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Democrats hold meeting after chaotic Minneapolis convention
Ken Martin, chair of the state DFL organization, said he’d use the meeting to propose a bylaw change “to ban individuals engaged in violent assaults” from the party.
MINNEAPOLIS — Minnesota Democratic leaders met over Zoom on Thursday evening to discuss the chaos that broke out during a weekend convention to endorse a candidate for a Ward 10 Minneapolis City Council race.
Ken Martin, chair of the state Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party organization, proposed bylaw changes “to ban individuals engaged in violent assaults” from the party and “take immediate action to remove” those involved in Saturday’s disruption.
Ultimately, the DFL State Executive Committee approved multiple new bylaws Thursday. In broad terms, the first would “immediately and permanently disqualify” someone from seeking the DFL’s endorsement if they, or their supporters, engaged in or condoned violence. The second would give the DFL the power to remove individuals from elected or appointed positions within the party if they’ve engaged in violence or otherwise condoned it.
The changes must still be approved by the DFL’s State Central Committee, which is expected to meet in 10 days.
Contingent on the central committee’s approval of the two bylaws, the DFL executive committee also voted Thursday to permanently disqualify Ward 10 challenger Nasri Warsame “from seeking and receiving DFL endorsement or letters of support at any time in the future, for any office.”
Video circulating on social media shows that the disturbance began after supporters of incumbent Aisha Chughtai took the stage to seek delegates’ backing for the Ward 10 City Council seat. That sparked an uproar among backers of her challenger, Warsame. Some jumped on stage, shouting, banging on tables and waving signs. At least two people were injured, and the convention broke up with no endorsement.
Martin has said on Twitter that it was “clear that the conflict was instigated” by Warsame supporters.
Both candidates are Democrats in an overwhelmingly Democratic city when campaigns for party backing are often heated. Warsame, a political newcomer, is a Somali immigrant.
Chughtai is a longtime activist who managed U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar’s 2018 campaign. She is the daughter of Pakistani immigrants and has support from some prominent Somali American politicians, including Omar and state Sen. Zaynab Mohamed, and other Muslims, including Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison.
Chughtai has endorsements from a long list of progressive and labor groups, including the Democratic Socialists of America. Warsame has campaigned on a law-and-order message.
He said at a news conference Wednesday: “I do not condone violence. I do not condone intimidation or harassment of any sort.”
Warsame’s campaign manager, Abshir Omar, said Warsame’s supporters were victims — not perpetrators. Omar said Warsame’s supporters — who are primarily Black, Muslim and immigrants — have been the target of racism.
Chughtai released a statement saying the video does not match the Warsame campaign’s version of events.
“Campaigns that are winning and have the support of the people don’t violently disrupt the process,” she said. “As a campaign and as a movement, we’re on the path to a safer, more just Minneapolis and we look forward to continuing to share that vision with the people of Ward 10.”
Mike Erlandson, the former Minnesota DFL chair from 1999 to 2006, called Saturday’s convention “very disappointing.”
“That’s not reflective, I don’t think, of Democrats or Republicans in the state of Minnesota,” Erlandson said. “It’s a real poor representation of political engagement. It’s good to see the state DFL leadership is meeting.”
Larry Jacobs, a professor of political science at the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School, said the Ward 10 convention chaos constitutes an “emergency” for the Minnesota DFL.
“The risk here to the DFL is quite real,” Jacobs said. “I think the key thing is the response — it must be strong, swift, and unequivocal.”
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A law passed in May now requires that transportation network company drivers earn a minimum of $1.28 per minute and 31 cents per mile.
MINNEAPOLIS — Rideshare fares will cost you a bit more after a new law setting minimum pay levels for transportation network drivers kicked in on Dec. 1.
The law, passed in May during the 2024 legislative session, pushes minimum pay for drivers who work for Uber, Lyft and similar transportation networks to $1.28 per minute and 31 cents per mile. There is a minimum ride charge of $5. Along with the new minimum rates, the law is designed to provide greater transparency into what customers are charged, increase insurance coverage, and build new partnerships with community organizations to assist and support drivers.
At the time the law was passed, Uber estimated that passengers would pay 25% more for a ride under the legislation.
It took a year of task force meetings organized by the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) and input from drivers, rideshare users, community and legislative leaders to hammer out the new law, with both Uber and Lyft threatening to pull out of the state if even higher pay rates mandated by the Minneapolis City Council would have taken hold.
“[Transportation Network Company] drivers and stakeholders showed up to advocate and the result was new legislation that increased driver benefits and protections,” said Nicole Blissenbach, DLI commissioner. “Our agency is now working to educate drivers and work with the TNCs, so the law works as intended.”
Among the requirements and features of the new law:
- To ensure drivers earn the minimum compensation rate, every 14 days, TNCs will review individual trip and earnings records. If a driver did not meet the minimum rate of pay over that time period, the TNC will provide a supplemental payment to make up the difference. All tips belong to the driver and are not counted toward the minimum compensation rate.
- TNCs will pay drivers an additional 91 cents a minute if they drive a wheelchair-accessible vehicle to encourage more accessible rides.
- Companies will provide drivers with a trip receipt within 24 hours of a completed trip, and weekly summaries that include the driver’s total earnings before tips, total trip time, miles, total fares and fees paid by passengers, and the driver’s total time on the TNC’s app.
The Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry retains enforcement authority to ensure minimum compensation rates and pay transparency provisions aren’t met.
Additional information on the rideshare compensation law is available on the DLI website.
A comprehensive study of transportation network drivers by the DLI in 2023 determined that most rideshare drivers are persons of color, and more than half are immigrants. That study recommended 89 cents per mile and 49 cents per minute would be roughly equivalent to the state minimum wage plus some of the driver’s work-related expenses.
But the Minneapolis City Council, acting without state input, passed an ordinance that would’ve guaranteed drivers $1.41 per mile plus 51 cents per minute and other benefits. Uber and Lyft both issued warnings that they would leave Minneapolis – and likely the state – if that ordinance went into effect.
The council eventually rescinded that ordinance in early May after striking a compromise with state lawmakers on increases to transportation network company driver compensation.
Whether you plan to attend a ballgame in Minneapolis or Fort Myers, the Twins are putting seats up for purchase.
MINNEAPOLIS — Snowflakes are falling but for true fans, it’s never too early to think about baseball season.
The Minnesota Twins announced that tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. Monday for all 2025 home events – regular season games at Target Field, spring training games in Fort Myers and TwinsFest.
Regular season
The 2025 season will include 81 games at Target Field from April through late September. The home opener will be on April 3 against the Houston Astros.
Single-game tickets will go on sale Monday at 10 a.m. If you plan on going to three or more Twins games, consider purchasing a holiday pack of tickets to get a complimentary Twins tree ornament.
Spring training
The Twins will host 17 home games at Lee Health Sports Complex in Fort Myers, Fla. between Feb. 22 and March 25 as the club preps for the regular season. For more information on these games, click here.
TwinsFest
This annual fan event will take place Jan. 24-25 and feature more than 40 current and former Twins including Carlos Correa, Pablo López, Griffin Jax, Bailey Ober, Bert Blyleven and more.
Fans will experience live music, autograph stations and a youth clinic for aspiring Twins players. Check it out at this link.
MINNEAPOLIS — Australian rock icons ACDC are hitting the road for the band’s first North American tour in nine years, and opening night will take place in Minneapolis.
The “Power Up” tour kicks off at U.S. Bank Stadium on April 10, 2025. Tickets go on sale to the general public at noon, December 6 via the ACDC website. The tour includes 13 stops, winding up on May 18 in Cleveland.
ACDC is a legendary Grammy-winning band that was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003. Lead guitarist Angus Young, singer Brian Johnson and crew just wrapped up a European leg of the tour, named after the band’s 2020 album “Power Up” which they weren’t able to play live due to the COVID pandemic.
They are considered by many to be one of the most influential rock bands in history, with over 200 million albums sold worldwide including “Back in Black,” with 50 million albums sold worldwide and counting. ACDC mega-hits include “You Shook Me All Night Long,” “Thunderstruck,” “Dirty Deeds,” Highway to Hell” and “It’s a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock and Roll).”
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