>> ERIC: WE'VE GOT PLENTY TO COVER UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF POLITICS.

TODAY KICKS OFF EARLY VOTING IN THE STATE'S GENERAL ELECTION.

NO STATEWIDE OR FEDERAL RACES THIS TIME AROUND, BUT VOTERS CAN CAST THEIR BALLOTS FOR MAYORS, SCHOOL BOARDS, AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

THE VICE CHAIR OF THE MINNEAPOLIS DFL PARTY ANNOUNCED HIS RESIGNATION THIS WEEK.

AND THE MINNESOTA SUPREME COURT HAS SCHEDULED ORAL ARGUMENTS FOR A PETITION TO BAR FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP'S NAME FROM APPEARING ON THE BALLOT.

LET'S GET RIGHT DOWN TO BUSINESS WITH REPUBLICAN PARTY CHAIR DAVID HANN AND DFL PARTY CHAIR KEN MARTIN.

WELCOME.

I WANT TO ASK YOU BOTH THIS QUESTION, THE FUTURE OF THE CAUCUS CONVENTION SYSTEM.

IN INNEAPOLIS, THERE WAS PUSHING AND SHOVING AT A COUPLE OF ARD CONVENTIONS FOR ENDORSEMENT.

THIS VICE CHAIR OF THE CITY DFL WAS COMPLAINING ABOUT IT.

YOU'VE HAD TROUBLE IN MORRISON COUNTY WITH ISSUES.

>> A LITTLE BIT.

>> Eric: HAS IT OUTLIVED ITS USEFULNESS?

>> YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK SO.

I MEAN, LOOK, THERE ARE CERTAINLY SOME FLAWS AND SOME IMPERFECTIONS, BUT IT'S THE BEST OF ANY POSSIBLE SYSTEM THAT I CAN IMAGINE.

WHAT IT DOES, IT GIVES POWER TO THE GRASSROOTS IN OUR PARTY AND IN DAVID'S PARTY TO MAKE THE DECISIONS OVER WHO OUR PARTY SUPPORTS FOR OFFICES, WHAT OUR PARTY PLATFORM STANDS FOR.

I WOULD ARGUE ONE OF THE REASONS BOTH OF OUR PARTIES AROUND THE NATION WE HAVE SOME OF THE MOST PARTICIPATION, IT'S BECAUSE WE GIVE REAL POWER TO PEOPLE AT THE GRASSROOTS TO MAKE DECISIONS OVER THE DIRECTION OF OUR PARTY.

AND, SO, I'M NOT IN FAVOR OF ABANDONING IT.

I AM IN FAVOR OF IMPROVING IT.

>> YEAH, I THINK, YOU KNOW, THE LEGISLATURE MAKES A DECISION ABOUT THIS STUFF, AND I DO THINK THAT WE SHOULD HAVE AN EARLIER PRIMARY.

I THINK THAT IS A PROBLEM.

WE HAVE A LATE PRIMARY.

WE'VE ACTUALLY TALKED ABOUT THAT.

>> Eric: IS JUNE THE PREFERRED MONTH?

>> I THINK IT IS.

>> BUT I THINK HAVING IT IN AUGUST IS TOO LATE.

BUT I THINK THERE ARE VIRTUES TO THE CAUCUS SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE.

AND NO SYSTEM IS PERFECT, BUT I DO AGREE WITH THE CHAIRMAN THAT WHEN YOU ARE A CANDIDATE, YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS, IT IS A LOT OF FACE-TO-FACE AND I THINK IT'S GREAT EXPERIENCE FOR CANDIDATES AND IT ALSO DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU HAVE TO BE A VERY WEALTHY PERSON TO WIN AN ENDORSEMENT.

BUT IT'S NOT PERFECT.

AND I AGREE, IT CAN GET BETTER.

WE CAN IMPROVE IT.

AND WE'RE WORKING TO DO THAT.

>> Cathy: ARE THERE ISSUES, HOW ELSE WOULD YOU IMPROVE THE SYSTEM?

>> WELL, I THINK ONE THING IS WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE WHO WANTS TO PARTICIPATE CAN PARTICIPATE.

AND THERE ARE SOME BARRIERS.

CERTAINLY.

YOU KNOW, THERE ARE LANGUAGE BARRIERS, THERE ARE TRANSPORTATION ISSUES, THERE'S THE FACT THAT PEOPLE WORK SOMETIMES WHEN CAUCUSES AND CONVENTIONS ARE.

>> Cathy: MAYBE GO MORE ONLINE, PERHAPS?

>> YEAH, WE'RE DOING SOME OF THAT.

I KNOW THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS DOING THAT, TOO.

BUT THE OTHER PIECE IS, IT'S A SIGNIFICANT TIME COMMITMENT.

SO WE NEED TO JUST LOOK AT THIS PROCESS AND TRY TO PRESERVE THE PIECES THAT, AGAIN, GIVE POWER TO THE GRASSROOTS BUT ALSO MAKE IT EASIER FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE NORMAL LIVES, RIGHT, TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROCESS.

>> Cathy: IS IT WORKING FOR YOU?

DID YOU GO ONLINE, YOU'VE BEEN GOING MORE ONLINE, I GUESS.

>> RIGHT, WE DID DO SOME OF THAT.

BUT THERE ARE CHALLENGES, OF COURSE.

AND PART OF IT IS EXACTLY AS KEN SAYS, IT'S A PROCESS THAT DOES TAKE A LOT OF TIME AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE VERY BUSY THESE DAYS, AND ON OUR SIDE, WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE THIS MORE ACCESSIBLE TO PEOPLE AND ALSO BE ABLE TO CONDUCT THE BUSINESS OF THE CAUCUSES AND THE CONVENTIONS IN A MUCH MORE EXPEDITIOUS WAY.

>> Eric: WANT TO TALK ABOUT ABORTION A LITTLE BIT.

Dr. JENSEN, WHO WAS YOUR REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR.

>> YES.

>> Eric: I HINK, IN THE MICHAEL BRODCORP, BECKY SHARE PODCAST, I THINK HE SAID HE'S PRO LIFE HIMSELF BUT HE'S PRO CHOICE POLICYWISE.

AND I WONDER IF -- WHERE IS THE REPUBLICAN PARTY ON ABORTION?

>> WELL, I THINK ONE THING IS, AFTER 50 YEARS OF ROE V. WADE WHEN THIS REALLY WAS NOT A POLITICAL ISSUE, I THINK NOW IT IS, NOW IT'S GOING TO BE IN THE HANDS OF STATES, PEOPLE, VOTERS, HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT DOES THAT MEAN.

I DO THINK IN MINNESOTA, AND WHAT I HAVE SEEN AS I'VE BEEN AROUND IN THE LAST YEARS SINCE THE -- LAST YEAR SINCE THE ELECTION, WHAT THE DEMOCRATS DID IN THE LEGISLATURE THIS YEAR, PEOPLE THINK IS EXTREME.

WE THINK THAT IS EXTREME.

BUT WHAT IS THE RIGHT POSITION, WE'RE WORKING ON, HOW DO WE DO THAT?

WE KNOW WE HAVE TO HAVE MAJORITIES, WE KNOW WE HAVE TO BE GOVERNED BY MAJORITIES.

WE'RE A RO LIFE PARTY, I THINK WE'RE A PRO LIFE COUNTRY.

BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO RESPECT WHERE THE MAJORITY IS.

SO WE ARE DEBATING THAT INTERNALLY.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR BEING PRO LIFE IN MINNESOTA TODAY.

BUT WE DO THINK, ND WE THINK THE PUBLIC, GENERALLY AGREES THAT WHAT THE DEMOCRATS DID, THEIR POLICIES ARE VERY VERY EXTREME, AND WE THINK THEY NEED TO CHANGE.

>> WELL, LOOK, I MEAN, WE FIERCELY DISAGREE ON THIS POSITION.

AND, YOU KNOW, THE FIRST TIME IN OUR COUNTRY'S HISTORY, INSTEAD OF EXPANDING INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS IN THIS COUNTRY, WE'RE ACTUALLY TAKING THEM AWAY.

THANKS TO THIS VERY CONSERVATIVE, ACTIVIST, FAR RIGHT COURT.

WITH THE DOBBS DECISION.

AND, WE SAW THE RESULTS OF THIS IN THE LAST ELECTION.

MILLIONS OF PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY CAME OUT TO MAKE IT KNOWN THAT WE SHOULD NOT BE TAKING AWAY THE RIGHTS FOR WOMEN AND OTHERS TO MAKE DECISIONS OVER THEIR OWN HEALTHCARE.

AND THAT'S FUNDAMENTALLY WHAT THAT WAS ABOUT.

OUR PARTY IS SOLIDLY PRO CHOICE AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO STAND UP FOR THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS OVER THEIR HEALTHCARE.

AND AS YOU HEARD DAVID SAY, REPUBLICAN PARTY IS NOT.

I DO DISAGREE WITH HIM ON ONE POINT THERE, THOUGH.

THIS COUNTRY IS NOT A MAJORITY PRO LIFE.

THIS COUNTRY VERY CLEARLY HAS SENT A MESSAGE THAT THEY CARE DEEPLY ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND MAKING SURE THAT THE RIGHT FOR WOMEN TO MAKE THESE DECISIONS IS PRESERVED.

>> Cathy: LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT THE LAWSUIT THAT THE STATE SUPREME COURT WILL HEAR, EXCUSE ME, ON NOVEMBER 2nd, ABOUT KEEPING FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP OFF THE BALLOT, UNDER A CLAUSE OF THE 14TH AMENDMENT.

WHAT ARE THE RAMIFICATIONS OF A MOVE LIKE THAT?

>> WELL, WE THINK IT'S IMPROPER.

WE DON'T EVEN THINK IT'S -- MOOT AT THIS POINT.

WE HAVE NOBODY IN MINNESOTA THAT'S COME TO US AND DONE A PETITION TO SAY THEY WANT TO BE ON OUR BALLOT.

SO WE DON'T HAVE ANY OFFICIAL CANDIDATES IN MINNESOTA YET.

WE WILL, I'M SURE, BY THE END OF THE YEAR BUT WE DON'T RIGHT NOW.

AND WE DON'T THINK IT IS THE BUSINESS OF THE COURT OR THE SECRETARY OF STATE, FOR THAT MATTER, TO DECIDE CANDIDATES FOR A POLITICAL PARTY.

SO, WE DISAGREE WITH THE ARGUMENT THAT'S BEING MADE AND WE THINK THAT'S THE PROVINCE OF A POLITICAL PARTY TO DECIDE WHO'S ON THE BALLOT.

>> Eric: SHOULDN'T THE VOTERS DECIDE?

>> WELL, LOOK, I MEAN, THE VOTERS WILL DECIDE EVENTUALLY.

BUT IT IS A FAIR QUESTION AS TO WHETHER OR NOT SOMEONE CAN RUN FOR OFFICE BASED ON PREVIOUS CASE LAW HERE, PARTICULARLY THE INSURRECTION ACT, WHICH SAID IF YOU RAISE ARMS AGAINST THIS COUNTRY, YOU CANNOT RUN FOR FUTURE OFFICE, FUTURE POLITICAL OFFICE.

AND THAT PERTAINS TO ANYONE.

NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW.

AND THERE'S VERY CLEARLY CASE LAW ON THIS.

THAT SAID, LOOK, YOU KNOW, THIS IS NOT AN ISSUE FOR THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE PLAINTIFFS WHO BROUGHT THIS LAWSUIT, IT WAS A BIPARTISAN EFFORT, JUSTICE PAUL ANDERSON, SECRETARY OF STATE JOAN GROWEE, I THINK THEY'RE -- GROWE, I THINK THEY'RE RAISING THE QUESTION, IT'S A FAIR QUESTION TO ASK, WHO KNOWS WHAT THE ANSWER WILL BE, I THINK IT'S PROBABLY IMPROBABLE THAT HE'S REMOVED FROM THE BALLOT.

I THINK THE VOTERS WILL MAKE THAT DECISION.

>> I THINK IT IS AN EXTREME, IF YOU WILL, THEORY THAT THEY'RE ADVANCING.

AS FAR AS I KNOW, NOBODY HAS BEEN CONVICTED OF INSURRECTION, SO TO DENY ANYBODY ACCESS TO THE BALLOT BEFORE THERE'S JUDGMENT IS -- >> Eric: WE HAVE THE RISING ISSUE OF POLICE IN SCHOOLS.

>> YES.

>> Eric: CRIME WAS IN AN ISSUE IN THE -- CRIME WAS AN ISSUE IN THE LAST CYCLE.

WHERE DO YOU SEE THE CRIME ISSUE HEADED FOR 2024?

>> IT IS A BIG ISSUE.

THAT'S WHAT I HEAR A LOT WHEN I TALK TO PEOPLE, PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED AROUND THE STATE.

- AND I THINK THE SRO, THE OFFICERS IN SCHOOLS, THAT IS A BIG THING.

I THINK THE DEMOCRAT MAJORITIES IN THE LEGISLATURE, THEY RUSHED THROUGH THINGS, THEY DIDN'T REALLY GET THE ADVICE THEY NEEDED.

I THINK HERE'S BEEN A LOT OF PUSHBACK.

I THINK IT'S AN INDICATION, TO ME, THAT THE WORK OF THE LEGISLATURE WAS DEEPLY FLAWED.

THEY SHOULD HAVE SPENT MORE TIME TRYING TO FIGURE THIS OUT.

AND I THINK THAT IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT WE HAVE THIS SITUATION RIGHT NOW WHERE YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF JURISDICTIONS WHERE YOU'VE GOT THE POLICE OFFICERS SAYING, WE'RE NOT GOING TO RUN THE RISK OF GOING INTO A SCHOOL AND THEN ENDING UP IN COURT AND WHO KNOWS WHAT HAPPENS THEN.

THE LAW SHOULD BE CLEAR.

AND I DISAGREE WITH LEADER HORTMAN IN HER DESCRIPTION, SHE SAYS THE LAW IS CLEAR.

IT'S NOT CLEAR IF WHEN YOU GO TO OURT YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THE RESULT IS GOING TO BE, YOU DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE BROKEN THE LAW OR NOT.

>> Eric: SOFT SPOT FOR DEMOCRATS?

>> ABSOLUTELY NOT.

THANKS TO 0 -- TO GOVERNOR WALZ, LEGISLATIVE LEADERS, AN OPINION BY ELLISON -- >> Cathy: SECOND OPINION.

>> YOU SAW TODAY, THE MMPAO, THE POLICE OFFICER ASSOCIATION CAME OUT AND SAID, WE'RE SATISFIED WITH THE OPINION, WE BELIEVE THAT IT DOES NOW GIVE THEM THE AUTHORITY TO GET SROs BACK INTO SCHOOLS.

>> Eric: SORT OF TEMPORARY SOLUTION.

>> TEMPORARY SOLUTION, OF COURSE.

AND OUR LEGISLATIVE LEADERS AND OTHERS HAVE COMMITTED TO ACTUALLY HAVING HEARINGS ON THIS ISSUE WHEN WE GET BACK TO THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION IN FEBRUARY.

AND I'M CONVINCED THEY WILL.

>> THEY SHOULD HAVE A SPECIAL SESSION, I THINK, EVEN THE JURISDICTIONS, THE POLICE JURISDICTIONS, SAY, LOOK, THERE'S NO CASE LAW HERE.

AND WE DON'T WANT TO RUN THE RISK OF IT.

SO I THINK IT'S STILL A PROBLEM.

THEY SHOULD HAVE A SPECIAL SESSION AND FIX IT.

>> Eric: 30 SECONDS LEFT.

16 AND 17-YEAR-OLDS REGISTERING TO VOTE, FELONS THAT HAVE BEEN RELEASED CAN VOTE, AUTOMATIC REGISTRATION.

ARE THE DEMOCRATS PUTTING THE THUMB ON THE SCALE?

>> WELL, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THAT.

I THINK THERE RE OTHER WAYS THEY'RE PUTTING THE THUMB ON THE SCALE, IN MY OPINION.

BUT I THINK TRYING TO REGISTER PEOPLE TO VOTE WHO ARE NOT ELIGIBLE TO VOTE I THINK IS A PROBLEM.

>> Eric: 10 SECONDS.

>> ABSOLUTELY NOT PUTTING THE THUMB ON THE SCALE.

ALWAYS A GOOD THING TO HAVE MORE PEOPLE VOTING AND TO ENCOUR