ZOOMING IN ON ANGIE CRAIG'S JOINT ADDRESS GUEST: Rep. Angie Craig could have brought anyone to Trump's joint address to Congress last week. She's the new top Democrat on the House Agriculture Committee and could have brought a farmer like fellow ranking Democrat on the Senate Agriculture Committee in the upper chamber, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, or made a statement like many other fellow Democrats by bringing a fired federal worker to the event.
But Craig chose to bring Denise Specht, the head of the powerful Minnesota teachers union, as the congresswoman weighs getting in the Senate race. It's a move that Democrats say is significant in the context of her political calculus for the U.S. Senate. "There's reasons and rhymes to that for sure," one DFL source said of Craig's decision to bring Specht, pictured above.
A POWERFUL UNION IN A STATEWIDE RACE: Education Minnesota comprises 477 local unions and has members all across the state. It is, therefore, a powerful union to have the backing of if you're running statewide and is likely to be highly sought after in what could become a crowded DFL primary. The DFL source said its members show up to caucuses and conventions and are likely to be heavily involved in the party's endorsement process.
"Angie Craig is a very strategic and smart politician and having invited the head of one of the state's largest unions is certainly a notable thing of importance," said former DFL Chair Mike Erlandson. "Whether she chooses to run for higher office or not, it's a focus on kids and schools and labor unions."
Erlandson noted the teachers union is one that all politicians who run try to court and that its support is key, not only because membership spans across the state, but because members often vote as a bloc. The union also has a PAC and independent expenditure arm that can support the candidates it endorses, Erlandson said.
So far, Craig has yet to make a decision on whether to run but has said she plans to decide in the coming weeks.
Craig's office said Specht's visit coincided with reports of Trump directing Education Secretary Lisa McMahon to dismantle the Department of Education, with Craig inviting the head of Education Minnesota in a show of support of the department. Her office also said she's invited both a teacher and a farmer to past joint addresses.
CRAIG SAYS: "Denise Specht is true leader who has dedicated her life not only to educating our kids, but also to advocating for Minnesota’s public schools as President of Education Minnesota. I was proud to have Denise by my side during the President’s joint address and look forward to continuing our work together to protect Minnesota’s public schools from reckless cuts that threaten to take opportunities away from our kids."
WHO'S RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION? Rep. Brad Finstad announced he's running for re-election to his House seat in 2026, effectively closing the door on a possible Senate run.
“It has been an honor of a lifetime to represent my friends and neighbors across southern Minnesota in Congress,” Finstad told KTTC. “Under Biden and the Democrats we saw chaos on our border, out of control inflation, and skyrocketing national debt. The American people voted for us to take action to ensure we leave a strong nation to our children and grandchildren. There is a lot of hard work to be done, but I know America’s best days are still ahead of us.”
WHAT WILL BETTY MCCOLLUM DO? Meanwhile, Rep. Betty McCollum, who's ruled out a Senate bid herself, said last week on MPR that she's still weighing whether to run for re-election. But it sounded like she's leaning on running again.
"I enjoy doing the job. I have enough seniority that I know how to pull some of the levers," McCollum said in the MPR interview. "I will also say, that there's a lot of work left to be done."
