2017-18 Special Election for U.S. Senate in Minnesota: on Government Reform


Karin Housley: Supports Citizens United: let corporations participate

On big money in politics: "I'd rather be out talking with communities," Housley said. "I wish campaigns didn't have to cost so much, but they do. I'm in support of a free market when it comes to campaigns."

She noted while sometimes it's necessary to spend large sums to campaign in population-thin areas like greater Minnesota, the high influx of donor and political action committee dollars complicates races.

Often, Housley said, a candidate is endorsed by a group or message they don't support themselves and this also plays out with how outside money--or money funding political campaigns or candidates by groups outside the constituency--is handled in national elections.

Housley said she is in support of the 2010 Supreme Court ruling granting corporations personhood, or similar rights and privileges as human beings--Citizens United v. FEC. "I would be in support of the way it is right now," she said.

Source: Brainerd Dispatch: 2017-8 Minnesota Special Senate Election Jul 31, 2018

Karin Housley: Switch from partisan way of governing back to compromise

What's the place of bipartisanship today in national politics? "It's missing. I think it's missing and that's why a lot of people are frustrated with our politicians. Because they dig their heels in and somewhere along the way compromise got to be a bad word. I'm still going to stick to my core principals and values, but it doesn't mean I'm not going to work with the other side to listen to theirs and find something in the middle. I think the public is very frustrated with their politicians."
Source: Hutchinson Leader on 2017-8 Minnesota special election Feb 18, 2018

  • The above quotations are from 2017-18 Minnesota Special Senate Election.
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Candidates and political leaders on Government Reform:

Retired Senate as of Jan. 2015:
GA:Chambliss(R)
IA:Harkin(D)
MI:Levin(D)
MT:Baucus(D)
NE:Johanns(R)
OK:Coburn(R)
SD:Johnson(D)
WV:Rockefeller(D)

Resigned from 113th House:
AL-1:Jo Bonner(R)
FL-19:Trey Radel(R)
LA-5:Rod Alexander(R)
MA-5:Ed Markey(D)
MO-9:Jo Ann Emerson(R)
NC-12:Melvin Watt(D)
SC-1:Tim Scott(R) 		Retired House to run for Senate or Governor:
AR-4:Tom Cotton(R)
GA-1:Jack Kingston(R)
GA-10:Paul Broun(R)
GA-11:Phil Gingrey(R)
HI-1:Colleen Hanabusa(D)
IA-1:Bruce Braley(D)
LA-6:Bill Cassidy(R)
ME-2:Mike Michaud(D)
MI-14:Gary Peters(D)
MT-0:Steve Daines(R)
OK-5:James Lankford(R)
PA-13:Allyson Schwartz(D)
TX-36:Steve Stockman(R)
WV-2:Shelley Capito(R) 		Retired House as of Jan. 2015:
AL-6:Spencer Bachus(R)
AR-2:Tim Griffin(R)
CA-11:George Miller(D)
CA-25:Howard McKeon(R)
CA-33:Henry Waxman(D)
CA-45:John Campbell(R)
IA-3:Tom Latham(R)
MN-6:Michele Bachmann(R)
NC-6:Howard Coble(R)
NC-7:Mike McIntyre(D)
NJ-3:Jon Runyan(R)
NY-4:Carolyn McCarthy(D)
NY-21:Bill Owens(D)
PA-6:Jim Gerlach(R)
UT-4:Jim Matheson(D)
VA-8:Jim Moran(D)
VA-10:Frank Wolf(R)
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Page last updated: Dec 10, 2018