Back in early October, Minnesota Public Radio's Brian Bakst famously reported in Housley looks for boost from Trump visit:
“It’s exciting that the president is coming, and we’re getting all kinds of national attention because it’s a red wave here in Minnesota,” she said.
Housley was still working her on speech the day before, but said, “I will talk again about the importance of this election and making sure this is a rubber stamp for the policies that the president is putting into place that are working. It’s his promises made, promises kept tour and things are really moving in the country.”
Housley said she is behind Trump’s legislative agenda even if she doesn’t always agree with his governing style.
That was then and this in now. In a statement from the Minnesota Senate Republican Caucus, Senator Housley opens 2019 legislative session with call for bipartisanship, we read:
“The legislature will consider a host of really important issues this session. I’m looking forward to another year representing the interests of the people in the Forest Lake area and the St. Croix River Valley in the Minnesota Senate,” said Senator Housley. “The legislature will tackle a host of issues that will be challenging, but important. It’s a new session, but the goal remains the same: bipartisan solutions on the serious issues facing Minnesotans.”
Perhaps Housley's fluidity in values is what happens when a blue wave washes away Republican control of the Minnesota House as well as sweeping Democrats into every state constitutional office while maintaining DFL control of the Minnesota's two senate seats.
One wonders what might have happened had the Minnesota Senate had been the ballot as well in November. MPR's Briana Bierschbach notes in Your guide to following the 2019 legislative session:
Vulnerable Republican senators: That narrow majority in the Senate means a handful of members could feel some intense pressure this session from both sides as critical swing votes. Suburban Republican senators could feel the squeeze after many of their House counterparts were defeated in the last election. Legislators to watch include Sens. Paul Anderson, R-Plymouth, Karin Housley, R-St. Mary's Point, and Jim Abeler, R-Anoka.
We're watching Dan Hall in Senate District 56, since the entire DFL ticket won in 56A and 56B in 2018--and Hillary Clinton took the presidential race in 56A and 56B in 2016.
Photo: Career politician Karin Housley.
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