The Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL) is a political party in the U.S. state of Minnesota affiliated with the national Democratic Party.[1][2] The party was formed by a merger between the Minnesota Democratic Party and the Minnesota Farmer–Labor Party in 1944.[3] The DFL is one of two state Democratic Party affiliates with a different name from that of the national party, the other being the neighbouring North Dakota Democratic–Nonpartisan League Party.[1]
Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Abbreviation | DFL |
| Chairperson | Ken Martin |
| Governor | Tim Walz |
| Lieutenant Governor | Peggy Flanagan |
| Senate President | Bobby Joe Champion |
| Senate Leader | Erin Murphy |
| House Speaker | Melissa Hortman |
| Founded | April 15, 1944 |
| Merger of | Minnesota Democratic Party and Minnesota Farmer–Labor Party |
| Headquarters | 255 Plato Boulevard East Saint Paul, Minnesota |
| Youth wing | Minnesota Young DFL (MYDFL) |
| Ideology | Modern liberalism Progressivism |
| Political position | Centre-left |
| National affiliation | Democratic Party |
| Colors | Blue |
| State Senate | 34 / 67 |
| State House | 67 / 134 |
| Statewide Executive Offices | 5 / 5 |
| U.S. Senate | 2 / 2 |
| U.S. House of Representatives | 4 / 8 |
| Website | |
| dfl | |
The DFL controls four of Minnesota's eight U.S. House seats, both of its U.S. Senate seats, the Minnesota House of Representatives and Senate, and all other statewide offices, including the governorship, making it the dominant party in the state. Its main political rival has been the Republican Party of Minnesota.
History
editDuring the 1930s, the Farmer–Labor Party had gained traction with radical platforms that challenged economic and social inequalities, backed by Governor Floyd B. Olson. However, by 1938, the party's influence waned due to internal conflicts and accusations of incompetence and corruption, leading to a loss in gubernatorial elections.
On April 15, 1944, the Farmer–Labor Party merged with the Minnesota Democratic Party, forming the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL).[4] Leading the merger effort were Elmer Kelm, the head of the Minnesota Democratic Party and the founding chairman of the DFL; Elmer Benson, effectively the head of the Farmer–Labor Party by virtue of his leadership of its dominant left-wing faction; and rising star Hubert H. Humphrey, who chaired the Fusion Committee that accomplished the union and then went on to chair its first state convention.[5] This merger marked a pivotal shift influenced by academic liberals at the University of Minnesota who advocated for integrating the New Deal's progressive reforms within a more centralized, managerial political framework, transitioning from the movement-oriented politics of the Farmer-Labor party to a structure that emphasized interest-group pluralism.
During the post-war years, the DFL confronted various social issues, including antisemitism, which reflected broader national conversations about race and ethnicity. The DFL also navigated with its stance on civil rights and economic justice, influenced significantly by Minnesota's small but politically active African American communities. In early 1946, as a Fair Employment Practice (FEPC) bill was moving through Congress, there was a surge of civil rights activism in the Twin Cities.[6]
Factional battles were intensified by differing views on how to address the left-wing influence within the party, with significant conflicts between proponents of Henry A. Wallace's progressive policies and the more moderate wing led by figures like Hubert Humphrey. By the party's second convention in 1946, tensions had re-emerged between members of the two former parties. While the majority of delegates supported left-wing policies, Humphrey managed to install a more conservative, anti-communist ally, Orville Freeman, as party secretary.[7] Some disaffected Farmer–Labor leaders such as Benson moved to the Progressive Party.[3] Freeman was elected the state's first DFL governor in 1954. Important members of the party have included Humphrey and Walter Mondale, who each went on to be United States senators, vice presidents of the United States, and unsuccessful Democratic nominees for president; Eugene McCarthy, a U.S. senator who ran for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1968 as an anti-Vietnam War candidate; Paul Wellstone, a U.S. senator from 1991 to 2002 who became an icon of populist progressivism;[8] Amy Klobuchar, a U.S. Senator who ran for the Democratic nomination for president in 2020;[9] Dean Phillips, a U.S. Representative who ran for the Democratic nomination for president in 2024;[10] and Tim Walz, two-term governor chosen as Kamala Harris' running mate in the 2024 presidential election.[11] The DFL has had varied success beginning in the late 1970s and through the late 2010s, in part due to the growth of single-issue splinter groups after reforms brought by the national party.[5]
Following the 2022 Minnesota elections, the DFL became the dominant party in the state, retaining every executive office, winning majorities in the state House and Senate, and re-electing all incumbent congressional representatives. With their newly elected trifecta, the DFL pursued a progressive agenda in their first legislative session. Governor Tim Walz described the session as "the most successful legislative session, certainly in many of our lifetimes and maybe in Minnesota history."[12] The newly elected government passed large expansions in welfare programs and spending. Notable policies passed include the expansion of abortion rights, new programs to provide reproductive healthcare, protection of gender affirming care,[13] the legalization of recreational cannabis, indexing education spending to inflation, investments in public transit, and paid sick leave for Minnesota workers.[13][14] Former President Barack Obama praised the state government's actions, saying that "Minnesota has made progress on a whole host of issues – from protecting abortion rights and new gun safety measures to expanding access to the ballot and reducing child poverty. These laws will make a real difference in the lives of Minnesotans."[15]
Party organization
edit
The DFL is governed by a state central committee, which is composed of representatives from each of the state's congressional districts. The state central committee is responsible for setting the party's platform, electing party officers, and conducting other party business. The DFL also has a constitution and bylaws that govern its operations.[2]
Community caucuses
editThe party operates several community caucuses that organize and represent different communities within Minnesota; they not defined geographically.[16] These include the:
- African American Caucus, which organizes African Americans.
- Asian Pacific American Caucus, which organizes Asian Americans and Pacific Islander Americans.
- Disability Caucus, which advocates for Minnesotans with disabilities.
- Environmental Caucus, which advocates for environmental protection and sustainability.
- Feminist Caucus, which advocates for feminist and women's issues.
- Hmong American Caucus, which organizes Hmong Americans, the largest Asian American group in Minnesota.
- Latino Caucus (Spanish: Movimiento) which organizes Latino Americans.
- Minnesota Young DFL, which organizes young people.
- Muslim Caucus, which organizes Muslims, who make up between 1–2% of the state.[17]
- Native People's Caucus, which organizes and supports Native Americans and tribal communities.
- Progressive Caucus, which advocates for progressive policies and opposes "corporate money in politics".
- Rural Caucus, which supports the state's rural communities.
- Senior Caucus, which advocates for the interests of senior citizens.
- Somali American Caucus, which organizes Somali Americans, who make up over 1% of the state's population.[18][17]
- Stonewall DFL, which organizes LGBTQ+ Minnesotans.
- Veterans Caucus, which organizes veterans and their families.
Voter base
editThe DFL's base of support is diverse, and it includes urban and suburban voters, working class voters, labor unions, environmentalists, and other progressive groups.[19] The party has a strong presence in the Twin Cities metropolitan area.[20] The DFL has lost support in traditional DFL strongholds such as the Iron Range since 2016.[21]
Current elected officials
editFederal
edit- Senior senator: Amy Klobuchar (since 2007)
- Junior senator: Tina Smith (since 2018)
Out of the eight seats Minnesota is apportioned in the U.S. House of Representatives, four are held by members of the DFL.
- 2nd district: Angie Craig (since 2019)
- 3rd district: Dean Phillips (since 2019)
- 4th district: Betty McCollum (since 2001)
- 5th district: Ilhan Omar (since 2019)
State
editStatewide
edit- Governor: Tim Walz (since 2019)
- Lieutenant Governor: Peggy Flanagan (since 2019)
- Secretary of State: Steve Simon (since 2015)
- State Auditor: Julie Blaha (since 2019)
- Attorney General: Keith Ellison (since 2019)
State legislative leaders
edit- President of the Senate: Bobby Joe Champion (since 2023)
- Senate Majority Leader: Erin Murphy (since 2023)
- House Speaker: Melissa Hortman (since 2019)
- House Majority Leader: Jamie Long (since 2023)
Municipal
editMayors
edit- Minneapolis (list): Jacob Frey (since 2018) (1)
- Saint Paul (list): Melvin Carter (since 2018) (2)
- Duluth (list): Roger Reinert (since 2024) (5)
Leadership
edit.jpg)
Current
edit- Chair: Ken Martin (since 2011)
- Vice chair: Marge Hoffa (since 2011)
- Second vice chair: Shivanthi Sathanandan (since 2021)
- Treasurer: Leah Midgarden (since 2021)
- Secretary: Ceri Everett (since 2021)
- Outreach officer: Cheniqua Johnson (since 2021)
Historical party chairs
editThrough 1975, the party's constitution called for the election of a separate chairman and chairwoman to head state party activities. Only the chairman received compensation. In the mid-1970s, the party voted to change the titles of the chief party offices to chair and associate chair, specifying that they must both be salaried and must be of the opposite sex.
|
State Chairmen
|
State Chairwomen
|
State chair
- Koryne Horbal (1968–1977)
- Claire Rumpel (1978–1979)
- Mike Hatch (1980–1983)
- Mary Monahan (1983–1985)
- Ruth Stanoch (1985–1989)
- Todd Otis (1990–1993)
- Rick Stafford (1993–1995)
- Mark Andrew (1995–1997)
- Richard Senese (1997–1999)
- Mike Erlandson (1999–2005)
- Brian Melendez (2005–2011)
Electoral history
editFederal
editU.S. Senate
edit
|
|
- ^ Replaced Paul Wellstone following his death.
U.S. House
edit| Election | Votes | % | Seats (MN) | ± |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 1,399,624 | 51.4 | 4 / 8
|
 0
|
| 2006 | 1,152,621 | 52.9 | 5 / 8
|
 1
|
| 2008 | 1,612,480 | 57.5 | 5 / 8
|
0
|
| 2010 | 1,002,026 | 47.9 | 4 / 8
|
 1
|
| 2012 | 985,760 | 55.5 | 5 / 8
|
1
|
| 2014 | 985,760 | 50.2 | 5 / 8
|
0
|
| 2016 | 1,434,590 | 50.2 | 5 / 8
|
0
|
| 2018 | 1,420,748 | 55.1 | 5 / 8
|
0
|
| 2020 | 1,554,373 | 48.7 | 4 / 8
|
1
|
| 2022 | 1,250,479 | 50.1 | 4 / 8
|
0
|
| 2024 | TBD | TBD |
State
editGovernor
edit| Year | Candidate | Votes | % | Won |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1944 | Byron G. Allen | 430,132 | 37.8 | No |
| 1946 | Harold H. Barker | 349,565 | 39.7 | No |
| 1948 | Charles Halsted | 545,766 | 45.1 | No |
| 1950 | Harry H. Peterson | 400,637 | 38.3 | No |
| 1952 | Orville Freeman | 624,480 | 44.0 | No |
| 1954 | Orville Freeman | 607,099 | 52.7 | Yes |
| 1956 | Orville Freeman | 731,180 | 51.4 | Yes |
| 1958 | Orville Freeman | 658,326 | 56.8 | Yes |
| 1960 | Orville Freeman | 760,934 | 49.1 | No |
| 1962 | Karl Rolvaag | 619,842 | 49.7 | Yes |
| 1966 | Karl Rolvaag | 607,943 | 46.9 | No |
| 1970 | Wendell Anderson | 737,921 | 54.0 | Yes |
| 1974 | Wendell Anderson | 786,787 | 62.8 | Yes |
| 1978 | Rudy Perpich | 718,244 | 45.3 | No |
| 1982 | Rudy Perpich | 718,244 | 58.8 | Yes |
| 1986 | Rudy Perpich | 790,138 | 56.1 | Yes |
| 1990 | Rudy Perpich | 836,218 | 46.8 | No |
| 1994 | John Marty | 589,344 | 34.1 | No |
| 1998 | Skip Humphrey | 587,528 | 28.1 | No |
| 2002 | Roger Moe | 821,268 | 36.5 | No |
| 2006 | Mike Hatch | 1,007,460 | 45.7 | No |
| 2010 | Mark Dayton | 919,232 | 43.6 | Yes |
| 2014 | Mark Dayton | 989,113 | 50.1 | Yes |
| 2018 | Tim Walz | 1,393,096 | 53.8 | Yes |
| 2022 | Tim Walz | 1,312,349 | 52.3 | Yes |
Minnesota Senate
edit| Election | Votes | % | Seats | ± | Majority |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | 1,024,624 | 51.9 | 49 / 67
|
Yes | |
| 1980 | 1,024,624 | 49.3 | 46 / 67
|
3
|
Yes |
| 1982 | 951,287 | 51.8 | 42 / 67
|
4
|
Yes |
| 1986 | 765,584 | 52.6 | 47 / 67
|
5
|
Yes |
| 1990 | 990,513 | 53.7 | 46 / 67
|
1
|
Yes |
| 1992 | 1,247,594 | 53.0 | 45 / 67
|
1
|
Yes |
| 1996 | 1,129,095 | 51.1 | 42 / 67
|
3
|
Yes |
| 2000 | 1,219,497 | 49.6 | 39 / 67
|
3
|
Yes |
| 2002 | 1,080,975 | 49.7 | 35 / 67
|
4
|
Yes |
| 2006 | 1,183,319 | 55.3 | 44 / 67
|
6
|
Yes |
| 2010 | 1,005,132 | 48.9 | 30 / 67
|
16
|
No |
| 2012 | 1,532,065 | 55.8 | 39 / 67
|
9
|
Yes |
| 2016 | 1,409,775 | 50.1 | 33 / 67
|
6
|
No |
| 2020 | 1,577,523 | 49.8 | 33 / 67
|
0
|
No |
| 2022 | 1,239,682 | 50.7 | 34 / 67
|
1
|
Yes |
Minnesota House
edit| Election | Votes | % | Seats | ± | Majority |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 1,034,046 | 47.8 | 52 / 134
|
11
|
No |
| 2004 | 1,381,412 | 51.2 | 66 / 134
|
13
|
No |
| 2006 | 1,169,298 | 54.9 | 85 / 134
|
19
|
Yes |
| 2008 | 1,516,633 | 54.9 | 87 / 134
|
2
|
Yes |
| 2010 | 995,853 | 48.5 | 62 / 134
|
25
|
No |
| 2012 | 1,468,364 | 53.7 | 73 / 134
|
11
|
Yes |
| 2014 | 944,961 | 49.3 | 62 / 134
|
11
|
No |
| 2016 | 1,366,375 | 49.1 | 57 / 134
|
4
|
No |
| 2018 | 1,388,938 | 54.4 | 75 / 134
|
18
|
Yes |
| 2020 | 1,601,357 | 51.1 | 70 / 134
|
5
|
Yes |
| 2022 | 1,237,520 | 50.9 | 70 / 134
|
0
|
Yes |
| 2024 | TBD | TBD | TBD |
See also
edit
References
edit- ^ a b "Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party". Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. 20540 USA. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
- ^ a b "DFL Minnesota Home – MN Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party". DFL Minnesota. Retrieved November 10, 2021.
- ^ a b Nathanson, Iric (February 26, 2016). "The caucus that changed history: 1948's battle for control of the DFL". Minnesota Post.
- ^ "Democrats, F-L, Complete Fusion". The Minneapolis Star (Minneapolis, Minnesota). April 15, 1944. p. Saturday Page 1.
- ^ a b "DEMOCRATIC-FARMER-LABOR PARTY." n.d. Minnesota Historical Society. Accessed May 26, 2023. http://www2.mnhs.org/library/findaids/00586.xml .
- ^ Kortenhof, Kurt (July 7, 2022). "Searching for Bright Sunshine: The Civil Rights and Black Power Movements – 1945-1975". Minnesota Libraries Publishing Project. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
- ^ Mitau, G. Theodore (1955). "The Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party Schism of 1948". Minnesota History. 34 (5): 187–194. ISSN 0026-5497.
- ^ Loughlin, Sean (October 25, 2002). "Wellstone Made Mark as a Liberal Champion". CNN. Retrieved June 23, 2014.
- ^ Smith, Allan (February 10, 2024). "Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar announces run for president". NBC News. Retrieved September 30, 2024.
- ^ John, Arit; McKend, Eva; Pellish, Aaron (October 27, 2023). "House Democrat Dean Phillips launches primary challenge against President Biden". CNN. Retrieved September 30, 2024.
- ^ Epstein, Reid J. (August 6, 2024). "Tim Walz Is Kamala Harris's Choice for Vice President: Live Election Updates". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
- ^ "'Transformational' and also 'bonkers:' Minnesota Legislature ends big session". MinnPost. May 23, 2023. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
- ^ a b ""It's a good day for freedoms": Walz signs bills on reproductive freedom and trans refuge, ban on conversion therapy". www.cbsnews.com. April 27, 2023. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
- ^ "Weed, abortion, paid leave, rebates and taxes: A look at what MN lawmakers got done this year". Duluth News Tribune. May 26, 2023. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
- ^ Turtinen, Melissa (May 26, 2023). "Barack Obama tweeted about Minnesota as reason you should vote". FOX 9. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
- ^ "Community Caucuses and Outreach Organizations". DFL Minnesota. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
- ^ a b Masadde, Mohmud (June 21, 2016). "Large Muslim Community in Minnesota Observes Ramadan". Voice of America. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
- ^ "What Is The History Behind Minnesota's Somali-American Community?". CBS Minnesota. July 23, 2019. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
- ^ Orrick, Dave (November 7, 2018). "This map shows the DFL dominated the suburbs. How'd they do it?". Twin Cities. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
- ^ Orenstein, Walker (June 16, 2023). "The DFL's legislative majority is concentrated in the Twin Cities metro. In a consequential session, what did that mean for Greater Minnesota?". MinnPost. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
- ^ Orenstein, Walker (October 11, 2022). "Will the Iron Range finally go red? Control of Legislature could hinge on 7 seats in northeastern Minnesota". MinnPost. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
Further reading
edit- Delton, Jennifer A. Making Minnesota Liberal: Civil Rights and the Transformation of the Democratic Party. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 2002.
- Haynes, John Earl. "Farm Coops and the Election of Hubert Humphrey to the Senate". Agricultural History 57, no. 2 (Fall 1983).
- Haynes, John Earl. Dubious Alliance: The Making of Minnesota's DFL Party. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 1984.
- Henrickson, Gary P. Minnesota in the "McCarthy" Period: 1946–1954. Ph.D. diss. University of Minnesota, 1981.
- Lebedoff, David. The 21st Ballot: A Political Party Struggle in Minnesota. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 1969.
- Lebedoff, David. Ward Number Six. New York: Scribner, 1972. Discusses the entry of radicals into the DFL party in 1968.
- Mitau, G. Theodore (Spring 1955). "The Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party Schism of 1948" (PDF). Minnesota History. 34 (5): 187–194. JSTOR 20175887.
External links
edit