• Advertise
  • Donate
  • Subscribe
    • Become a print subscriber
    • Sign up for e-Newsletter
    • e-Editions
Thursday, June 1, 2023
No Result
View All Result
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
  • News & Features
    • National
    • Local
    • Special Editions
      • MLK Legacy
      • Black History Month
      • The MSR Celebrates Women’s History Month
  • All Sections
    • Opinion
      • Mellaneous by Mel Reeves
      • Word on the Street
      • Reaching Out From Within
    • Health + Wellness
      • Minnesota Cancer Alliance Breast Cancer Gaps Project
    • Sports
      • Timberwolves/NBA
      • Lynx/WNBA
        • 20 in 20
      • Twins/MLB
      • MN Wild/NHL
      • Vikings/NFL
    • Business
      • Small Business Month Celebration
      • Black Business Spotlight
      • Finances FYI
    • Arts + Culture
    • Photo Galleries
    • MSR Forefront Digital Roundtable Series
      • MSR Forefront Highlights
    • Go Green
    • Education
    • Bulletin
    • Jobs & Opportunities
      • Legals
  • Events
    • Submit an event!
  • Obits
  • Sister Spokesman
  • e-Editions
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
  • News & Features
    • National
    • Local
    • Special Editions
      • MLK Legacy
      • Black History Month
      • The MSR Celebrates Women’s History Month
  • All Sections
    • Opinion
      • Mellaneous by Mel Reeves
      • Word on the Street
      • Reaching Out From Within
    • Health + Wellness
      • Minnesota Cancer Alliance Breast Cancer Gaps Project
    • Sports
      • Timberwolves/NBA
      • Lynx/WNBA
        • 20 in 20
      • Twins/MLB
      • MN Wild/NHL
      • Vikings/NFL
    • Business
      • Small Business Month Celebration
      • Black Business Spotlight
      • Finances FYI
    • Arts + Culture
    • Photo Galleries
    • MSR Forefront Digital Roundtable Series
      • MSR Forefront Highlights
    • Go Green
    • Education
    • Bulletin
    • Jobs & Opportunities
      • Legals
  • Events
    • Submit an event!
  • Obits
  • Sister Spokesman
  • e-Editions
No Result
View All Result
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
No Result
View All Result

‘People’s Lawyer’ Keith Ellison narrowly wins second term

by Mary Turck
November 14, 2022
12
SHARES
247
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on LinkedIn

News Analysis

[Full disclosure: I am not an impartial reporter on this one, as I supported Ellison during his campaign for attorney general.] 

Keith Ellison won a second term as Minnesota Attorney General by about 20,000 votes, promising to continue as “the People’s Lawyer.” His victory was part of a DFL sweep in Minnesota that surprised pundits and pollsters. 

Ellison was elected attorney general in 2018 following 12 years in Congress, four years in the Minnesota House of Representatives, and 16 years as an attorney specializing in civil rights and defense law. As attorney general, he emphasized consumer protection, including legal action against predatory prescription pricing on insulin and other pharmaceutical drugs, defense of the Affordable Care Act against Republican lawsuits, creation of a wage theft unit within the Attorney General’s Office, and more. 

Running against Ellison, corporate attorney Jim Schultz criticized this focus on defending consumers against corporate overreach and said he would move attorneys in the office from consumer protection to criminal prosecution. 

- ADVERTISEMENT -

During the campaign, Ellison called consumer protection the “heart and soul” of the Attorney General’s Office. In an MPR debate, Schultz said his top priority was “crime, crime, crime.” 

The Attorney General’s Office has a limited role in criminal prosecution, stepping in only at the request of county attorneys who need assistance in large or complex cases. Ellison asked the state legislature for additional funding for the office’s criminal division to support its assistance to county attorneys. Republicans in the legislature blocked the funding. Nine county attorneys endorsed Ellison, citing his office’s assistance on criminal prosecutions. 

The Hennepin County Attorney asked Ellison to take over the prosecution of the police officers charged in the murder of George Floyd. Police unions, angered by that prosecution and by criticism of police abuses, spent $300,000 to defeat Ellison. The Republican Attorney Generals Association (RAGA) joined the battle with $800,000 in some of the most vicious and misleading attack ads seen since the infamous “Willie Horton” ads in 1988. 

The underlying racism of the attack ads came as no surprise: Ellison has been targeted by racist and anti-Muslim attacks throughout his political career. When he was elected to Congress, he was the first Muslim to serve as a U.S. Representative. 

The two candidates also differed on abortion, with Ellison speaking out in support of reproductive rights. Schultz tried to de-emphasize his position on abortion, but he had a history of anti-abortion positions and leadership positions in anti-abortion organizations. 

- ADVERTISEMENT -

Keith Ellison’s victory statement cited the tough times of the past four years, including “a global pandemic, George Floyd killed on our Minnesota streets, the Dobbs decision that stripped women of their rights, and so much more.” Ellison said, “When times get hard, you can get bitter, or you can get better—and we got better.” 

Support Black local news

Help amplify Black voices by donating to the MSR. Your contribution enables critical coverage of issues affecting the community and empowers authentic storytelling.

Donate Now!

ADVERTISEMENT
Previous Post

Volunteers to prepare 350 free Thanksgiving baskets for North Minneapolis families

Next Post

Low-key hero honored by her ‘village’

Mary Turck

Mary Turck is a contributing writer at the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder. She has published extensively as a journalist and has edited the Connection to the Americas and of the TC Daily Planet. Her website, maryturck.com, includes her literary and political blogs.

You Might Also Like

One Minnesota’s transformative budget
Local

One Minnesota’s transformative budget

Women’s History Month Salute: Ruth Richardson
The MSR Celebrates Women’s History Month

Women’s History Month Salute: Ruth Richardson

Hennepin elects first Black sheriff—and other election results
Featured

Hennepin elects first Black sheriff—and other election results

Don Samuels on his effort to unseat Ilhan Omar
Featured

Don Samuels on his effort to unseat Ilhan Omar

Chief describes an MPD unrecognizable to many Mpls Blacks
Opinion

DFL is not anti-law enforcement

Keith Ellison
Featured

State’s first-ever Conviction Review Unit to begin receiving applications

Next Post
Low-key hero honored by her ‘village’

Low-key hero honored by her ‘village’

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
ADVERTISEMENT

The Latest News

Bees can learn, remember, think and make decisions

Bees can learn, remember, think and make decisions

Black woman shopping for produce

The impact of food insecurity on Black women’s mental health

Plenty of action at St. Paul City Conference track and field meet

Plenty of action at St. Paul City Conference track and field meet

 Lynx rookie forward finds much to learn

 Lynx rookie forward finds much to learn

Call of the wild: Hunting for edible mushrooms is not just a White man’s hobby 

Call of the wild: Hunting for edible mushrooms is not just a White man’s hobby 

One Minnesota’s transformative budget

One Minnesota’s transformative budget

Minneapolis
◉
77°
Sunny
5:29 am8:52 pm CDT
FriSatSunMonTue
88/66°F
88/68°F
91/68°F
88/63°F
84/61°F
Weather forecast Minneapolis, Minnesota ▸
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Upcoming Events

Apr 6
April 6 @ 7:30 pm-June 3 @ 9:00 pm Recurring

Wit by Margaret Edson

Apr 14
April 14 @ 9:00 am-August 12 @ 5:00 pm

Paper Is People: Decolonizing Global Paper Cultures

Jun 1
10:00 am-4:00 pm Recurring

Preserving Nature Photos by Walter Griffin: REFLECTIONS

Jun 1
5:00 pm-7:00 pm

Metro State University one 1 Open House

View Calendar

Read our latest e-Edition!

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Subscribe

  • Home/Office Delivery
  • Weekly e-newsletter
  • e-Editions

Support

  • Donate
  • Subscribe
  • MSR Newsstand Locations

Connect

  • About
    • MSR Staff
  • Contact
  • Send a news tip
  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms

© 2023 Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder

No Result
View All Result
  • News & Features
    • Local
    • National
  • All Sections
    • Arts & Culture
    • Health & Wellness
      • MN Cancer Alliance Breast Cancer Gaps Project
    • Business
      • Black Business Spotlight
      • Finances FYI
      • Small Business Month Celebration
    • Opinion
    • Sports
  • Events
  • Obits
  • Sister Spokesman
  • Donate
  • Subscribe

© 2023 Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder

 

Loading Comments...