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John,
This is a difficult time for our democracy. From the chaos in the federal government to the unprecedented levels of division in our own state legislature, the challenges we are facing make the need for democracy reform more clear than ever.
Ranked choice voting is one of the most powerful reforms available to us. With RCV, we can build a stronger, more resilient democracy for our future—one that truly represents the will of the people. And during this time of uncertainty, we remain dedicated in our commitment to making it available to all the people of Minnesota.
In this update we cover the recent 40B special election and how this shifts the balance of power at the legislature, the progress of the RCV Local Option bill, anti-democracy bills, upcoming RCV elections, and International Women’s Day.
Let’s Welcome Our Newest Democracy Champion!
This past Tuesday, RCV Democracy Champion David Gottfried was elected to the Minnesota House! David was elected to fill a vacancy left by the resignation of Representative-Elect Curtis Johnson late last year. He will represent House District 40B, which covers Shoreview and Roseville. Please join us in welcoming this newest RCV champion to the Minnesota House—we look forward to working with him in advancing RCV at the legislature!
Power-Sharing Arrangement
David will be sworn in on Monday, March 17th, bringing the partisan totals in the House to 67 DFLers and 67 Republicans. Under the power-sharing agreement negotiated earlier this year by party leaders, this tie will mean that committees will contain equal members of both parties and be co-chaired by one Democrat and one Republican. Control of the gavel will alternate back and forth between the co-chairs. Republican Lisa Demuth will remain Speaker of the House.
Since the vote threshold to pass a bill in the House is 68 votes, any bills passed this year will by necessity be bipartisan. The House and the DFL-controlled Senate have until June 30 to pass a budget for the next two years.
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Local Option Bill Advances in the Senate, Is Introduced In the House
The RCV Local Options bill (SF 1071), carried by Elections Chair Jim Carlson, had its first hearing on February 9 in the Minnesota Senate elections committee. It was passed out of committee and will make its next stop at the Local and State Government Committee. We anticipate a hearing soon.
The bill is a popular measure, with Senate legislators introducing five “clone” bills [[link removed]] as a way of showing their commitment to RCV! Clone bills allow the Senate to get around the usual five-legislator cap on co-authors, and send a strong message that democracy reform remains a priority. We extend a huge thank-you to all the co-authors:
Senate Chief Author: Senator Jim Carlson
Senate Co-authors: Bonnie Westlin, Steve Cwodzinski, Grant Hauschild, Tou Xiong, Aric Putnam, Mary Kunesh, Nicole Mitchell, Erin Maye Quade, John Hoffman, Alice Mann, Heather Gustafson, Judy Seeberger, Melissa Wiklund, Omar Fateh, Doron Clark, Robert Kupec, John Marty, Scott Dibble, Jennifer McEwen, Liz Boldon Ann Rest, Ann Johnson Stewart, Sandra Pappas, Lindsey Port, Clare Oumou Verbeten
House Chief Author: Representative Cedrick Frazier
House Co-Authors: Nathan Coulter, Matt Norris, Kari Rehrauer, Amanda Hemmingsen-Jaeger, Julie Greene, Zach Stephenson, Kim Hicks, Katie Jones, Steve Elkins, Mark Freiberg, Esther AgbajeKristin Bahner, Sandra Feist, Larry Kraft, Dave Pinto, Bianca Virnig, Lucy Rehm, Liz Reyer, Samantha Sencer-Mura, Kaohly Her, Athena Hollins, Brad Tabke, Jessica Hanson, Huldah Momanyi-Hiltsley, Kelly Moller, Alex Falconer, María Isa Pérez-Vega, Kristi Pursell
As the bill makes its way forward in the Senate, we are hoping for a hearing in the House. Since Representative Frazier introduced the bill (HF683), it has almost completely filled up with co-authors [[link removed]] ! After the bill narrowly missed passage on the House floor last year, we’re excited to see that legislators are still excited about the potential and power of this bill. If your legislature is a co-author, please reach out to thank them! Stay tuned for news of a potential hearing.
Join the Fight, Make a Donation Today [[link removed]]
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Anti-RCV and Other Anti-Democracy Bills
While the pro-RCV bill moves forward in the legislature, a Republican-backed bill (SF1243, HF1475) to prohibit RCV has been introduced. The bill has not yet been up for a hearing and we will keep you updated on any progress the bill may make. We want to be sure it
RCV is not the only target of anti-democracy efforts. This afternoon on the House Floor, HF 1496, will be voted on. The bill would put new redundant administrative requirements in place and make it harder and more confusing for voters to cast absentee ballots. We are joined in coalition with democracy allies in asking supporters to contact their legislators —by 3:30pm today— and ask them to vote no on this bill.
Contact Your Legislators [[link removed]]
RCV Elections Kickoff in Five Cities!
Five Minnesota cities using RCV—Minneapolis, St. Paul, St. Louis Park, Bloomington, and Minnetonka, have elections this year! With all seats up for election in Minneapolis, activists are getting an early start, with caucuses on April 8, 13 ward conventions throughout the spring and a citywide convention in July. In the coming week, will provide a special edition email for Minneapolis voters on the nominating process.
Stay tuned for opportunities to get involved and volunteer as we travel around the metro to talk to voters about RCV!
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Celebrating Women's History Month
March is Women’s History Month, and we want to take this opportunity to honor the resilience, leadership, and impact of women around the world. From breaking barriers to driving change, women shape our communities and our democracy. Let’s celebrate their achievements, amplify their voices, and commit to building a more just and equitable future for all.
We want to recognize all women who have stepped up to serve at all levels of government and special thanks to the pro-democracy, pro-RCV champions representing us in the Minnesota legislature. We could not do this important work without you and with RCV, more women and more diverse women are getting elected to office around the country.
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In closing, we encourage you to stay informed and engaged in this challenging moment. The future of our democracy depends on all of us. Thank you for continuing to fight for RCV and for all you do to protect and strengthen our democracy at all levels.
Your FairVote Minnesota Team

FairVote Minnesota
550 Vandalia Street, Suite 210
Saint Paul, MN 55114
United States
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