A24-0216 Backstory, Part 1

The people gained momentum in reclaiming the local political parties, in particular the GOP, in Minnesota, during the years 2022 and 2023 following the 2022 precinct caucuses. The party and its various members broke numerous rules and violated the constitution (and state law) to maintain some semblance of control. But those committing such acts revealed themselves.

But the people, though some showed signs of fatigue, did not give up. Most simply wanted basic accountability. It's easy to blame others. More upright to look at oneself in the mirror, and make a change. In the political landscape, that means in one's own political party or political organization. Accountability is a choice.

In 2023, when the 93rd Legislature passed an amendment to 202A which asked political parties with major party status to not only follow their own constitution and rules, but certify they had done so, by Dec 1, of odd-numbered years, or risk the removal of that status, at least one of the major parties, the DFL, set to coming into compliance, while at least one, the GOP, deferred this activity.

After months of attempting to get party leadership to understand the issue and to come back in compliance, it came to pass that a some members of the Republican Party of Minnesota decided to intervene on the case brought by DFL Chair Ken Martin which targets the Legal Marijuana Now Party's major party status, in order to have a seat at the table, so to speak, seeing as the lawyers and leaders of the MNGOP opted not to.

The MNGOP's inaction has continued to put the party in jeopardy regarding its major party status, which affects 1.5 - 2 million republican voters, 99%+ of whom are unaware of the goings-on with the Legislature and how the DFL is using the newly amended statute to target the LMNP, perhaps as a way of allowing the MN Supreme Court to set the landscape for taking action against the GOP subsequently.

If and when the GOP is retaken substantially by the people, then this statute would have provided a way to pull the rug from under them. This conclusion should not be taken as correct or concrete without proper consideration and critical thought. It also may never come to pass that the GOP is targeted as a result of the intervention by this small group. Forthcoming posts will lay out bits and pieces of the argument's support, to show how this conclusion is arrived at.

In the meantime, those interested are encouraged to read the filings for A24-0216 and the associated documents, starting by going to this website (the Minnesota Appellate Courts Case Management System), clicking accept on the bottom, then searching for A24-0216.