Blue North Beacon
@bluenorthbeacon.bsky.social
Policy and Political Takes from the Land of 10,000 Lakes
State of the Race: GOP Gubernatorial Primary Begins to Take Shape
Bottom Line:
The general election in a swing state with evolving demographics suggests both opportunities and pitfalls for each GOP contender.
open.substack.com/pub/bluenort...
Bottom Line:
The general election in a swing state with evolving demographics suggests both opportunities and pitfalls for each GOP contender.
open.substack.com/pub/bluenort...
State of the Race: GOP Gubernatorial Primary Begins to Take Shape
Each potential GOP candidate provides the DFL with unique political challenges and opportunities
open.substack.com
December 17, 2025 at 8:24 PM
State of the Race: GOP Gubernatorial Primary Begins to Take Shape
Bottom Line:
The general election in a swing state with evolving demographics suggests both opportunities and pitfalls for each GOP contender.
open.substack.com/pub/bluenort...
Bottom Line:
The general election in a swing state with evolving demographics suggests both opportunities and pitfalls for each GOP contender.
open.substack.com/pub/bluenort...
Sticker Shock Ahead - GOP Intransigence on Healthcare Aid Provides Democrats Political Opportunity Heading into Midterms
Bottom Line:
Republicans’ policy choice gives Democrats a powerful political narrative but only if Democrats pair the narrative with action.
open.substack.com/pub/bluenort...
Bottom Line:
Republicans’ policy choice gives Democrats a powerful political narrative but only if Democrats pair the narrative with action.
open.substack.com/pub/bluenort...
Sticker Shock Ahead - Republican Intransigence on Healthcare Aid Provides Democrats Political Opportunity Heading into Midterms
Republicans’ policy choice gives Democrats a powerful political narrative heading into 2026 — but only if Democrats pair the narrative with action.
open.substack.com
December 15, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Sticker Shock Ahead - GOP Intransigence on Healthcare Aid Provides Democrats Political Opportunity Heading into Midterms
Bottom Line:
Republicans’ policy choice gives Democrats a powerful political narrative but only if Democrats pair the narrative with action.
open.substack.com/pub/bluenort...
Bottom Line:
Republicans’ policy choice gives Democrats a powerful political narrative but only if Democrats pair the narrative with action.
open.substack.com/pub/bluenort...
What are the Odds? - The Policy & Politics of Sports Gambling in Minnesota
Bottom Line:
Until differing visions reconcile, the odds of any bill cashing at the Capitol remain long — even if everyone says they’re “for sports betting” in the abstract.
open.substack.com/pub/bluenort...
Bottom Line:
Until differing visions reconcile, the odds of any bill cashing at the Capitol remain long — even if everyone says they’re “for sports betting” in the abstract.
open.substack.com/pub/bluenort...
What are the Odds? - The Policy & Politics of Sports Gambling in Minnesota
Until differing visions reconcile, the odds of any bill cashing at the Capitol remain long — even if everyone says they’re “for sports betting” in the abstract.
open.substack.com
December 10, 2025 at 3:09 PM
What are the Odds? - The Policy & Politics of Sports Gambling in Minnesota
Bottom Line:
Until differing visions reconcile, the odds of any bill cashing at the Capitol remain long — even if everyone says they’re “for sports betting” in the abstract.
open.substack.com/pub/bluenort...
Bottom Line:
Until differing visions reconcile, the odds of any bill cashing at the Capitol remain long — even if everyone says they’re “for sports betting” in the abstract.
open.substack.com/pub/bluenort...
Walking the Line — DFL Candidates Must Meet Two Tests at Once
Bottom Line:
DFL candidates don’t need to choose between fiscal accountability and moral clarity -they must show they can repair what failed while also rejecting bigotry masquerading as oversight.
open.substack.com/pub/bluenort...
Bottom Line:
DFL candidates don’t need to choose between fiscal accountability and moral clarity -they must show they can repair what failed while also rejecting bigotry masquerading as oversight.
open.substack.com/pub/bluenort...
Walking the Line — DFL Candidates Must Meet Two Tests at Once
DFL candidates don’t need to choose between fiscal accountability and moral clarity -they must show they can repair what failed while also rejecting bigotry masquerading as oversight.
open.substack.com
December 8, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Walking the Line — DFL Candidates Must Meet Two Tests at Once
Bottom Line:
DFL candidates don’t need to choose between fiscal accountability and moral clarity -they must show they can repair what failed while also rejecting bigotry masquerading as oversight.
open.substack.com/pub/bluenort...
Bottom Line:
DFL candidates don’t need to choose between fiscal accountability and moral clarity -they must show they can repair what failed while also rejecting bigotry masquerading as oversight.
open.substack.com/pub/bluenort...
Tennessee Lessons for Minnesota Democrats
Bottom Line: The real test for DFL candidates in 2026 will be whether they can translate national signals into authentically local campaigns, not just rerun someone else’s special election.
open.substack.com/pub/bluenort...
Bottom Line: The real test for DFL candidates in 2026 will be whether they can translate national signals into authentically local campaigns, not just rerun someone else’s special election.
open.substack.com/pub/bluenort...
From the Smokey Mountains to the North Star: Tennessee Lessons for Minnesota Democrats
For Minnesota DFL candidates, the Tennessee results offer real takeaways worth bringing north, but also a few lessons worth leaving in the sun belt.
open.substack.com
December 4, 2025 at 3:24 PM
Tennessee Lessons for Minnesota Democrats
Bottom Line: The real test for DFL candidates in 2026 will be whether they can translate national signals into authentically local campaigns, not just rerun someone else’s special election.
open.substack.com/pub/bluenort...
Bottom Line: The real test for DFL candidates in 2026 will be whether they can translate national signals into authentically local campaigns, not just rerun someone else’s special election.
open.substack.com/pub/bluenort...
Political Takes from the Land of 10,000 Lakes:
St Paul’s Political Reset: Voters Chose Urgency Over Vision
Bottom Line: Kaohly Her didn’t win because she ran to Carter’s right or left. She won because she ran toward the city’s lived reality, and voters followed
bluenorthbeacon.org/p/st-pauls-p...
St Paul’s Political Reset: Voters Chose Urgency Over Vision
Bottom Line: Kaohly Her didn’t win because she ran to Carter’s right or left. She won because she ran toward the city’s lived reality, and voters followed
bluenorthbeacon.org/p/st-pauls-p...
St Paul’s Political Reset: Voters Chose Urgency Over Vision
Kaohly Her didn’t win because she ran to Carter’s right or left. She won because she ran toward the city’s lived reality, and voters followed.
bluenorthbeacon.org
December 2, 2025 at 2:53 PM
Political Takes from the Land of 10,000 Lakes:
St Paul’s Political Reset: Voters Chose Urgency Over Vision
Bottom Line: Kaohly Her didn’t win because she ran to Carter’s right or left. She won because she ran toward the city’s lived reality, and voters followed
bluenorthbeacon.org/p/st-pauls-p...
St Paul’s Political Reset: Voters Chose Urgency Over Vision
Bottom Line: Kaohly Her didn’t win because she ran to Carter’s right or left. She won because she ran toward the city’s lived reality, and voters followed
bluenorthbeacon.org/p/st-pauls-p...
Policy Watch: THC Poison Pill - Government Funding Bill Provision Will Destroy THC Drink Industry & Harm Small Businesses
Bottom Line: Minnesota innovated low-dose THC beverages - now federal law threatens to out-gun that innovation.
bluenorthbeacon.org/p/thc-poison...
Bottom Line: Minnesota innovated low-dose THC beverages - now federal law threatens to out-gun that innovation.
bluenorthbeacon.org/p/thc-poison...
THC Poison Pill - Government Funding Bill Provision Will Destroy THC Drink Industry & Harm Small Businesses
Minnesota innovated low-dose THC beverages—now federal law threatens to out-gun that innovation.
bluenorthbeacon.org
December 2, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Policy Watch: THC Poison Pill - Government Funding Bill Provision Will Destroy THC Drink Industry & Harm Small Businesses
Bottom Line: Minnesota innovated low-dose THC beverages - now federal law threatens to out-gun that innovation.
bluenorthbeacon.org/p/thc-poison...
Bottom Line: Minnesota innovated low-dose THC beverages - now federal law threatens to out-gun that innovation.
bluenorthbeacon.org/p/thc-poison...
Walz’ Reelection Announcement Highlights Blue Collar Background but Will His Message Resonate with Blue Collar Voters?
Bottom Line: Walz’ 2026 race will test if Democrats can rebuild trust with working-class voters without losing urban progressives.
#mnpolitics
bluenorthbeacon.org/p/walz-re-el...
Bottom Line: Walz’ 2026 race will test if Democrats can rebuild trust with working-class voters without losing urban progressives.
#mnpolitics
bluenorthbeacon.org/p/walz-re-el...
Walz’ Re-Election Announcement Highlights Blue Collar Background but Will His Message Resonate with Blue Collar Voters?
Heading into 2026, his relationship with blue-collar voters may be the decisive factor in whether he wins a third term.
bluenorthbeacon.org
December 1, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Walz’ Reelection Announcement Highlights Blue Collar Background but Will His Message Resonate with Blue Collar Voters?
Bottom Line: Walz’ 2026 race will test if Democrats can rebuild trust with working-class voters without losing urban progressives.
#mnpolitics
bluenorthbeacon.org/p/walz-re-el...
Bottom Line: Walz’ 2026 race will test if Democrats can rebuild trust with working-class voters without losing urban progressives.
#mnpolitics
bluenorthbeacon.org/p/walz-re-el...
Minneapolis City Council Watch - Who will lead the next Minneapolis City Council?
Bottom Line: In a city where Democrats run everything, one swing vote might just decide what kind of Democrats run it.
open.substack.com/pub/bluenort...
Bottom Line: In a city where Democrats run everything, one swing vote might just decide what kind of Democrats run it.
open.substack.com/pub/bluenort...
All Eyes on Jamal Osman: Council President Vote Will Signal Minneapolis’ Political Direction
The most powerful decision in Minneapolis politics this winter won’t come from the mayor’s office — it’ll come from a single Council Member’s vote.
open.substack.com
November 26, 2025 at 9:22 PM
Minneapolis City Council Watch - Who will lead the next Minneapolis City Council?
Bottom Line: In a city where Democrats run everything, one swing vote might just decide what kind of Democrats run it.
open.substack.com/pub/bluenort...
Bottom Line: In a city where Democrats run everything, one swing vote might just decide what kind of Democrats run it.
open.substack.com/pub/bluenort...
Check out our first post discussing Minneapolis election results and what they mean for a Democratic Party searching for a unifying message ahead of 2026.
Bottom Line - Minneapolis offers a vivid microcosm of Democrats' ongoing internal struggle.
Read more here: open.substack.com/pub/bluenort...
Bottom Line - Minneapolis offers a vivid microcosm of Democrats' ongoing internal struggle.
Read more here: open.substack.com/pub/bluenort...
Minneapolis Election Sets Stage for Socialist–Centrist Divide in Democratic Politics Heading into 2026 Midterms
For a Democratic Party searching for a unifying message ahead of 2026, Minneapolis offers a vivid microcosm of its internal struggle
open.substack.com
November 24, 2025 at 8:14 PM
Check out our first post discussing Minneapolis election results and what they mean for a Democratic Party searching for a unifying message ahead of 2026.
Bottom Line - Minneapolis offers a vivid microcosm of Democrats' ongoing internal struggle.
Read more here: open.substack.com/pub/bluenort...
Bottom Line - Minneapolis offers a vivid microcosm of Democrats' ongoing internal struggle.
Read more here: open.substack.com/pub/bluenort...