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By Sydney Kashiwagi 

Glen Stubbe/The Minnesota Star Tribune

Hello. And welcome back to another D.C. Dish! 

GOING TOE TO TOE WITH MNGOP: GOP U.S. Senate candidate Royce White declared war on the Minnesota Republican Party and its chair, David Hann, after the ex-NBA player realized he was not included on an elections mailer the party sent out.  

“This marks the day that David Hann and the Minnesota Republican Party decided to go to war with the grassroots,” White said in an X post. “We won't forget it buddy... You smile in my face and pull this bullshit? You neocons are finished, every last one of you. And I don't care who comes to town to vouch for you.” 

But White was not the only candidate running for federal office the party didn’t include on the mailer, Hann pointed out, calling White’s frustration a “misunderstanding.” Hann also said the party sends other mailers and does not include every candidate on every one. 

The party’s executive director, Anna Matthews, also told me the decision had nothing to do with White personally, pointing out that he was included on all sample ballots the party sent out with its other endorsed candidates ahead of the August primaries. 

RADIO SILENCE FROM WHITE: “I just don't think it was a major issue, but for whatever reason, he was unhappy with that,” Hann said, adding that he hasn’t heard from White directly about his complaint. 

The omission of White's name on the mailer comes on the heels of Minnesota's four Republican members of Congress refusing to say whether they plan to back him on Election Day. 

MNGOP STILL BEHIND WHITE: Regardless of White’s frustrations, Hann said the party still stands behind him. “He’s the endorsed candidate and we support our endorsed candidates,” he said. 

THE D.C. CRYSTAL BALL: Democrats need to flip four seats to take back the U.S. House and Rep. Suzan DelBene of Washington, chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, is feeling good about her party’s chances heading into Nov. 5, she said during a call with regional reporters last week.  

DelBene told me she’s especially feeling good about Second District DFL Rep. Angie Craig’s chances against Republican Joe Teirab, the most competitive House race in the state and a top race the DCCC is watching.

CD2 FORECAST: DelBene called Craig an “independent voice” and applauded her for leading the effort to cap insulin copays at $35 a month and crack down on fentanyl.  

“She's been just a strong leader in the Congress, and people know that,” DelBene said. “That's why she's had strong support and Teirab has been another extreme Republican,” noting his position on abortion and Social Security. 

But in other parts of the state, DelBene was more hopefully optimistic.  

CD8 FORECAST: Eighth Congressional District candidate Jen Schultz has raised enough to make her competitive against GOP incumbent Rep. Pete Stauber, who flipped the seat in 2018. But asked whether Schultz’s money is enough to put her over the edge against Stauber, DelBene called her a strong candidate; however, her response didn't indicate the committee thinks the race is one that will help determine the House majority.  

“So another strong campaign happening there, and I think we have opportunities in places sometimes that may not be all the races you see on our list where we have the opportunities to pick up seats also," DelBene said. 

MSP UPGRADES: Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith announced Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport is on track to complete long awaited improvements to Concourse G, thanks to a $20 million grant from the Biden-Harris infrastructure bill, which they both backed. 

The funding will allow the airport to expand Terminal 1 on Concourse G between gates 8-13, according to a news release from Smith’s office. New restrooms will be installed, and more seating and energy efficient spaces will also be added in the area.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT NOV. 5: My colleague Briana Bierschbach put together a rundown of everything you need to know heading into Election Day. 

Give it a read. She talks about who's on the ballot, how to get a ballot, how to vote by mail, how long you have on an absentee ballot, what happens if you make a mistake on your ballot, plus so much more. READ MORE

Gov. Tim Walz has nothing planned on his official gubernatorial schedule. But on the campaign side, he's making stops across Georgia today and ending his day heading off to North Carolina. 

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