
State Fair Politics 2026
Clip: Season 2026 Episode 50 | 2m 26sVideo has Closed Captions
Mary Lahammer speaks with the leading candidates for governor and U.S. Senate.
Mary Lahammer speaks with the leading candidates for governor and U.S. Senate.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Almanac is a local public television program presented by Twin Cities PBS

State Fair Politics 2026
Clip: Season 2026 Episode 50 | 2m 26sVideo has Closed Captions
Mary Lahammer speaks with the leading candidates for governor and U.S. Senate.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Where to Watch Almanac
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A Minnesota Institution
"Almanac" is a Minnesota institution that has occupied the 7:00 p.m. timeslot on Friday nights for more than 30 years. It is the longest-running primetime TV program ever in the region.Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipAND SPORTS?
D ANA KEVIN KLING STAT SPORTS?
AND A KEVIN KLING STATE FAIR STORY.
WE HAVE A LOT TO GET TO, SO LET'S DIVE IN.
WE START WITH POLI LET'S DIVE IN.
WE START WITH POLITICS OF COURSE.
MARY LAHAMMER IS OUT IN THE CROWD.
>> Mary: YEAH, THE STATE FAIR IS WAALYS >> Mary: YEAH, THE STATE FAIR IS ALWAYS FULL OF POLITICKING AND THE REST OF THIS YEAR, WITH THE POLITICKING AND THE REST OF THIS YEAR, WITH THE MIDTERMS, WE'LL HAVE PLEBT OF CAMPAIGNING.
I WAS HERE BRIGHT AND CAMPAIGNIN G.I WAS HERE BRIGHT AND EARLY ON THE OPENING DAY AND CAUGHT UP WITH ALL OF THE TOP CANDIDATES.
>> THREE, TWO, O!NE >> Mary: U.S.
SENATOR >> THREETW, O, ONE!
>> Mary: U.S.
SENATOR AMY KLOBUCHAR IS >> Mary: U.S.
SENATOR AMY KLOBUCHAR IS ALWAYS AT THE OPENING GATE, BUT KLOBUCHAR IS ALWAYS AT THE OPENING GATE, BUT THIS YEAR THERSE' OPENING GATE, BUT THIS YEAR THERE'S NEW PURPOSE.
>> WHEN YOU'RE AT THERE'S NEW PURPOSE.
>> WHEN YOU'RE AT THE FAIR AND THEY COME UP AND SAY >> WHEN U'YORE AT THE FAIR AND THEY COME UP AND SAY MY PRESCRIPTION DRUG IS DELAYED, COULD YOU HELP PRESCRIPTION DRUG IS DELAYED, COULD YOU HELP ME, THAT'S REAL.
>> Mary: CHANGED IT TO THE WORD GOVERNOR?
>> I AM NOTHING BUT CONSISTENT.
WHICH IS CONSISTENT.
WHICH IS VERY IMPORTANT RIGHT NOW IN OUR POLIT WHICH IS VERIMY PORTANT RIGHT NOW IN OUR POLITICS WHEN THINGS ARE CRAZY.
HAVING SOMEONE THAT'S GOING TO BE THERE FOR HAVING SOMEONE THAT'S GOING TO BE THERE FOR THEM INCLUDING YOUR STATE FAIR BE THERE FOR THEM INCLUDING YOUR STATE FAIR LOCATION.
>> Mary: ONLY AT THE FAIR IS YOUR OPPONENT >> Mary: ONLATY THE FAIR IS YOUR OPPONENT AMICABLY WITHIN EARSHOT.
HERE'S REPUBLICAN GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE, HOUSE SPEAKER LISA GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE, HOUSE SPEAKER LISA DEMUTH.
>> THAT'S SPEAKER LISA DEMUTH.
>> THAT'S FINE.
I MEAN, IN A >> THAT'S FINE.
I MEAN, IN A TIED LEGISLATURE, MARY, YOU KNO I MEAN, IN A TIED LEGISLATURE, MARY, YOU KNOW ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN.
SO WHEN WE GET A HAPPEN.
SO WHEN WE GET A CHANCE TO WORK CLOSE BY, SO WHEN WE GET A CHANCE TO WORK CLOSE BY, ABSOLUTELY FINE.
I THINK THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE NEED TO SEE.
THERE'S NO REASON TO N NEED TO SEE.
THERE'S NO REASON TO NOT BE IN THE SAME SPACES.
>> Mary: WHAT ARE YOU HEARING?
>> FRAUD IS UNBELIEVABLE.
EVERY SINGLE CONVERSATION P CONVERSATION EVERY SINGLE CONVERSATION P CONVERSATION IS ALWAYS GET R CONVERSATION IS ALWAYS GET RID OF THIS CONVERSATION IS ALWAYS GET RID OF THIS FRAUD.
>> Mary: ANDIDATES FOR THE OPEN U.S.
SENATE SEAT >> Mary: ANDIDATES FOR THE OPEN U.S.
SENATE SEAT ALSO SPENT THE DAY AT THE FAIR.
ONLY ONE SPENT MONEY OAN BOOTH D ANTHAT CANDIDATE MICHELLE BOOTH AND THAT CANDIDATE MICHELLE TAFOYA OF COURSE.
>> THIS IS THE GREAT MINNESOTA GE >> THIS IS THE GREAT MINNESOTA GET TOGETHER.
>> Mary: GET TOGETHER.
>> Mary: HOW IMPORTANT IS THIS INVESTMENT TO BE HERE IN YOUR OWN BOOTH?
>> THIS WAS A PRIORITY FOR US.
WE'RE HEARING REALLY GOOD INTHGS.
THE POLLING'S STARTING TO THGSIN.
THE POLLING'S STARTING TO LOOK REALLY GOOD SINCE THE PRIMARY.
NOW WE KNOW THE REALLY GOOD SINCE THE PRIMARY.
NOW WE KNOW THE OPPONENT.
GLAINL NOW WE KNOW THE OPPONENT.
GLAIN NOW WE KNOW THE OPPONENT.
GLAI NOW WE KNOW THE OPPONENT.
GLA >> Mary: GLA >> Mary: DEMOCRAT PEGGY FLANAGAN WON THE PRIMARY.
>> I THINK ABOUT THE IMPORTCEAN OF KEEPING THE SEAT BLUE IMPORTANCE OF KEEPING THE SEAT BLUE, CONTINUING TO FIGHT FOR MINNESOTANS.
AND, YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE WORK AND, YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE WORK.
AND WE'RE GOING TO VISIT WITH FOLK AND WE'RE GOING TO VISIT WITH FOLKS HERE.
AND EAT OUR WAY THROUGH T FOLKS HERE.
AND EAT OUR WAY THROUGH THE FAIR.
>> Mary: D FAIR.
>> Mary: DO YOU NOT HAVE A BOOTH?
Birdchick | Almanac at the Fair 2026
Video has Closed Captions
Clip: S2026 Ep50 | 8m 30s | Sharon Stiteler previews fall migration patterns and takes audience questions. (8m 30s)
Kevin Kling essay | Almanac at the Fair 2026
Video has Closed Captions
Clip: S2026 Ep50 | 2m 58s | Kevin carries on his tradition of sharing one of his State Fair stories with us. (2m 58s)
Live Music | Almanac at the Fair 2026
Video has Closed Captions
Clip: S2026 Ep50 | 4m 52s | Kaomi Lee talks to Quillan and Kim Roe before the play a song for us. (4m 52s)
Political Science Trio | Almanac at the Fair 2026
Video has Closed Captions
Clip: S2026 Ep50 | 7m 54s | Kathryn Pearson, Cindy Rugeley and Larry Jacobs discuss this week in national politics. (7m 54s)
Reporter Duo | Almanac at the Fair 2026
Video has Closed Captions
Clip: S2026 Ep50 | 5m 46s | Mary Lahammer and MPR’s Brian Bakst break down this week in Minnesota politics. (5m 46s)
Sports | Almanac at the Fair 2026
Video has Closed Captions
Clip: S2026 Ep50 | 5m 13s | 10K Takes’ Eric Nelson join us to talk Lynx, Vikings, and Twins. (5m 13s)
Weather | Almanac at the Fair 2026
Video has Closed Captions
Clip: S2026 Ep50 | 5m 45s | Mark Seeley talks drought, wildfires, and what an El Niño will mean for winter. (5m 45s)
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