND ST.

PAUL.

>> BUT I JUST WISH THAT IT WAS QUICKER IN MINNEAPOLIS.

I UNDERSTAND.

I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND, BUT LAST NIGHT, I WAS LIKE, OH, MY GOD, I WANT TO FIND OUT.

>> FOR POLITICAL JUNKIES, SOME OF US WHO ARE TV, COULD THEY JUST KEEP COUNTING?

[Overlapping conversations] THE RANKED CHOICE VOTING WAS SUPPOSED TO BE BRINGING CIVILITY TO ELECTIONS AND THEY'RE GOING TO ATTACK EACH OTHER LESS.

THAT'S NOT WHAT HAS HAPPENED.

>> MINNEAPOLIS, BUT IT DID WORK IN ST.

PAUL.

IT WAS VERY CIVIL IN ST.

PAUL.

>> OF COURSE IT WAS CIVIL IN ST.

PAUL.

[ Laughter ] >> AND BY THE WAY, I HINK IT SHOULD BE COMMENTED ON.

I MEAN, THIS WAS A HUGE EVENT, I THINK, FOR THE COMMUNITY THAT REPRESENTATIVE HER IS PART OF.

AND WHAT WE'VE SEEN OVER A PERIOD OF TIME TIME NOW, AND AT LEAST WITH RESPECT TO RAMSEY COUNTY, IS THAT HMONG COMMUNITY AND THE ASIAN COMMUNITY HAS STEPPED UP IN A WAY THAT THE IRISH COMMUNITY USED TO IN THIS GERMAN TOWN AND HAVE SHOWN A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNTED AMOUNAMOUNT OF POLITICAL SKILL D CHANGING THE FACE OF RAMSEY COUNTY.

BUT WERE THAT TRUE IN HENNEPIN COUNTY.

>> Cathy: TWO SPECIAL ELECTIONS WERE HELD AND THERE ARE GOING TO BE TWO MORE.

I MEAN, OW CHAOTIC IS THAT O HAVE SO MANY SPECIAL ELECTIONS?

>> WE NEED NEW LEADERSHIP.

>> WELL, I DON'T THINK IT'S HISTORICALLY OUT OF THE NORM.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE LAST ELECTION, I THINK IT'S GOING TO END UP BEING AROUND EIGHT SPECIAL ELECTIONS.

SO IF FEELS LIKE WE HAVE THIS ROLLING IMPACT WHEN THESE LAWMAKERS GET ELECTED TO ANOTHER OFFICE, BUT ULTIMATELY THESE TWO THAT ARE OPENED ARE HEAVILY BLUE SEATS -- >> Eric: WE GOT TO GO.

THANKS, PANEL.

>> FOR BOTH PARTIES TO BUILD LEADERSHIP, THAT'S WHY