Happy MN Forecast Day to those (read: political nerds) who celebrate!
Minnesota budget analysts project the state will have a surplus of nearly $2.5 billion in the current budget and a deficit of just under $3 billion in the next, a significant shift compared to a more bleak outlook of the state’s fiscal health earlier this year.
Officials released topline figures early Thursday morning and were expected to detail the results at noon. The topline results show more money in the state’s current fiscal biennium and a looming deficit of half the size previously projected.
Essentially we've bought ourselves some time since this significant budget deficit isn't projected to occur until the following budget. But this underscores once again how blowing through an $18 billion surplus 2+ years ago left Minnesota in a more fiscally vulnerable position. And the temptation for progs to shriek their favorite slogan of "tAx ThE rIcH" will be an exercise in futility given the mass exodus of well-to-do individuals over the past five years.
These facts in addition to how there's finally national reporting on the rampant fraud which has occurred under the Tim Walz administration, Minnesota Republicans have a winning message for the 2026 midterms.
But, again, this is contingent upon MN Republicans not reverting to their factory settings of utter dysfunction.
- Hey, speaking of potentially pouring gasoline on what is (for now) a contained dumpster fire.
If Lindell committed to go all the way to a GOP primary, he'd likely lose. If he, by some minor miracle, made it to a general election, he would absolutely lose. But if he actively sought the endorsement of MNGOP delegates? The fact that gives me pause on whether or not he'd be endorsed tells you the party may still be at its default setting.
- Tim Walz logic: Calling your political opposites "fascists" is perfectly appropriate. But Walz himself being labeled as retarded?
I'm not a GOP elected official, but I'll say unequivocally that President Donald Trump should not have labeled Walz as retarded. It's neither helpful nor productive.
That said, I'm not certain that Nebraska Fats Walz has any kind of moral authority to be appalled by childish rhetoric.
I'm seriously wondering if MN DFL power brokers are going to approach Walz in an attempt to dissuade him from seeking a third term. The Democrats are in a solid position to dominate the 2026 midterms, so the fact there's even a question that a two-term incumbent governor from Minnesota can emerge victorious is a bad sign for Walz and down ballot DFLers.
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