D.C. Memo: Minnesotans reached surprise stardom at the DNC — and enjoyed the perks that came with it

CHICAGO — There were plenty of signs this week that Minnesota’s unexpected surge into the spotlight – thanks largely to Tim Walz’s pick as Kamala Harris’ running mate — caught DFLers and their supporters by surprise.

Blue cloth seat covers bearing an outline of the state, each personalized with a delegate’s name, were distributed so everyone knew where they had to sit each night. But they did not fit very well because they were made for different-sized seats in the United Center that had been originally designated for the delegation. After Walz was elevated, the delegation was moved to much better seating on the floor of the arena and near the stage — with larger seats.

Minnesota mania also reigned as far as media interest in the delegation. Crowds of journalists and photographers surrounded the Minnesotans, especially during Walz’s acceptance speech Wednesday night, and a plan to rotate these members of the media was implemented. Nonetheless, there were plenty of sharp elbows, maybe some of them mine.

And there was some discussion among delegates that maybe Minnesota should have held more events. Tickets to the few that had been scheduled were the hottest in town and impossible to get. OK, yes, I crashed a reception.

By Thursday, however, the long days that started with 7:30 a.m. breakfasts — followed by caucus meetings and other events and ending at the convention center where dozens of speeches stretched late into the night — had taken their toll. Many delegates decided they were too tired for any more partying.

Chicago did its part to help Democrats try to boost their chances in November’s elections. The weather was mild, the citizens (at least the ones I met) kind, and the city had enough capacity to handle the influx of the thousands that descended on the metropolis, which nevertheless snarled traffic and raised the threat of disruptive demonstrations.

Chicago police, and fellow officers from other states like Wisconsin and Michigan, kept things largely in check — mainly through a huge presence in the streets and convention venues. But there was one weird incident in the Fairmont hotel that hosts the Minnesota delegation, as well as those from South Dakota, Missouri, Ohio and Indiana.

The FBI was investigating if saboteurs placed bugs in a breakfast buffet in the hotel on Tuesday.

“Multiple unknown female offenders are alleged to have entered a building … and began placing unknown objects onto tables containing food,” the convention’s information center said in a statement. “The offenders are believed to have then left the area.”

It’s unclear what type of bugs these were. One witness told USA TODAY that the creatures appeared to be crickets while other reports suggested maggots.

Related | His biggest pep talk: ‘Coach’ Walz introduces himself to America with an impassioned speech

Working ‘with idiots’

While the main goal of the Democratic National Convention was to drum up enthusiasm and promote unity in an attempt to defeat Donald Trump, there were other political agendas at work in Chicago, too.

Lobbyists, some of whom funded the convention and individual delegation events, had seemingly unfettered access to office holders and other key Democratic officials.

And those seeking office or re-election also made use of the convention to raise campaign money and seek other types of help.

Jennifer Schultz, a former member of the Minnesota House of Representatives who is challenging U.S. Rep. Pete Stauber, R-8th District, made the rounds of other state delegates in an attempt to raise grassroots fundraising and “elevate a race that the national Democrats had chosen to stay out of.”

She also reached out to deep-pocket Democratic donors to “remind them of how close the race is.”

Rachel Bohman, a Democrat challenging U.S. Rep. Brad Finstad, R-1st District, also made a brief appearance in Chicago.

Meanwhile, U.S. Rep. Angie Craig, D-2nd District, who is in a tough race for re-election against Republican Marine veteran and former federal prosecutor Joe Teirab, also sought support at the convention.

“I know I piss you off sometimes,” Craig said in a speech to Minnesota DFLers, a reference to votes she’s taken against some party positions.

Related | Rural voters don’t necessarily love Walz, despite the camo hat and small-town upbringing

But she said her “purple” congressional district “is the most evenly divided district held by a Democrat.”

She touted her record as one of the most bipartisan members in the U.S. House of Representatives and said “I have to work with idiots every day to keep that record.” Craig mentioned Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., among several examples.

An important influencer

The Minnesota delegation had the privilege of having an “A” list of speakers this week. One of the nation’s top influencers, gun safety advocate David Hogg, who has more than 1.2 million X followers, was one of them.

Hogg burned up X with passionate — and seemingly endless — posts in support of Walz as Harris made her search for a running mate.

He told MinnPost he became a Walz fanatic after he met the governor at the Nebraska Democratic Party annual dinner last year and was impressed by his move to make breakfast and lunch free to all Minnesota school children.

“I was so blown away,” the Parkland school shooting survivor said. “I literally started texting people and said, ‘This guy is going to be a vice president.’”

On Thursday, Hogg posted a photo of himself on X looking very satisfied as he watched Walz’s acceptance speech at the convention with the caption “Called it.”

Harris: Trump an ‘unserious man’

In accepting he party’s presidential nomination Thursday night, Kamala Harris raised the specter that Donald Trump is a threat to democracy. “The consequences of putting Donald Trump back in the White House are extremely serious,” she said.  

She also went after Trump directly for encouraging the crowd to go to the Capitol on Jan. 6, not asking the rioters to disperse and promising to pardon rioters from that day.

“In many ways, Donald Trump is an unserious man,” Harris said. “But the consequences of putting Donald Trump back in the White House are extremely serious … Consider the power he will have — especially after the United States Supreme Court just ruled he would be immune from criminal prosecution.”  

The attacks on Trump and talk of the erosion of democracy were a departure from the convention’s aim to promote hope and “joy” as a central tenet of the Harris-Walz campaign.

Harris also said Trump is a patsy of the world’s dictators who “know he is easy to manipulate with flattery and favors.”

The vice president also sought to show her soft side, saying she was the product of middle-class America and honoring her mother, Shyamala Harris, whom she said taught her and her sister Maya to live honorably.

She also taught them to “never do anything half-assed,” Harris said.

Harris also gave a shout out to her running mate. “To Coach Tim Walz, you are going to be a great vice president,” she said.

Minnesota passes on roll call

The roll call of the states at a national political convention is usually one of the raucous moments in the event and the one at the DNC this week followed tradition.

But unlike other years, the roll call this week was ceremonial rather than official because a virtual roll call held before the convention made Kamala Harris and Tim Walz the official Democratic presidential and vice-presidential candidates.

Related | Ellison, Engelhart work with ‘uncommitted’ delegates behind the scenes on U.S. policy toward Israel

Minnesota and California passed their traditional alphabetical slots in the roll call so their delegates could cast the decisive votes allowing Harris to reach the goal of 1,991 votes to clinch the nomination.

Harris received twice as many votes than were needed, but 52 delegates in 18 states cast their votes for “present,” the only other option. Most were members of the “uncommitted” movement who cast those votes in protest of U.S. policy toward Israel’s war in Gaza. Minnesota had the most protest votes of any state.

“We cast 10 votes ‘present’ and we deliver 81 votes for Tim Walz and Kamala Harris,” a jubilant U.S. Sen. Tina Smith said.

The Minnesota delegation’s “walk up” song was Prince’s “1999,” and the state’s moment in the roll call also featured remarks from former Vikings great John Randle and U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, who introduced Minnesota as “the state where nearly everyone votes and purple reigns.”

Your questions and comments

A reader asked about Medicare’s new ability to negotiate the cost of drugs with pharmaceuticals to bring down prices for 10 popular medicines, beginning in 2026. We wrote that when in effect, Medicare recipients enrolled in its drug coverage, known as “Part D,” will save an estimated $1.5 billion in out-of-pocket costs.

 “Will this price change only affect Part D? Or will it also affect people (like me) whose Part C coverage includes prescription drug coverage?” the reader asked.

The answer is yes. Medicare Part C, also known as the Medicare Advantage Plan, is a type of Medicare-approved health plan from a private company that usually covers drug coverage through Part D. 

Another reader had kind words for my story about Walz’s speech — and sort of nice things to say about Walz.

“Well done on the Walz story. Glowing, but not too syrupy — a hard edge to navigate,” the reader said. “I think he’s been a very good — though not perfect — Governor, and since perfection is not normally a human trait, ‘very good’ is about as praiseworthy as someone should reasonably expect.”

Please keep your comments, and any questions, coming. I’ll try my best to respond. Please contact me at [email protected].

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