In close Minn. House races, personal problems old and new can be vexing for candidates

One incumbent has scrambled to address an allegation of abusive behavior first lodged 16 years ago. A political newcomer had long-ago, anti-police social media posts resurface in a fashion that raised suggestions of hypocrisy. And another lawmaker found himself explaining a failed business that resulted in a still-pending default judgment.

This is the time of year when the dirt gets shoveled in pivotal legislative campaigns, which are far enough down the ballot to be mostly obscure to many voters but are collectively crucial to determining the direction of state government.

All 134 Minnesota House seats are on November’s ballot, but only a dozen or so are considered competitive races. In the final push to Election Day, political parties and outside entities with keen interest on who controls the House next year are looking for anything in a candidate’s past that could make them unpalatable to voters, from the professional to the personal.

For state-level candidates, mistakes and allegations from their lives before starting a political career can come back to bite them. These incidents often crop up at inopportune times because the vetting process is minimal or absent for candidates lower on the ballot.



https://www.mprnews.org/story/2024/10/16/in-close-minnesota-house-races-personal-problems-old-and-new-can-be-vexing-for-candidates