The MNIP Factor

In Minnesota politics, the Independence Party [MNIP] provided a vehicle for Jesse Ventura to become Governor. Since then, the party's primary real-world impact has been to divide moderate-to-liberal majorities and to elect Republicans. Tim Pawlenty would probably not have been elected in 2002 had the MNIP not fielded a candidate that year. Had the MNIP [in an act of patriotism] disbanded in early 2006, Pawlenty almost certainly would have lost to Mike Hatch. When you start looking up election results in Minnesota, you begin to see a lot of elections thrown to the Republicans by the MNIP.

I had long thought that DFL Party rules prevented a DFL candidate from actively seeking the endorsement of another party. Given the present situation, Republican candidates have every incentive to elevate the stature of their MNIP opponent, while DFL candidates should attempt to neutralize the MNIP role.

David Dillon is a good person, but he's an independent political entrepreneur; he's not making a strong MNIP-related rationale as to why a third party candidate is needed now, in this district, for this office. He wanted to run for Congress and didn't want to have to deal with the complications, interest groups and activists required of a serious GOP or DFL candidacy. With the MNIP endorsement in hand, Dillon has no army of committed activists nor any traditional interest group bases to tap for a serious attempt at winning. A minor danger lurks--for Team Madia--in a November result in which Dillon siphons off 5-15% of the electorate which, in Dillon's absence, would likely break 60-40 Madia-Paulsen.

So I was surprised when Chris Truscott reported that [DFL endorsed Sixth District US Congressional candidate] El Tinklenberg was trying to get endorsed by the MNIP, and succeeding. For a rules clarification, I put the question to David Weinlick, the DFL's Party Affairs Director. The upshot is that it is permitted. In retrospect, it is regrettable--imho--that Ashwin Madia didn't enter the fray within the MNIP, seeking its endorsement over David Dillon who, like Madia, has no history of involvement in the MNIP.

The moral of the story is that I believe Team Madia must tread carefully in mapping a strategy of neutralizing/diminishing Dillon's candidacy, and that future CD3 DFL-endorsed candidates should consider the strategic benefit of actively seeking the MNIP nod.

For the record, here's Weinlick's clarifying response:

Gavin—

There was a rule in the 2002-2003 Official Call that prohibited it, but it was a new item that cycle, and it was not included in subsequent cycles. The prohibition remains that someone cannot be considered for endorsement if they are an “active member” of another political party, but that is all. Receiving the endorsement of another party does not make one an active member, although other parties may have rules that would prevent such a dual endorsement. I have included the text from the last five versions of the Official Call for your reference.

David Weinlick
Party Affairs Director
Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party

2000 text:

Nothing

2002 text:

Eligibility. No person may speak or vote on any motion, resolution,nomination or election at any caucus, convention, meeting or conference of the DFL Party who is a member of any other political party or a participation any of its meetings. No person may be considered for endorsement who is a member of another political party or a participant in any of its meetings,or is seeking endorsement from another political party.

2004 text:

Eligibility. No person may speak or vote on any motion, resolution,nomination or election at any caucus, convention, meeting or conference of the DFL Party who is an active member of any other political party. No person may be considered for endorsement who is an active member of another political party.

2006 text:

Eligibility. No person may speak or vote on any motion, resolution,nomination or election at any caucus, convention, meeting or conference of the DFL Party who is an active member of any other political party. No person may be considered for endorsement who is an active member of another political party.

2008 text:

Eligibility. No person may speak or vote on any motion, resolution,nomination or election at any caucus, convention, meeting or conference of the DFL Party who is an active member of any other political party. No person may be considered for endorsement who is an active member of another political party.