Cook County Democrats were pleased to have the opportunity to visit with Representative Rob Ecklund at the DFL State Convention on Saturday, June 6. (L-R) Anton Moody, Representative Ecklund, Pat Campanaro, Oz Twedt.
On Saturday, June 6, Minnesota Democrats crowded into Minneapolis’ Orchestra Hall for their annual convention. Representing Cook County were Pat Campanaro, Anton Moody and Oz Twedt. There were cheers, boos, lengthy debates and rousing speeches throughout the day, all with a common theme, there must be party unity to win the election in November.
Beating Republican nominee Donald Trump, whom speakers called a disgrace, a fraud and a disaster was the central theme of most of the speeches including those of Senator Al Franken, Senator Amy Klobuchar and Governor Mark Dayton.
Sanders supporters won an early victory at the convention, a motion to ask the Democratic National Committee to overturn its policy that allows high elected officials and other key Democrats automatic voting spots at national presidential conventions.
Supporters of the Vermont senator say those so-called super delegates are an undemocratic, anti-grassroots vestige of the elites. The feelings are particularly virulent in states like Minnesota, where the overwhelming majority of caucus voters supported Sanders but the majority of super delegates back Clinton.
Also on Saturday, Minnesota Democrats voted 53 percent to 46 percent to tell national delegates that the state supports “the elimination or reform” of that automatic voting process for the 2020 presidential election. The assembled DFLers further voted to “request” that this year’s super delegates, which include Dayton and all the Democratic members of Congress from Minnesota, use their national convention votes this year to reflect the support the candidates got at the March caucuses.
Also attending the convention was former Cook County Commissioner Sue Hakes, who said, “I have a lot of respect for DFL state party leadership and the delegates at all levels, they worked extremely hard to get to this day. Discussion on the convention floor was lively. The definite theme was DFL party unity and coming together.”
Cook County delegates spent time with Representative Rob Ecklund voicing concerns over the environmental dangers with copper ferrous mining, the need for more financial support for affordable housing and the importance of environmental protection for our lakes and rivers.
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