Capitol View for October 10

Good morning. Sign us up for another two to three months of this weather.

The latest monster hurricane is bearing down on Florida right now. The damage, displacement and response could factor into public perceptions of the federal government, especially with misinformation at a fever pitch. As Hurricane Milton hits, there is still a response effort in progress from Hurricane Helene after its path through Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and other eastern states. Adjustments to voting hours or procedures could be needed. NPR says that the places that got the worst of that storm are majority Republican. So there is some concern in GOP circles about impact on the election in super-close battleground states.

The swap atop the Democratic ticket has been a big fundraising boon. The New York Times, citing sources, says the main accounts for Kamala Harris have pulled in a combined $1 billion since her ascension in July. That’s an astounding sum in such a short time and has allowed her to put an aggressive advertising blitz up and have a broad footprint for her get-out-the-vote operation. Her total is more than Donald Trump has raised for the year, according to the newspaper. But both were on course to surpass the $1 billion mark this year. Interestingly, the report says the Harris team has stopped touting the big figures because it fears Democratic voters and donors will grow complacent with just weeks to go.

During a campaign swing through several western states this week, Gov. Tim Walz told supporters at a fundraiser that the Electoral College “needs to go.” While the comment was news to national news outlets, it matched the governor’s prior remarks on the topic, as well as policy actions he’s taken in Minnesota. Last year, Walz signed into law a proposal entering the state into a compact supporting the use of the National Popular vote to decide a winner rather than the Electoral College. Sixteen other states and the District of Columbia have also passed the law. It takes effect once enough states to pick a president — 270 electoral votes — sign on. So far, backers are at 209.

Because of the Electoral College system, both presidential campaigns have focused their resources and quickly-dwindling time in a handful of swing states. The Associated Press reports that the practice makes voters in most of the country feel left out of the process as candidates hone in on a relatively small number of people who determine which way the politically-purple states come down.

Speaking of the Electoral College, the slate of Minnesota DFL and Republican electors were officially certified last week by the Secretary of State’s office. These are the folks who would cast Minnesota’s 10 votes if their party’s nominee wins the popular vote. Each party had to designate 10 electors and 10 alternates who would meet at the state Capitol on Dec. 17 to formally cast ballots that are sent to Congress for certification proceedings in January. The electors are typically longtime party activists or others who represent factions of their parties. There are current and former state lawmakers on the lists. Here are the GOP electors and here are the DFL electors.

Walz spent yesterday in Arizona, campaigning in one of the newer swing states on the map with a gold-plated name. On the first day of Arizona’s early voting, the Democratic vice presidential nominee joined Jim McCain, son of the late Republican Sen. John McCain, at a VFW post named for the war hero and former GOP presidential nominee. Walz praised Sen. McCain, whom he worked with on veterans issues as a U.S. House member. “When you’re kind of a junior member of the House, senators don’t have any damn idea who you are. John McCain knew your first name,” Walz said per pool reports. Earlier in the day, Walz was with Doug Emhoff, the husband of Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris. As their traveling parties met for breakfast, they sampled some of the specialties at a strip mall cafe. Emhoff went with the guava Danish pastry and banana bread. Walz opted for the cinnamon morning bun. Walz’s daughter, Hope, has been a mainstay on the campaign trail and tried to play to his tastes, asking the shop staff if they had Diet Mt. Dew. Laughter ensued, according to a pool report. But Walz had to settle for iced tea. Before departing Arizona — in a new 757 on the tarmac, not far from the parked plane of Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance — Walz spoke to reporters and spoke about the hurricane that was bearing down on Florida.

The Minnesota Secretary of State’s Office is launching an ad campaign to again make Minnesota the voting-est state in the nation. Sure, that might not be a word, but you get the gist. Minnesota has long touted its top voter turnout numbers but was edged out by Maine in 2022. The “Here We Vote” campaign will highlight eligibility criteria to cast a ballot and encourage Minnesotans to exercise their right to vote. Secretary of State Steve Simon said it’s important that voters know they have options in how they vote and the ads on TV, radio and social media channels are “a reminder to everyone to make their plan to vote on or before Nov. 5.”