A PRODUCTION OF TWIN CITIES PBS FOR THE STATIONS OF MINNESOTA PUBLIC TELEVISION ASSOCIATION.

>> THE MAPS ARE OUT.

>> IT'S PREMATURE TO TALK ABOUT THE MAPS AT THIS IME.

>> THAT'S COMING UP ON "ALMANAC AT THE CAPITOL."

"ALMANAC AT THE CAPITOL" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY MEMBERS OF THIS PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION.

SUPPORT IS ALSO PROVIDED BY... MANITOBA HYDRO: PROVIDING CLEAN, RENEWABLE ENERGY TO MINNESOTA UTILITIES FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS.

MANITOBAHYDROPOWER.COM.

ENBRIDGE: CONNECTING MINNESOTANS WITH ENERGY FOR OVER 70 YEARS.

MORE ON COMMUNITY IMPACT AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AT ENBRIDGE.COM/MINNESOTA.

MINNESOTA LOTTERY: PLAYING OUR PART BY GENERATING FUNDS FOR MINNESOTA.

IF YOU'RE GAME, JUST SAY I'M IN.

GREAT RIVER ENERGY: PROVIDING WHOLESALE POWER TO 28 MINNESOTA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES.

AND THE SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY: A TRIBAL NATION FOCUSED ON COMMUNITY AND COLLABORATION, ESPECIALLY IN TIMES LIKE TODAY.

>> MARY: WELCOME BACK TO "ALMANAC AT THE CAPITOL."

ON TONIGHT'S SHOW, OUR POLITICAL ANALYST DUO RETURNS, A RETIRING LAWMAKER TALKS ABOUT LEAVING THE LEGISLATURE AFTER MORE THAN 30 YEARS...

BUT FIRST UP, THE BIG POLITICAL NEWS OF THE WEEK IS THE REDRAWING OF STATE LEGISLATIVE AND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT MAPS.

WE'LL TALK WITH JOE MANSKY ABOUT THE NEW DISTRICTS IN JUST A FEW MINUTES.

BUT FIRST, HERE'S A LOOK AT WHAT KEY LAWMAKERS THINK OF THE NEWLY DRAWN LINES.

ALL EYES ARE ON MAPS AT THE STATE CAPITOL AS THE ONCE EVERY DECADE REDRAWING OF POLITICAL LINES WAS RELEASED BY A JUDICIAL PANEL.

>> MY FIRST REACTION IS THAT THE SUPREME COURT DID NOT CHANGE THE BOUNDARIES OF HENNEPIN COUNTY.

>> HENNEPIN COUNTY ATTORNEY IS THE NEW OFFICE THE MAJORITY LEADER IS SEEKING SO HE HAS EXTRA INTEREST THERE.

IT'S ALSO FASCINATING THAT BOTH THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE MINORITY LEADERS GOT PAIRED UP WITH A MEMBER OF THEIR OWN CAUCUS.

THEIR JOB IS TO TRY TO UNSEAT THE MAJORITY PARTY.

>> A LOT OF EXCITEMENT, ESPECIALLY WITH OLITICAL INSIDERS WHEN THE MAPS ARE RELEASED AND MEMBERS ARE CERTAINLY VERY EXCITED.

WE'RE CONFIDENT THAT OUR PRIORITIES FOR THE SESSION WILL HELP US MAINTAIN AND GROW OUR MAJORITY AND, AGAIN, THAT'S FOCUSED ON PUBLIC SAFETY, EDUCATION AND PERMANENT ONGOING TAX RELIEF FOR MINNESOTANS.

>> AS THE VICE CHAIR OF REDISTRICTING, I WANTED TO JUST KIND OF HAVE A LOOK AND SEE HICH PIECES OF WHICH MAPS WHAT THE COURT CONSIDERED.

I DID NOTICE THAT IN MY PARTICULAR COMMUNITY, AND OF COURSE I LOOKED AT THAT RIGHT AWAY TO MAKE SURE THAT I KNEW WHAT MY OWN POTENTIAL DISTRICT MIGHT BE BUT ALSO TO SEE THAT THE COMMUNITIES' INTERESTS AND MY COMMUNITY WOULD BE INCORPORATED.

>> ONE OF THE PRINCIPLES WAS COMMUNITIES OF INTEREST AND MAKING SURE THAT THERE WERE MINORITY OPPORTUNITIES ZONES AND SO FAR SO GOOD IN YOUR DISTRICT, WHAT FROM WHAT YOU COULD SEE?

>> WELL, IN MY OWN PARTICULAR DISTRICT, WE DO HAVE A LARGE SOUTH ASIAN POPULATION AND I WAS BEING -- I WAS INTERESTED TO SEE IF THEY WOULD BE HELD TOGETHER AND LIKE I SAID, I WILL NEED TO DO A DEEPER DIVE TO SEE IF THAT'S HELD.

AT FIRST BLURB, I BELIEVE IT IS.

>> WE WORKED HARD ALL YEAR ON THIS, WE STARTED EARLY LAST SPRING OVER IN THE ENATE, PUT TOGETHER A COMMITTEE, DID THE ROAD SHOWS, TRYING TO GET INPUT FROM ALL ROUND THE STATE.

SENATE D.F.L.

WASN'T ABLE TO PUT A MAP TOGETHER.

LUCKILY ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE, WE PUT A MAP TOGETHER, A PROPOSAL, TO START THE NEGOTIATIONS AND WE JUST RAN OUT OF RUNWAY ON THAT BUT I THINK LOOKING AT THESE MAPS, IT REALLY POSITIONS THE STATE OF MINNESOTA AND CITIZENS ACROSS THE STATE FOR A REALLY GOOD REPRESENTATION GOING FORWARD.

>> AS A MEMBER OF THE HOUSE REDISTRICTING COMMITTEE, I WAS VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE WAY CHAIR MURPHY CONDUCTED OUR PROCESS.

WE INVITED A LOT OF COMMUNITY INPUT.

WE -- FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, THE MAPS WERE OUT THERE FOR TWO WEEKS.

IT WAS UNFORTUNATE THAT THE SENATE DID NOT BRING FORWARD A BILL, AND WITHOUT A BILL, WE CAN'T HAVE A CONFERENCE COMMITTEE.

>> I WOULD ANTICIPATE THAT THE METRO SUBURBAN DISTRICTS GREW IN POPULATION, OF COURSE, AND THE RURAL DISTRICTS MAYBE SHRUNK A LITTLE BIT SO THERE'S PROBABILITY MORE METRO SUBURBAN DISTRICTS, AS A RESULT, AND FEWER DISTRICTS IN GREATER MINNESOTA.

AS SOMEONE WHO REPRESENTS GREATER MINNESOTA, HE SIZE OF OUR DISTRICTS, WHILE THE POPULATION IS THE SAME ACROSS THE STATE, THE ACTUAL GEOGRAPHY THAT WE HAVE TO COVER IS MUCH GREATER, SO IT MAKES IT MORE DIFFICULT.

>> MARY: JOINING ME NOW, SOMEONE WHO KNOWS A LOT ABOUT WHAT GOES IN TO THE REDISTRICTING PROCESS, AND HAS BEEN CLOSE TO THIS YEAR'S PLAN, JOE MANSKY.

JOE, FIRST OF ALL, FULL DISCLOSURE, TELL EVERYBODY YOUR CLOSENESS TO THIS YEAR AND PREVIOUS YEAR'S PLANS.

>> WELL, I OF COURSE WAS GOVERNOR VENTURA'S REDISTRICT REDISTRICTING MANAGER IN 2002 AND THE JUDICIAL PANEL HAT YEAR BASICALLY ADOPTED THE PLAN THAT WE HAD PRESENTED TO THEM, WITH, YOU KNOW, WITH SOME CHANGES AS ARE EXPECTED, AND I ALSO PRESENTED A PLAN TO THE PANEL IN 2012 ON BEHALF OF THE COUNTY AUDITORS, WHICH THEY -- WHICH -- AND I COULD SEE A LOT OF THE DESIGN ELEMENTS IN OUR CURRENT PLANS AND OF COURSE THIS YEAR, I WAS ONE -- ONE OF THE PLAINTIFFS IN THE LAWSUIT THAT GOT THIS WHOLE THING GOING AND SINCE THE NEW PLAN, AGAIN, EMBODIES A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT WE WERE LOOKING FOR, ESPECIALLY THAT IT WAS A LEAST CHANGE PLAN, I WILL -- I'LL CONSIDER THAT A WIN.

>> Mary: SO OVERALL, YOU SAY LEAST CHANGE, BUT WE'RE SEEING A NUMBER OF INCUMBENT PAIRINGS IN THE LEGISLATURE.

>> YES.

>> Mary: DOES THE NUMBER SEEM HIGH TO YOU SO FAR?

>> YOU KNOW, IT'S 33% INTERESTINGLY IN BOTH THE HOUSE AND SENATE.

THAT IS A HIGHER NUMBER THAN WE'VE HAD IN THE PAST.

NORMALLY WE'RE MORE AT ABOUT 20 OR 25% BUT I DID HEAR SOME OF THE MEMBERS KIND OF GROUSING ABOUT THAT YESTERDAY BUT, REMEMBER, YOU KNOW, IT'S ON THEM.

THEY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY HERE OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS TO COME TOGETHER AND PASSÉ REDISTRICTING LAW BUT THEY OPTED NOT TO DO THAT AND WHEN THEY DID THAT, THEY ABDICATED THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO THOSE FIVE JUDGES.

AND WE THINK THE JUDGES DID A FIRST-RATE JOB.

>> Mary: AND LET'S TALK ABOUT WHO THE JUDGES ARE BECAUSE YOU'RE THE ONE WHO'S POINTED OUT TO ME BEFORE -- >> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> >> Mary: WHAT GOVERNOR'S APPOINTED THOSE JUDGES.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

ALL THREE TIMES NOW, THIS IS '02, '12 AND '22, WE'VE HAD TWO JUDGES -- THE JUDGES ARE APPOINTED BY THE CHIEF JUSTICE, AND EACH TIME IT WAS TWO JUDGES APPOINTED BY DEMOCRATIC GOVERNORS, TWO APPOINTED BY REPUBLICAN GOVERNORS AND THE FIFTH JUDGE IN EACH CASE WAS APPOINTED BY GOVERNOR VENTURA.

>> Mary: OKAY, SO THAT MEANS IN THEORY, THIS SHOULD BE AS FAIR A PANEL AS HUMANLY POSSIBLE, RIGHT?

>> YES, AND I DO OT THINK THAT WAS AN ACCIDENT.

I THINK THAT WAS A DELIBERATE CHOICE ON THE ART OF OUR CHIEF JUSTICES AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE RESULTS, IT'S HARD TO ARGUE WITH THEM, THAT THIS PLAN, AS WE LOOK AT IT IS FAIR AND BALANCED.

BOTH PARTIES NOW HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO INTO THE MAJORITY FROM TIME TO TIME BUT THEIR MAJORITIES WILL BE SMALL AND PRECARIOUS AND THAT MEANS THAT WE AS VOTERS HAVE A LOT OF CONTROL OVER THEM AND THAT'S AS IT SHOULD BE.

>> >> Mary: SO YOU THINK IN THE LEGISLATURE MORE OF THE SAME AHEAD WHERE THE HOUSE AND SENATE ARE BOTH IN CONTENTION, COULD FLIP EVERY CYCLE, EVERY OTHER ELECTION CYCLE?

>> YES, THAT IS WHAT I ANTICIPATE, THAT WE WILL SEE A COUPLE OF CHANGES OF CONTROL DURING THE NEXT TEN YEARS.

>> Mary: AND AGAIN, THAT MAKES US UNIQUE IN THE REST OF THE COUNTRY, STILL, DOESN'T IT?

>> THAT'S RIGHT, BUT, YOU KNOW, OUR PROCESS, DD AS IT MIGHT BE, WORKS.

YOU KNOW, OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS, SINCE OUR 2002 PLAN, WE'VE HAD TEN HOUSE ELECTIONS, FIVE WON BY THE DEMOCRATS, FIVE BY THE REPUBLICANS.

WE'VE HAD SIX SENATE ELECTIONS, THREE WON BY THE DEMOCRATS, THREE WON BY THE REPUBLICANS.

I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU COULD GET MORE BALANCED THAN THAT.

>> Mary: BEFORE WE RUN OUT OF TIME, THE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS.

THE FIRST SOUTHERN MINNESOTA, THE SECOND KIND OF SOUTHERN SUBURBS, THOSE ARE THE TWO THAT ARE THE MOST COMPETITIVE AND LOOKS LIKE MAYBE THEY GOT MORE COMPETITIVE, IS THAT FAIR?

>> YOU NOW, THE FIRST DISTRICT IS CHANGING, IT'S NOT SO MUCH THE MAP, IT'S THE DEMOGRAPHICS AND THE EFFECTS, TO BE QUITE HONEST, OFTEN DONALD TRUMP ON THE REPUBLICAN ELECTORATE, THAT HIS IMPACT HAS MADE ROCHESTER A VERY GIVE PLACE POLITICALLY THAN IT HAS BEEN IN THE PAST.

OUR MOST COMPETITIVE DISTRICT VERY LEARLY IS DISTRICT 2, IT IS MORE OF A METRO DISTRICT THAN IT HAS BEEN BUT THAT HAD TO HAPPEN BECAUSE OF ALL THE GROWTH IN THE METRO AREA.

>> Mary: AND FINALLY, COMMON CAUSE TODAY SAID THEY THINK THIS IS BETTER FOR REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS THAT WE WOULD MORE LIKELY HAVE FIVE-TO-THREE REPUBLICAN THAN FIVE-TO-THREE DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSIONAL SEATS.

DO YOU AGREE?

>> YOU KNOW, I MIGHT.

I THINK WHAT WE ARE LIKELY TO GO THROUGH THE DECADE WITH IS FOUR AND FOUR, BUT TO THE EXTENT THAT ONE OF THE DISTRICTS IS REALLY COMPETITIVE, T'S DISTRICT 2 WHICH OF COURSE IS REPRESENTED NOW BY REPRESENTATIVE CRAIG.

>> Mary: ABSOLUTELY.

MINNESOTA CONTINUES TO BE COMPETITIVE, DIVIDED, DEPENDS ON HOW YOU LOOK AT IT.

>> THAT'S THE WAY WE LIKE IT.

>> Mary: THANKS, JOE.

♪♪ ♪♪ >> MARY: UP NEXT IS THIS WEEK'S INSTALLMENT OF OUR SERIES OF RETIRING LAWMAKER PROFILES.

DFL STATE REPRESENTATIVE CARLOS MARIANI HAS REPRESENTED ST. PAUL FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS AND HAS DECIDED IT'S TIME FOR ANOTHER CHAPTER IN LIFE.

REPRESENTATIVE MARIANI, 990 IS WHEN YOU CAME?

THAT MEANS MORE THAN 30 YEARS.

WHY NOW?

>> COULD HAVE BEEN SEVEN YEARS AGO, THIS HAS BEEN COMING FOR QUITE A WHILE AND ACTUALLY, I THINK, YOU KNOW, LAST THREE YEARS, YOU KNOW, WHEN MY PARTY GOT -- REGAINED CONTROL OF THE HOUSE, I WAS OFFERED THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHAIR A COMMITTEE THAT I REALLY DIDN'T WANT TO CHAIR.

THE SPEAKER WISELY DRAGGED ME INTO IT AND, YOU KNOW, TRAGICALLY, YOU KNOW, TWO YEARS AFTER THAT, GEORGE FLOYD WAS KILLED IN MINNEAPOLIS AND, YOU KNOW, IT THRUST OUR COMMITTEE, YOU KNOW, MY CHAIRMANSHIP RIGHT INTO THE EYE OF THE STORM.

>> Mary: DID YOU FEEL LIKE YOU NEEDED TO STAY TO SEE THAT THROUGH, AS WELL, DID YOU GET THE -- SOME OF THE POLICE REFORM THROUGH?

>> ABSOLUTELY AND, YOU KNOW, WE DOVE INTO IT RIGHT AWAY WHEN I WAS OFFERED THE COMMITTEE.

WE'RE A LITTLE BIT PROPHETIC, I SUPPOSE, BUT FRANKLY DIDN'T TAKE A LOT OF SCIENCE TO FIGURE OUT THIS WAS A PATTERN THAT WE HAD SEEN, THAT WOULD CONTINUES AND THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY THE INTERVENE SO THAT WAS A CALL.

IT'S TOUGH, MARY, BUT I GOT TO SAY IT FEELS RIGHT AND FEELS GOOD TO MAKE ROOM, YOU KNOW, FOR OTHERS.

>> Mary: HOW ABOUT LEGACY?

WHAT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF?

WE JUST TALKED ABOUT THE POLICE REFORM BUT YOU'VE DONE MANY OTHER THINGS ON IMMIGRATION AND EQUITY.

WHAT STANDS OUT TO YOU IN YOUR CAREER?

>> YEAH, WHEN I CAME INTO THE LEGISLATURE, I WAS -- I HAD A LOT OF WORK AS AN ACTIVIST AROUND IMMIGRANT RIGHTS, YOU KNOW, WE CREATED ALL SORTS OF OPPORTUNITIES TO [INDISCERNIBLE] COMMUNITIES TO HELP UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS.

I TELL PEOPLE THAT WAS OF INTEREST TO ME, FOLKS ARE LIKE, WHAT, WHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH STATE LEGISLATION AND I WAS JUST STUNNED, YOU KNOW, WHAT DOES THAT NOT HAVE TO DO WITH, YOU KNOW, LEGISLATING LOCALLY.

SO IT WAS AN AWARENESS THING, I THINK, THAT WE STIMULATED AND FOR ME, I CARRIED A NUMBER OF THOSE BILLS BUT PROBABLY THE ONE THAT I FEEL MOST GOOD ABOUT IS THE -- IS THE MINNESOTA PROSPERITY ACT OR THE DREAM ACT WHICH OPENED UP OPPORTUNITY IN OUR STATE FOR HIGHER EDUCATION ACCESS TO UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS, AND OUR STATE WERE ONE OF ONLY FIVE THAT DOES THAT IN A PARTICULAR WAY AND THE PARTICULAR WAY WE DO IT IS THAT WE PROVIDE NOT ONLY ACCESS BUT WE PROVIDE FINANCIAL AID AND ASSISTANCE TO THOSE STUDENTS.

>> Mary: 30 YEARS AGO, WHEN YOU CAME IN, I HINK PEOPLE ASSUME MOST OF THE DIVERSITY WAS URBAN AND WE'VE SEEN INCREDIBLE GROWTH, ESPECIALLY IN THE LATINO COMMUNITY, OUTSIDE THE METRO.

SO HOW IMPORTANT IS IT FOR THOSE RURAL LAWMAKERS TO, YOU KNOW, CHANGE ON ISSUES, BREAK WITH PARTY, RECOGNIZE HOW MUCH THEIR DISTRICTS ARE CHANGING?

>> FRANKLY, TO ME, THAT REGARDLESS OF THE ISSUE, I THINK THAT'S THE HALLMARK OF A TRUE LEGISLATOR AND A TRUE PUBLIC SERVANT, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, OUR WHOLE SYSTEM IS SET UP FOR US TO BE THE VOICES OF PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

>> Mary: YOU'VE SEEN A LOT OF CHANGES IN THOSE 30 YEARS, YOU'VE SEEN A LOT MORE DIVERSITY COME TO THE CAPITOL AND PARTICULARLY THE HOUSE, AND LOOKING OVER THE LANDSCAPE NOW, HOW MPORTANT AND WHY DOES THAT MATTER FOR MORE DIVERSE VOICES TO GET THERE?

BECAUSE THAT'S WHO WE ARE AS A PEOPLE, AS MINNESOTANS.

YOU KNOW, IF IT'S GOING TO BE GOVERNMENT, ALL BY AND FOR THE PEOPLE, THEN THOSE PEOPLE'S VOICES NEED TO BE THERE.

>> Mary: AND HOW ABOUT THE CHANGE, BECAUSE I THINK I CAME IN THE 90s, AS WELL, AND REMEMBER IT BEING A VERY WHITE, VERY [INDISCERNIBLE] PLACE.

[Overlapping Conversation] THE CURRENT COMPLEX ON AT THE CAPITOL HAS CHANGED AND IS CHANGING.

HAS THAT BEEN REALLY REMARKABLE FOR YOU TO WITNESS?

>> IT HAS BEEN REMARKABLE AND IT'S BEEN REMARKABLE, FRANKLY, JUST IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, THE LAST FEW YEARS.

I MEAN, QUITE HONESTLY FOR MOST OF THOSE YEARS, IT WAS A PRETTY HOMOGENEOUS GROUP AND IT WAS OMOGENEOUS NOT ONLY IN RACE BUT ALSO IN GENDER.

THE CHANGE HAS BEEN HUGE, MARY, ESPECIALLY NOTICE LAST FOUR YEARS, YOU SEE IT WITH THE CREATION OF THE OCI CAUCUS, FOR INSTANCE, AND THE D.F.L.

AT THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE, AND WE'VE GOT PEOPLE OF COLOR, INDIGENOUS PEOPLE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE, AS WELL, AND, YOU NOW, IT'S BEEN DRAMATIC.

I THINK IT'S ONLY GOING TO CONTINUE TO ACCELERATE.

>> Mary: SO FOR NEW LAWMAKERS COMING IN, BASED ON YOUR DECADES AND DECADES AND DECADES OF EXPERIENCE NOW, WHAT'S YOUR VOICE, WHAT WORKS, WHAT'S EFFECTIVE?

>> DON'T THINK THAT IT'S ABOUT YOU, THAT'S A HUGE MISTAKE.

I THINK THAT'S TRUE GENERALLY BUT I THINK ESPECIALLY, YOU KNOW, WITH THIS WORK, AND THIS IS ABOUT THE INSTITUTION.

YOU APPROACH IT WITH RESPECT, WITH A SENSE OF NURTURING IT AND TENDING TO BE A GOOD STEWARD OF IT.

YOU SHOULD FIGHT LIKE HELL FOR WHAT YOU BELIEVE IN, ABSOLUTELY, AND MAKE SURE YOU'RE LISTENING TO PERSPECTIVES THAT MAKE YOU UNCOMFORTABLE.

OCCASIONALLY, MAYBE EVEN MORE OCCASIONALLY, YOU'RE GOING TO FIND SOME COMMON GROUND ON STUFF THAT'S REALLY GOING TO MAKE IT.

>> Mary: YOU MADE SOME NEWS AND SOME WAVES, REALLY, BY BEING OPEN ON SOME CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM SSUES, AND OU REACHED ACROSS THE AISLE.

>> I REALLY BELIEVE THAT THE PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE IS FRONT AND CENTER IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

WE DON'T LIKE TALKING ABOUT IT.

WE'VE GROWN A LITTLE BIT TIRED OF IT BUT IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT AND WHEN I SAT ON THE HOUSE FLOOR, JUST REALLY SIMPLY WAS, ISTEN, PEOPLE FROM RURAL MINNESOTA WHERE I LIVE DON'T TRUST GOING INTO THE TWICE.

THERE ARE PEOPLE IN THE TWIN CITIES THAT DON'T TRUST LAW ENFORCEMENT.

THE COMMON HREADS IN ALL THAT IS THERE IS NOT TRUST.

THERE IS NOT RESPECT.

WE HAVE A PROBLEM HERE.

I YELLED AT BOTH SIDES AND SAID, YOU'RE BOTH TO BLAME.

I SAID I'M GOING TO THE MIDDLE OF THE FIELD, WHO'S GOING TO JOIN ME.

GOOD NEWS IS THERE WERE SOME PEOPLE.

NOT ENOUGH BUT WE'RE GOING TO KEEP PRESSING THIS.

>> MARY: HERE WITH ME NOW, TWO PEOPLE WHO MAY BE JUST AS EXCITED ABOUT THE REDISTRICTING MAPS AS THE CAPITOL PRESS CORPS.

BRIAN MCDANIEL IS A LEGISLATIVE LOBBYIST AND CARD-CARRYING REPUBLICAN.

HERE, TOO, IS DFLER AND COMMUNITY ACTIVIST CARIN MROTZ.

OKAY, BRIAN, THE FIRST THING WE HAVE TO DO IS FIND OUT IF YOU ARE RUNNING IN ONE OF THOSE NEWLY CARVED-OUT OPEN SEATS THAT I THINK YOU LIVE IN.

>> MY TIME HAS COME, IF NOT ME, WHO.

IF NOT NOW, WHEN?

MY TIME HAS COME.

BUT, ACTUALLY, THERE ISN'T ENOUGH MONEY TO GET ME TO DO THAT.

>> Mary: NO AY, NO HOW.

>> NO WAY, NO HOW.

>> Mary: OKAY, THERE ARE A SURPRISING NUMBER OF OPEN SEATS, CARIN.

WHAT DO YOU THINK THAT MEANS?

WHAT KIND OF OPPORTUNITY IS THERE?

>> I WILL SAY I WILL BE LEAVING MY JOB TO RUN BRIAN'S CAMPAIGN.

>> Mary: YOU HEARD IT HERE FIRST.

>> I JUST LOOK IN THE HOUSE, D.F.L.ers, WE HAVE 30 OPEN SEATS AND WHAT IT MEANS IS THAT THERE'S THE OPPORTUNITY THAT WE CAN PICK SOME UP BUT WE ACTUALLY NEED TO RUN GREAT CANDIDATES WITH BIG VISION AND ACTUALLY TAKE IT TO REPUBLICANS ON THE FIELD AND NOT JUST PLAY DEFENSE BUT ACTUALLY PLAY TO WIN.

THERE'S THIS, YOU KNOW, THIS COMMON BELIEF THAT IN MID-TERMS, THAT'S THE YEAR WHEN THE PARTY IS IN CONTROL AND THE WHITE HOUSE IS GOING TO GET WASHED.

WE DON'T NEED TO ACCEPT THAT, WICK FIGHT AND PICK FF SOME SEATS.

>> Mary: OKAY, BRIAN, ARE YOU ON DEFENSE OR OFFENSE, REPUBLICANS, IN THE HOUSE?

LET'S START THERE.

>> WELL, REPUBLICANS IN THE HOUSE CERTAINLY ARE OING TO BE ON OFFENSE.

THIS IS GOING TO BE A GOOD YEAR, YOU KNOW, IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT THE POLLING NUMBERS AND THE APPROVAL AND DISAPPROVAL FOR THE PRESIDENT ARE AND, YOU KNOW, JUST COMMON WISDOM IS TELLING REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS THIS IS GOING TO BE A GOOD YEAR FOR REPUBLICANS.

WHAT THE MAP PAIRINGS SO MANY PEOPLE TOGETHER THROWS SOME OF THAT MAYBE IN A LITTLE BIT OF DOUBT IN THE SHORT TERM, BUT I THINK THAT NO MATTER WHAT THE MAP LOOKED LIKE, REPUBLICANS ARE GOING TO BE BULLISH ON '22.

>> Mary: OKAY, CARIN, LET'S TALK THE SENATE.

DID THE DEMOCRATS HAVE A REAL SHOT AT TAKING AWAY THE SENATE FROM THE REPUBLICANS?

>> I THINK IT'S POSSIBLE.

ONE OF THE THINGS I'M WATCHING IN THE SENATE IS THE PAIRINGS, RECORD REGARDLESS IF IT'S REPUBLICANS OR DEMOCRATS, I THINK IT'S OBVIOUS WE'RE GOING TO LOSE SOME OF THE WOMEN.

WE'RE ONLY 31 WOMEN AND I THINK FOUR OF THE SEVEN REPUBLICAN WOMEN ARE PART OF THOSE PAIRINGS, AND SO IT DOES LOOK LIKE WE -- THE DEMOCRATS DO HAVE A CHANCE, AND IT MIGHT BE AT THE EXPENSE OF LOSING SOME FEMALE REPRESENTATION.

>> Mary: ON THE FLIP SIDE, BRIAN, CAN REPUBLICANS DEFEND THEIR MAJORITY IN THE SENATE OR DOES GEOGRAPHY AND, YOU KNOW, WHERE THE POPULATION GROWTH IS, IS THAT GOING TO BE A CHALLENGE?

>> WELL, I THINK IT DEFINITELY MAKES IT A CHALLENGE, YOU KNOW, SOME REPUBLICANS, LIKE ROCHESTER SENATOR KARLA NELSON, HER DISTRICT GOT WAY MORE REPUBLICAN BUT SHE GOT PAIRED WITH ANOTHER REPUBLICAN.

NOW, SEVERAL OF THE PAIRINGS I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO SEE MEMBERS MOVE BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THEIR HOUSES ARE CLOSE TO OTHER DISTRICTS SO I THINK SOME OF THE PAIRINGS THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW AREN'T GOING TO STAY PAIRINGS BUT I THINK -- I THINK IT PRESENTS A REAL CHALLENGE FOR THE SENATE UT ONCE AGAIN, YOU KNOW, THIS YEAR MIGHT BE GOOD ENOUGH THAT IT WILL OVERCOME ANY OF THOSE CHALLENGES.

>> Mary: AND ONE MORE THING ON REDISTRICTING, RECRUITING NEW CANDIDATES.

CARIN, YOU SAID 30 SEATS ON THE GROUND, YOU GUYS ARE INSIDERS, ON THE GROUND, ARE YOU RECRUITING ALREADY?

HOW IS IT GOING?

>> I DO KNOW THAT THE HOUSE CAUCUS IS RECRUITING.

I KNOW A FEW LEGISLATORS WHO HAVE BEEN TRAVEL AROUND IN GREATER MINNESOTA AND RECRUITING CANDIDATES.

I THINK HIS IS A GREAT, A GREAT TIME FOR SOMEBODY WHO WANTS TO RUN WITH A REAL VISION FOR HOW WE'RE GOING TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OFTEN PEOPLE IN MINNESOTA AND IS NOT GOING TO SHY AWAY FROM TAKING IT TO THE OTHER TEAM.

>> Mary: BRIAN, TAKE US INSIDE, HOW DO YOU RECRUIT?

>> IT WAS DIFFICULT.

I AS STAFF IN '02 FOR REDISTRICTING AND THEN I'VE BEEN, YOU KNOW, AN ACTIVIST AND A LOBBYIST FOR '12 AND '22.

YOU MAKE GUESSES ON WHERE THE OPEN SEATS ARE GOING TO BE BUT, YOU KNOW, I LOVE IT WHEN PEOPLE SAY, OH, I'M DEFINITELY NOT GOING TO BE HERE OR THERE.

ANYONE WHO TELLS YOU THEY KNEW WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN DID NOT KNOW WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN, SO I THINK THAT NOW THERE'S GOING TO BE A LITTLE BIT OF A MAD SCRAMBLE, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE DECLARING THEIR CANDIDACY RIGHT NOW AND WE'LL SEE HOPEFULLY THEY'LL HAVE LOTS OF REPUBLICANS THAT -- FROM LOTS OF DID I HAVE FLAVORS OF REPUBLICANS THAT WE'LL ALL BE TRYING TO GET IN THE SEATS AND WE'LL HAVE, YOU KNOW, A BROADER ARRAY OF OPINIONS ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE.

>> Mary: OBJECTION, NEW ISSUE, YOU TWO.

TODAY BIPARTISANSHIP GROUP OF LAWMAKERS TALKED SPORTS BETTING.

DOES IT GET THROUGH THIS YEAR?

WHO WANTS IT?

>> I MEAN, SPORTS?

[Laughter] >> WELL, I DO HAVE SOME CLIENT INTEREST IN THAT.

I THINK IT'S VERY POSSIBLE.

I MEAN, I THINK THAT IT'S NOT NECESSARILY GOING TO RELY ON WHAT THE REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS OR WHAT THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE THINK, IT'S GOING TO BE A REAL NEGOTIATION BETWEEN THE HOUSE, THE SENATE, THE GOVERNOR, YOU KNOW, TRIBAL INTERESTS, AND I THINK THAT IF THEY CAN MAKE IT BROAD ENOUGH, THAT IF IT IS SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO BE MOBILE, IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO BE, YOU KNOW, AVAILABLE IN BARS, AT RESTAURANTS, IN CASINOS, AT TRACKS, THEN I THINK YOU HAVE A REAL CHANCE OF PASSING SOMETHING.

I KNOW THE HUNGER ASK OUT THERE, THE MONEY IS OUT THERE AND I'M TIRED OF DRIVING TO IOWA.

>> Mary: CARIN, TYPICALLY DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN CLEAR THAT THEY HAVE TO GET THE TRIBES ON BOARD WITH THIS.

IS THAT HAPPENING?

>> I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S HAPPENING BUT I ABSOLUTELY AGREE IT'S IMPERATIVE IT HAPPENS.

>> Mary: NEW ISSUE, PUBLIC SAFETY HAS BECOME THE TOP ISSUE, YOU JUST HEARD DEMOCRATS, REPUBLICANS SAYING IT.

WHO HAS THE BEST PLAN?

WHO'S THE WINNING MESSAGE ON PUBLIC SAFETY?

BRIAN, CARIN?

>> I'LL TAKE THAT.

I WAS VERY IMPRESSED, BRIAN ALWAYS THINKS BUDGETS ARE -- BUT THE WALZ BUDGET WAS A $300 MILLION INVESTMENT IN COMPREHENSIVE PUBLIC SAFETY WHICH INCLUDED EVERYTHING FROM YOUTH PROGRAMS, IT WAS -- MEAN, IT'S $8 MILLION FOR RETAINING AND RECRUITING POLICE SO IT DOES ACTUALLY EXPAND POLICE, I MEAN IT'S NOT A BILLBOARD, BRIAN, BUT IT DOES RECRUIT AND RETAIN POLICE.

IT ALSO INCLUDED FUNDING COMMUNITIES TO DECIDE WHAT THEY NEED IN TERMS OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, IT IS A BOLD, BIG AMOUNT OF MONEY TO INVEST IN PUBLIC SAFETY AND THE BALL IS REALLY FRANKLY IN THE OTHER SIDE'S COURT.

>> Mary: BRIAN, LAST WORDS ON PUBLIC AFETY.

>> I THINK YOU CAN'T BUY TRUST.

I'M GOING TO AGREE WITH REPRESENTATIVE TIM MILLER, YOU CAN'T BUY TRUST SO DON'T THINK THE REPUBLICANS OR DEMOCRATS CAN THROW MONEY AT THIS PROBLEM.

>> Mary: OKAY, THANKS, YOU TOO.

APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

>> MARY: THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

WE'LL BE BACK NEXT WEEK WITH THE LATEST FROM THE LEGISLATURE.

IF YOU MISSED PART OF TONIGHT'S SHOW OR WANT TO RE-WATCH ANY EPISODES FROM THE PAST, HEAD TO OUR WEBSITE, TPT.ORG/AATC.

AND DON'T FORGET TO FOLLOW "ALMANAC" ON FACEBOOK.

LOOK FOR SESSION UPDATES AND MORE FROM OUR TEAM ON TWITTER.

THAT'S ALL AT TPT.ORG/AATC.

WHEN THE LEGISLATURE IS IN SESSION, YOU CAN FOLLOW HOUSE AND SENATE FLOOR ACTION, COMMITTEE HEARINGS AND MORE ON THE PBS STATION YOU ARE WATCHING RIGHT NOW.

MAKE SURE TO TUNE IN TO "ALMANAC" ON FRIDAY NIGHT.

ERIC AND CATHY WILL HAVE THE LATEST ON THE KIM POTTER SENTENCING AND THE FEDERAL TRIAL OF FORMER MINNEAPOLIS POLICE OFFICERS.

I'LL TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE NEW POLITICAL BOUNDARIES.

INCLUDING SOME VERY INTERESTING PAIRINGS, ONE TEASER ON THAT.

ONE LAWMAKER IS PAIRED WITH HIS FORMER TEACHER.

TUNE IN TO SEE WHO THAT IS.

THAT'S OUR SHOW.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

GOOD NIGHT.

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