>> "ALMANAC: AT THE CAPITOL" IS A PRODUCTION OF TWIN CITIES PBS FOR THE STATIONS OF MINNESOTA PUBLIC TELEVISION ASSOCIATION.

>> A SWEET START.

>> Mary: LAWMAKERS AND THE GOVERNOR RETURN TO THE STATE CAPITOL WITH A LOT OF TO DO.

WE'LL CHAT WITH POLITICAL REPORTERS ABOUT THE ACTION.

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.

FLINT HILLS RESOURCES: DAV OF MINNESOTA.

KEEPING OUR PROMISE TO MINNESOTA'S VETERANS.

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 LOCATED IN SCOTT COUNTY.

>> Mary: WELCOME TO ANOTHER SEASON OF "ALMANAC: AT THE CAPITOL."

I'M MARY LAHAMMER, COMING TO YOU LIVE FROM THE HOUSE GALLERY WHERE A NEW LEGISLATIVE SESSION IS UNDER WAY AND DEMOCRATS HAVE CONTROL OF THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, THE HOUSE, AND THE ENATE, AND THERE'S CHANGE AFOOT IN THE SENATE.

THEY'VE BEEN MEETING ALL NIGHT AND WAIMPS TELL YOU ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING THERE.

IT'S VERY INTERESTING.

WE'LL TALK TO POLITICAL REPORTERS ABOUT THAT AND EXPLORE THE STATE'S NEW DEMOGRAPHICS AND MEET ONE OF THE MANY NEW MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE.

BUT FIRST, HERE'S A LOOKS AT WHO'S LEADING THE STATE.

>> AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SERVING YOU AS PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE.

>> Mary: THE 2023 LEGISLATIVE SESSION STARTS WITH RECORD DIVERSITY AND DOZENS OF FRESH LAWMAKERS.

>> LET'S WORK HARD.

LET'S WORK QUICKLY.

LET'S WORK TOGETHER TO MEET THE NEEDS OF MINNESOTANS.

TOGETHER WE CAN BUILD A STATE THAT WORKS BETTER FOR EVERYONE.

>> Mary: NEW LEGISLATIVE LEADERS ARE IN EVERY CAUCUS.

>> LET'S PUT THE CAMPAIGN BEHIND US.

WE'RE NOW HERE TO GOVERN.

>> TODAY WE'RE TURNING OFFER A NEW LEAF.

A NEW OPPORTUNITY TO COME HERE AND ELP MINNESOTANS.

>> MAJORITY LEADER LONG, I LOOK FORWARD TO OUR CONTINUED AND WORKING RELATIONSHIP OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS.

>> THANK YOU, MIND LEADER DEMUTH AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING TOGETHER AS WALZ.

>> I TIM WALZ, DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM.

>> Mary: DEMOCRATS AGAIN DOMINATE ALL STATE OFFICES LED BY GOVERNOR TIM WALZ AT THE TOP OF THE TICKET.

>> WE NOT ONLY WEATHERS THOSE HISTORIC CHALLENGES.

WE'VE COME OUT STRONGER AND COMMITTED TO A FUTURE THAT INCLUDES ALL OF US THAN EVER BEFORE.

WE HAVE A HISTORIC OPPORTUNITY.

>> Mary: AN OPPORTUNITY OF NEARLY $18 BILLION IN A SURPLUS THAT COULD BRING THE BIGGEST INVESTMENT IN EDUCATION EVER.

>> LET'S MAKE SURE THOSE CHILDREN KNOW THERE'S NO PLACE BETTER TO LIVE AND THERE'S NO PLACE BETTER THAN THEY WANT TO BE THAN RIGHT HERE IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

THE ERA OF GRIDLOCK IN ST. PAUL IS OVER.

MINNESOTANS HAVE CHOSEN.

THEY CHOSE HOPE OVER FEAR.

THEY CHOSE FACT OVER FICTION.

AND THEY CHOSE ACTION OVER EXCUSES.

[ DRUMS BEATING ] >> Mary: THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR CONTINUES TO MAKE HISTORY.

>> TO GROW UP AND BECOME THE FIRST NATIVE AMERICAN TO HOLD STATEWIDE OFFICE IN MINNESOTA, IN A GOVERNMENT THAT LOOKS MORE AND MORE LIKE THE PEOPLE OF MINNESOTA WITH EACH PASSING ELECTION.

[ Applause ] >> Mary: THE ATTORNEY GENERAL THANKED HIS MOTHERS WHO HE LOST TO COVID AND WAS IN ATTENDANCE FOUR YEARS AGO, SYMBOLIZING SO MUCH CHANGE IN JUST ONE TERM.

>> I COME TO YOU WITH A RENEWED SENSE OF VIGOR AND COMMITMENT, PLUS FOUR YEARS OF EXPERIENCE.

>> Mary: SECRETARY OF STATE STEVE SIMON STARTS A THIRD TERM.

>> I LIKE TO SAY THAT I'M IN THE DEMOCRACY BUSINESS.

IT'S A BUSINESS THAT'S ENDURED QUITE A STRESS TEST THESE LAST FEW YEARS AND WE IN MINNESOTA DIDN'T JUST PASS THAT TEST, WE ACED THAT TEST.

>> Mary: AND AUDITOR BLAHA SURVIVOR REPRESENTATIVED ONE OF THE CLOSEST STATEWIDE RACES.

>> WHEN YOU WIN Y 408,235 VOTES, YOU REALLY OWE IT TO EVERYBODY.

THANK YOU!

♪ >> Mary: EXPECTS OUT OF THIS NEW LEGISLATURE, WHO KNOWS.

TWO PEOPLE WHO FOLLOW IT VERY CLOSELY.

DANA FERGUSON NOW WITH MINNESOTA PUBLIC RADIO.

CONGRATS ON THAT SINCE WE LAST WE SAW YOU.

AND OUR VERY ENERIC ESKOLA.

WELL, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE'VE BEEN WATCHING THE MINNESOTA STATE SENATE FIGHTING OVER RULES.

LOOKING LIKE THE HOUSE FOR EIGHT HOURS?

WHAT'S GOING ON OVER THERE?

>> WELL, DURING THE MORNING NEWS CONFERENCES, THE D.F.L.

LEADERS SAID HOW THEY HAD LISTENED TO THE PEOPLE TO SHAPE THEIR AGENDA, AND THEIR AGENDA, IT REFLECTS THE NEEDS AND THE GOALS OF MINNESOTANS.

AND THEN THE FIRST PIECE OF LEGISLATING OUT OF THE SENATE IS ALLOWING THE MEMBERS TO HAVE UNADORNED WATER BOTTLES ON THE FLOOR.

>> Mary: IT WAS A BIPARTISAN VOTE AND LED BY FRESHMAN.

>> AND I WOULD SAY THAT THEY MIGHT NEED THAT WATER.

IT'S GOING TO BE AS EVIDENCED BY TODAY A SET OF MARATHON DEBATES GOING ON OVER ISSUES EVEN MORE COMPLEX THAN WHETHER TO ALLOW THOSE WATER BOTTLES.

SO WE SAW THE NEW MEMBERS OF THE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS IN PARTICULAR REALLY FIRED UP AND WANTING TO TAKE EVERY ISSUE AROUND COMMITTEES, AROUND ASSIGNMENTS, AROUND WHETHER THEY CAN VOTE REMOTELY, JUST TAKING IT ALL TO TASK.

SO IT'S GOING TO BE QUITE A YEAR.

>> Mary: AND THE OTHERS ISSUE, THIS IS RATHER SUBSTANTIVE, REMOTE VOTING, BUT THE SENATE TODAY, TONIGHT, APPROVED REMOTE VOTING WITH THE HELP OF I DO TWO REPUBLICAN FEMALE SENATORS.

WE'RE GOING TO BE WATCHING THEM, AREN'T WE?

>> IT'S 34-33 DEMOCRATS IN THE SENATE.

AND THAT MEANS IF SOMEBODY'S SICK AT HOME, THEY COULDN'T PROCEED WITH A BILL IT WAS A DFL FILE.

>> Mary: SO DEMOCRATS NEED REMOTE VOTING.

BUT ALSO, WE SAW JULIA COLEMAN AND KARL A NELSON, THERE'S ONLY THREE WOMEN LEFT IN THE SENATE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS AND IT SOUNDS LIKE THEY'RE GOING TO BE HEARD.

>> I THINK OU'RE RIGHT.

IN THEIR OWN CAUCUS AND ALSO I THINK IN THE CHAMBER ORE BROADLY.

THERE ARE PROBABLY AREAS WHERE DEMOCRATS CAN LOOK TO THEM AND SEE WHAT ARE SOME ISSUES THAT MIGHT RELATED TO FAMILIES, TO MOMS.

HOW CAN WE WORK TOGETHER.

AND IT SEEMS LIKE THERE COULD BE AREAS WHERE THEY COULD AGREE.

>> Mary: WE'RE SEEING A TON OF WOMEN IN THE HOUSE HERE.

A TON OF YOUTH.

A TON OF IVERSITY.

WE HAVEN'T SEEN THIS IN OUR LIFETIMES, HAVE WE, THIS MUCH CHANGE UP HERE?

>> WELL, NOT TO THE DIVERSITY OF RACIAL AND GENDER.

NO, I THINK THIS IS UNPRECEDENTED.

>> Mary: AND MOST NEW MEMBERS SINCE 1973.

WE CHATTED WITH MY DAD EARLIER THIS WEEK, AND HE CALLED THIS A WATERSHED YEAR.

MUCH LIKE THAT WHEN THE FIRST WAVE OF WOMEN CAME AND HOW IT CHANGE AID THE CULTURE.

WE'RE SEEING THE CULTURE CHANGE IMMEDIATELY, AREN'T WE?

>> I WONDER HOW MUCH CAUCUS DISCIPLINE THERE'S GOING TO BE.

IT USED TO BE BACK IN OUR DAY, YOU WAITED THREE OR FOUR MONTHS TO MAKE YOUR MAIDEN SPEECH ON THE FLOOR.

WELL NOW, WE HAD A FRESHMAN AMENDING STUFF ON THE FLOOR.

>> Mary: UCCESSFULLY TOO.

>> NOT TO MENTION THE FACT THAT AS THE D.F.L.

LAID OUT THEIR PRIORITIES THIS MORNING, WE SAW A NUMBER OF FIRST YEAR LAWMAKERS, INCOMING LAWMAKERS, KEY AUTHORS ON THOSE PIECES OF LEGISLATION.

SO THEY HAVE A VERY IMPORTANT ROLE, IT WOULD SEEM, AND THE CAUCUS LEADERS ARE TAKING THEM SERIOUSLY.

>> I WONDER IF WE SHOULD TALK A LITTLE IT ABOUT THE TIME TABLE HERE.

THE HOUSE IS GENERALLY LESS PATIENT, BECAUSE THEY'RE UP EVERY TWO YEARS.

SENATE UP EVERY FOUR YEARS.

THEY CAN BE A LITTLE MORE PATIENT WITH STUFF.

AND I THINK WE'VE HEARD LEADER DZIEDZIC INDICATE THAT A LOT OF THE BILLS ARE GOING TO GO THROUGH THE ENATE MORE METHODICALLY.

>> Mary: IN PARTICULAR, TOO, SHE HAS SAID TOO THAT NEED A LOT OF HEARINGS THAT THE SENATE HASN'T REALLY HEARD YET, MORE ON PAID FAMILY LEAVE AND MARIJUANA.

THOSE ARE NOT OING TO FLY THROUGH THE SENATE, ARE THEY?

>> THEY TAKE A LOT OF VETTING.

THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH A LOT OF COMMITTEES.

THEY'LL GOING TO BUILD UP A LOT OF OPPOSITION AS WELL AS SUPPORT ON THAT PATH.

AND IT'LL BE A REAL QUESTION IN THEY CAN MAKE THAT THROUGH THAT VERY NARROWLY DIVIDED SENATE, ESPECIALLY IF THEY'RE GOING TO FACE THAT AMOUNT OF JUST MARATHON DEBATE, EVEN IF ALL OF DEMOCRATS AGREE ON THEM, IT'LL JUST TAKE A LOT OF TIME.

>> Mary: I'D SAY THE HOUSE IS HITTING THE GROUND RUNNING, THOUGH.

THEY ALREADY DID TAX CONFORMITY TODAY.

THEY HAVE ABORTION CODIFICATION TOMORROW.

THE HOUSE SEEMS REALLY EAGER TO GET MOVING.

>> IMPATIENT.

[ Laughter ] >> Mary: BUT THE QUESTION, DOES THE SENATE SLOW THEM DOWN AND DOES THE SENATE EVEN HAVE THAT REALLY FIRM, FIRM PRO-CHOICE MAJORITY?

>> THE LEADERS SAY THEY DO, BUT WE HAVEN'T FULLY SEEN THAT YET.

SO IT'S HARD TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT PROPOSAL WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT THEY COULD ALL GET ON BHOORD WITH.

AND I THINK OVER THE NEXT COUPLE MONTHS WE'RE GOING TO FIGURE THAT OUT.

>> Mary: ABORTION, HALE 1 AND 2, YOU WERE DYING TO KNOW WHAT HALE 1 AND 2.

>> I THINK YOU DID.

I THINK YOU PAY OF SOME CONSTITUENCY GROUPS AFTER AN ELECTION LIKE THIS.

SO I'M NOT SURPRISED.

>> Mary: NOW WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT IS THE GOVERNOR, WHO SHOWED UP HERE ON THE HOUSE AND ENATE FLOOR.

BEARING GIFTS.

[ Laughter ] DANA, TALK ABOUT WHAT THE GOVERNOR WAS TRYING TO DO.

>> WELL, YEAH, HE CAME OUT WITH A PAN OF PUMPKIN, I THINK WHITE CHOCOLATE BLOND YEAR BARS.

>> Mary: BARS.

>> AND SO HE WAS WALKING THE HALLS THE CAPITOL, MEETING WITH LEGISLATORS.

HE GOT A LITTLE BIT OF BLOWBACK IN THE HALLS FROM AT LEAST ONE LEGISLATOR, OR FROM A LOBBYIST RATHER WHO WAS SAYING, YOUR BAUERS DIDN'T WORK LAST YEAR.

I DON'T KNOW WHY YOU THINK THEY'LL WORK THIS TIME AROUND.

NUMBER TWO, WERE WILLING TO ENGAGE WITH HIM ABOUT WHAT THEY WANT TO GET DONE.

>> WHAT VERSION OF WALZ CHECKS ARE WE GOING TO GET?

I THINK JUST POLITICALLY, DEMOCRATS HAVE TO HAVE SOME TAX RELIEF.

THEY CERTAINLY AREN'T HIGHLIGHTING.

>> Mary: IT'S POPULAR, BUT WE'RE NOT HEARING IN THE HOUSE OR SENATE AGENDAS, ARE WE?

>> I DON'T THINK THERE'S A BILL BEEN INTRODUCED YET.

>> NO, AND THIS MORNING IT SOUNDED LIKE THE TOP PRIORITY FOR DEMOCRATS AT LEAST RIGHT AWAY IS SOME RELIEF FOR CHILD CARE, SUPPORTING PARENTS, GIVING THEM A LITTLE BIT MORE MONEY TO HELP WITH THAT, AND THEN WHERE THEY GO FROM THERE, WHETHER IT'S A REBATE CHECK OR OTHER TAX INCENTIVES.

SEEMS MORE LIKELY TO SEE TAX INCENTIVES.

>> BUT THE DIFFERENCE IN THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT IN THE TWO PARTIES IS AMAZING.

THE DEMOCRATS, BIG, BIG SPENDING.

A PROGRAM FOR EVERY PROBLEM.

AND THE REPUBLICANS IN THE MAIN, ARE, LET ME KEEP MY MONEY AND LEAVE ME ALONE.

IT'S A REALLY INTERESTING CLASH HERE WE HAVE, AND WHILE WE DON'T HAVE DIVIDED GOVERNMENT, WHERE THAT IS REALLY HIGHLIGHTED, THAT NARROW MARGIN IN BOTH CHAMBERS MAY COME INTO PLAY.

>> >> Mary: AND NEW LEADERS, WE CAN'T PREDICT.

EVERY SINGLE CAUCUS HAS AT LEAST ONE NEW EADER.

>> I HAD ONE SUBURB EVERYBODY DEMOCRAT SENATOR TELL ME THAT SENATOR DZIEDZIC HAS AN AURA OF WISDOM.

>> Mary: BUZZ SHE'S KIND OF AN UNKNOWN.

NOW SHE'S A HEAD OF A CAUCUS.

>> O YOU THINK THE DEMOCRATS LIKE THAT?

I THINK THAT'S ONE OF HER STRENGTHS PROBABLY WITHIN THE CAUCUS.

>> I THINK THAT WOULD HELP MAKE HER MORE POPULAR WITH REPUBLICANS IN THAT CHAMBER TOO, KNOWING THAT YOU COULD POTENTIALLY WORK TOGETHER WITH SOMEONE AND JUST RATHER THAN HAVING SOMEONE WHO'S UTTING FORTH JUST PARTY TALKING POINTS EVERY DAY.

AND ALLOWING YOU TO BE ON THE FLOOR FOR EIGHT HOURS DEBATING RULES.

>> Mary: ALL RIGHT, WE ARE OUT OF TIME.

I AM SORRY, I HAVE TO CUT YOU OFF.

>> ALL THE TRIFECTA THE AT TRICK.

>> Mary: I'LL TAKE THAT AS A SOCCER MOM.

>> WE'RE THE STATE OF HOCKEY, REMEMBER.

>> Mary: AND HOCKEY.

ALL RIGHT, THANKS YOU TWO.

♪♪ [ UPBEAT MUSIC ] ♪♪ [ UPBEAT MUSIC ] ♪♪ [ UPBEAT MUSIC ] ♪♪ [ UPBEAT MUSIC ] ♪♪ >> Mary: ALL RIGHT, WELL THIS IS THE MOST DIVERSE LEGISLATURE WE'VE EVER SEEN.

AND WE KNOW ABOUT DIVERSITY IN OUR DEMOGRAPHICS AND THIS IS THE PERSON WHO KNOWS THOSE STATE DEMOS THE BEST.

IT'S OUR DEMOGRAPHER, BROIRCH BROWER.

SUSAN BROWER.

WE'VE BEEN HEARING SO MUCH THAT THIS LEGISLATURE REFLECTS THE STATE FOR THE FIRST TIME.

SO TELL US WHY THAT'S TRUE.

WHAT DOES THE STATE LOOK LIKE?

>> WELL, THE STATE IS BECOMING MORE AND ORE DIVERSE AS WE KNOW.

RIGHT NOW, 1.3 MILLION MINNESOTANS FILLED UT THEIR CENSUS FORM IN 2020 AND SAID THEY BELONG TO A BIPOC GROUP, SO BLACK, INDIGENOUS, PEOPLE OF COLOR.

THAT'S ABOUT 24% OF THE STATE'S POPULATION.

>> Mary: AND THAT'S THE HIGHEST NUMBER WE'VE EVER HAD, RIGHT?

>> IT IS, AND AS YOU GET YOUNGER AND YOUNGER, YOU HAVE MUCH SENATOR DIVERSITY.

SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT PRESCHOOLERS FOR EXCEL IN MINNESOTA, IT'S ABOUT A THIRD OF THE POPULATION.

>> Mary: IN WHAT PARTS OF THE STATE, WHAT DEMOGRAPHIC GROUPS?

>> SO MOST OF THE GROWTH IS IN THE TWIN CITIES MEMBERSHIP AREA, BUT NOT EXCLUSIVE TO IT.

SO IF YOU LOOK KIND OF AT A MAP WHERE DIVERSE POPULATIONS LIVE, IN MINNESOTA, THERE IS THIS CONCENTRATION IN THE TWIN CITIES METRO, BUT ALSO IN THE OTHER METROS ACROSS THE STATE.

SO LOOKING AT MANKATO, FOR EXAMPLE.

MOORHEAD.

ST.

CLOUD.

ROCHESTER.

ALL THE METROS AVE GREATER DIVERSITY OVER TIME.

AND THEN THERE'S SMALLER TOWNS WHERE WE CONTINUE TO SEE IMMIGRANT GROUPS MOVING TOWARD JOB OPPORTUNITIES.

AND SO WE SEE KIND OF POCKETS ACROSS THE STATE IN KIND OF MEDIUM TO SMALL TOWNS AS WELL.

>> Mary: WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT WORKERS, WE JUST SAW HE STATE BUDGET FORECAST.

WE'VE SEEN THE DATA.

LOWEST UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IN THE NATION.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST STRESSES IN OUR BUDGET FORECAST IS THIS WORKER SHORTAGE.

IT'S BEEN COMING FOR DECADES AND DECADES.

IT'S HERE NOW.

ISN'T IT OFFICIALLY?

WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT OUR DEMOGRAPHIC?

WHO'S COMING?

WHO DO WE NEED TO COME?

>> WELL, PARTICIPATE OF THE ISSUE IS THAT IT REALLY IS A STRUCTURAL ISSUE THAT'S BEEN IN THE WORKS FOR A LONG TIME.

THE LARGEST PIECE OF THE WORKFORCE SHORTAGE IS JUST THE RETIREMENT OF THE BABY BOOMERS, SO THAT HAS TO DO WITH BIRTH RATES FROM, YOU KNOW, '65, 70 YEARS AGO.

AND THEN THE FACT THAT WE HAVE LOW BIRTH RATES FOR THE LAST 15-PLUS YEARS MEANS THAT WE'RE NOT GROWING INTERNALLY FROM BIRTHS.

SO THAT LEAVES US RIGHT NOW WITH THIS UNFOLDING, AS BABY BOOMERS ARE RETIRING WITH JUST ALMOST NO GROWTH IN THE WORKFORCE, SO WE NEED TO LOOK INSTEAD TO MIGRATION TO GROW OUR STATE'S WORKER POPULATION.

>> Mary: DO WE KNOW WHAT BRINGS PEOPLE TO OUR STATE?

>> RIGHT NOW, MORE PEOPLE LEAVE THE STATE TO OTHER STATES IN THE U.S. THAN COME.

>> Mary: AND WHERE ARE THEY GOING?

WE'VE HEARD THE SOUTHWEST.

IS THAT AN OVERSIMPLE THIS OCCASION.

>> MOST OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE COMING TO THE STATE OR LEAVING LEAVING THE STATE ARE GOING TO THE STATE STATES THAT BORDER MINNESOTA.

THESE ARE THE STATES THAT WE TEND TO TRADE WITH, WHEN PEOPLE MOVE, THEY MAKE -- THEY TEND TO MAKE SHORT MOVES RATHER THAN PICKING UP AND MOVING ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

OF COURSE THAT HAPPENS.

BUT FOR THE MOST PART, THEY'RE MAKING SMALL MOVES.

>> Mary: SO MAYBE WE'RE STILL SEASONAL SNOW BIRDS, BECAUSE WE CAN'T CHANGE OUR CLIMATE.

>> THERE'S SOME OF THAT TOO.

BUT IN TERMS OF THE MOVEMENT THAT'S IMPACTING THE WORKFORCE, WE'RE REALLY TALKING ABOUT THE 19-YEAR-OLDS, THE 20-YEAR-OLDS, THE 21 YEAR OLDS, THAT ARE MOVING OUT OF STATE, MOSTLY WHEN THEY'RE IN THEIR LATE TEENS, EARLY 20s, GOING TO COLLEGE, FINDING JOB OPPORTUNITIES, FOLLOWING THE LOVE OF THEIR LIFE ACROSS THE COUNTRY, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER IT IS THAT 19 AND 20-YEAR-OLDS DO.

THAT'S WHAT'S REALLY PROPPING UP OUR MIGRATION TRENDS.

>> Mary: AND WHAT'S THE NEXT THING YOU'RE LOOKING FOR?

>> I CONTINUE TO LOOK TO SEE HOW INTERNATIONAL IMMIGRATION WILL CHANGE.

AND AGAIN, HOW THESE MIGRATION TRENDS WILL CHANGE, BECAUSE THAT'S KIND OF THE REAL WILD CARD HERE.

>> Mary: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

APPRECIATE IT.

WELL, THERE ARE DOZENS OF NEW LAWMAKERS IN THE LEGISLATURE.

WE'LL BE INTRODUCING YOU TO THEM ALL SESSION AND WE START TONIGHT WITH SENATOR ZAYNAB MOHAMED.

FIRST QUESTION FOR EVERYONE IS WHY DID YOU WANT TO RUN IN THE FIRST PLACE FOR THIS POSITION?

>> I WANTED TO RUN BECAUSE I WANTED TO SEE WHAT PRESENTATION, AND ID TO THE SEE THE PEOPLE IN OUR STATE TO LOOK LIKE ME REFLENGTED IN OUR BODY.

>> Mary: NOT ONLY ARE YOU COMING IN AS THE YOUNGEST, BUT ALSO YOU GREATER WEIGHT TO BE PART OF NOT YUST THE FIRST PERSON OF COLOR, BUT ONE OF THREE BLACK WOMEN COMING INTO THE SENATE.

IS IT AMAZING TO HAVE SOME FELLOW -- >> YEAH, DAY ONE, WHEN WE LAUNCHED OUR CAMPAIGN, AND I SAID, I HOPE I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE AND I HOPE THERE ARE A FEW MORE COMING IN WITH ME.

>> Mary: AND IT'S GOTTEN ATTENTION.

YOU'VE BEEN IN "TEEN VOGUE."

YOU'RE GETTING A LOT OF HEADLINES, DARE I SAY, IT REMINDS ME A LITTLE BIT OF A STATE LAWMAKER YEARS AGO, A CERTAIN NOW CONGRESSWOMAN WHO GOT A LOT OF IMILAR ATTENTION EARLY ON.

IS CONGRESSWOMAN OMAR A ROLE MODEL FOR YOU?

>> YEAH, I MEAN, CONGRESSWOMAN OMAR IS -- HAS PRETTY SIMILAR EXPERIENCES TO THE MY LIFE AS AN IMMIGRANT, WE COME FROM PRETTY SIMILAR BACKGROUNDS.

BOTH OF US WORKED AT CITY HALL PRIOR TO BEING ELECTED.

AND SHE'S AN INCREDIBLE ROLE MODEL AND SOMEBODY TO LOOK UP TO BECAUSE PRIOR O HER, I NEVER SAW MYSELF IN STATE DPIS.

>> Mary: THE SENATE'S KIND OF AN OLDER BODY.

TALK TO ME ABOUT WHY YOUTH IS IMPORTANT AND WHAT YOU CAN BRING WITH THAT?

>> YOU'RE RIGHT, I MEAN, IT'S A LOT OF OLDER FOLKS AND PEOPLE WHO ARE COMING FROM DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS AND EXPERIENCES AND DIFFERENT CAREERS, AND FOR THE FIRST TIME, THERE IS A YOUNG PERSON, 25-YEAR-OLD, WHO'S GOING IN.

AND, YOU KNOW, THIS MEANS THAT PEOPLE IN OUR STATE, YOUNG PEOPLE, WHO ARE SEEING HE EFFECTS OF OUR POLICY MAKING ARE ABLE TO BE AT THE TABLE AND SAY, THIS IS HOW THIS AFFECTS MY LIFE AS A YOUNGS PERSON.

YOUNG PERSON ARE EXPERIENCING THE EFFECTS OF OUR POLICY MAKING.

MY FAMILY AND I, WE IMMIGRATED FROM SOMALI WHEN I WAS NINE YEARS OLD, AND MY FAMILY MOVED HERE BECAUSE OF THE WAR.

AND THEY WANTED TO MAKE MINNESOTA THEIR HOME.

THEY CAME HERE BACK IN 2007 AND MADE SOUTH MINNEAPOLIS THEIR HOME.

BOTH OF MY PARENTS WORK UNION JOBS.

MY MOTHER ACTUALLY NEVER HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO O SCHOOL, AND SO EDUCATION AS, LIKE, A HUGE THING FOR ME AND MY FAMILY.

YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WHO EMIGRATE HERE, ESPECIALLY FROM SOMALIA, THEY COME HERE FOR BETTER EDUCATION, AND A BETTER LIFE, AND THEY KNOW THE ATHWAY TO BETTER EDUCATION IS A -- Y FATHER WORKED ALMOST THREE JOBS, THEY STILL CAME TO MY SCHOOL CONFERENCES.

THEY COULDN'T SHOW UP TO EVERYTHING BECAUSE THERE WAS NEVER, YOU KNOW, THEY DIDN'T HAVE -- THEY HAD NINE KIDS, WE WERE MOVING AROUND A LOT.

BUT THEY KNOW HOW INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT IT WAS FOR US TO GO TO SCHOOL.

>> Mary: AND IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU LEARNED ABOUT GOVERNMENT AND INTERFACED WITH GOVERNMENT ON THEIR BEHALF.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THAT?

>> I REMEMBER BEING IN SEVENTH GRADE, AND TEACHING MY MOM THE CITIZENSHIP BOOK AND READING TO HER, MAKING HER UNDERSTAND, SO THAT SHE CAN GO IN AND TAKE THE TEST AND HAVING HER MEMORIZE AND GET HER CITIZENSHIP, I WAS THE PERSON WHO WAS THE 13-YEAR-OLD WHO WOULD GO TO THE DOCTOR WITH MY MOM AND TRANSLATE FOR HER.

AND IT WAS SO DIFFICULT TO BE ABLE TO NAVIGATE THESE SYSTEMS.

>> Mary: AND THEN SOME OF YOUR EXPERIENCE, WORK EXPERIENCE, IS THROUGH GOVERNMENT, CORRECT?

>> I WORKED FOR A 26 YEAR OLD COUNCIL MEMBER.

SO AS YOU CAN TELL, YOUNG PEOPLE ARE REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME.

I HELPED MANAGE HIS CAMPAIGN WHEN HE WAS RUNNING.

>> Mary: WE ARE STATISTICALLY STARTING TO SEE YOUNG PEOPLE SHOW UP, GET INVOLVED IN THE PROGRESSION, VOTE.

DO YOU THINK THE SUPREME COURT DECISION WAS A BIG EMPHASIS FOR YOUNGER VOTERS, ESPECIALLY WOMEN VOTERS?

>> YEAH, FOR SURE, SUPREME COURT, ROE V. WADE BEING ONEVERTURNED WAS ONE THING THAT TURNED YOUNG PEOPLE TO NOT ONLY SHOW UP TO THE BALLOT BOX AND VOTE.

YOUNG PEOPLE ARE ALSO TAKING THINGS INTO THEIR OWN HANDS.

I'M TIRED OF WAITING ON PEOPLE TO DO THE RIGHT THING.

AND SO THAT'S PART OF THE REASON WHY I RAN.

I WAS SO TIRED OF WAITING FOR PEOPLE TO DO THE RIGHT THING, TO SHOW UP FOR US YOUNG PEOPLE AFFECTED BY STUDENT DEBT, THEY'RE AFFECTED BY OUR HEALTHCARE SYSTEM, THE HOUSING CRISIS.

>> Mary: WE ARE THE STATE WHERE GEORGE FLOYD WAS MURDERS, AND THE INTERNATIONAL RACIAL RECKONING HAPPENED IN - MINNEAPOLIS.

WHAT MORE WORK DOES OUR STATE AND OUR NATION HAVE TO DO ON RACIAL RECKONING AND INEQUITIES?

>> WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO.

GEORGE FLOYD WAS WHAT SPARKED IT ALL.

BUT PEOPLE HAVE TALKED ABOUT VIOLENCE FROM POLICE OFFICERS FOR LONG BEFORE GEORGE FLOYD.

IF WE LEARNED ANYTHING THESE PAST THREE YEARS, T'S THAT WE DESERVE A PUBLIC SAFETY SYSTEM THAT IS WORKING, THAT'S COMPREHENSIVE, THAT IS ROOTED IN COMMUNITY, THAT'S TRANSPARENT AND ACCOUNTABLE, THAT'S INNOVATIVE AND FUNDED.

AND SO THAT'S WHAT I'M LOOKING TO DO HESE NEXT FEW YEARS IS ACTUALLY CREATE A PUBLIC SAFETY SYSTEM THAT WORKS FOR EVERYBODY.

WHETHER IT'S SOMEBODY IN GREATER MINNESOTA OR SOMEBODY RIGHT HERE IN SOUTH MINNEAPOLIS.

>> DID I READ THAT YOU HAVE A NO 'TIL OPERATION?

>> YES, I DO.

NO 'TIL PRACTICES, CONTOUR STRIPS, COVER CROPS, EROSION CONTROL STRUCTURES, EVERYTHING THAT YOU WOULD WANT TO SEE IN A A WELL-RUN BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES BEING IMPLEMENTED.

THAT'S ALL BEING DONE ON MY FARM.

>> YOU SOUND LIKE AN ENVIRONMENTALIST, BUT YOU ALL YOURSELF A CONSERVATIVE.

>> YOU KNOW, FARMERS ARE THE SOLUTION TO PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT.

AND, YOU KNOW, MANY PEOPLE WANT TO POINT THE FINGER AT THEM AS THOUGH THEY'RE THE PROBLEM.

YOU LOOK AT WHAT GOES ON IN A CITY, THERE'S REALLY NO RESTRICTIONS WHAT THEY CAN PUT ON THEIR LAWN.

CARS ON THE ROADWAY DRIPPING ANTIFREEZE.

WHEN THERE'S A HEAVY RAIN, IT'S LIKE A JUST FLUSH OF THE TOILET INTO THE RIVER.

BUT LET'S LOOK AT EVERYONE.

>> Mary: WELL, THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

WE'LL BE BACK AGAIN NEXT WEEK WITH HOUSE LEADERS LIVE IN THE GALLERY.

AND IF YOU MISSED ANY PART OF TONIGHT'S SHOW, HEAD TO OUR WEBSITE.

THAT IS TPT.ORG/AATC.

DON'T FORGET TO FOLLOW "ALMANAC" ON FACEBOOK AND LOOK FOR SESSION UPDATES AND MORE FROM OUR TEAM ON TWITTER.

AND WHEN THE HOUSE AND SENATE ARE IN SESSION, YOU CAN FOLLOW - FLOOR ACTION, COMMITTEE HEARINGS, PRESS CONFERENCES, AND MUCH MORE ON ON THE PBS STATION YOU'RE WATCHING RIGHT NOW.

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

THEY HAVE A BIG GUEST.

GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA, TIM WALZ WILL JOIN ERIC AND CATHY LIVE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WATCHING THE SHOW TONIGHT.

GOOD NIGHT.

CAPTIONED BY: VERITEXT/PARADIGM CAPTIONING WWW.VERITEXT.COM >> "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.

FLINT HILLS RESOURCES, A LEADING PRODUCER OF THE FUELS MINNESOTANS RELY ON EVERY DAY.

D.A.V.

OF MINNESOTA.

KEEPING OUR PROMISE TO MINNESOTA'S VETERANS.

MINNESOTA LOTTERY.

PLAYING OUR PART BY GENERATING FUNDS FOR MINNESOTA.

IF YOU'RE GAME, JUST SAY "I'MN."

GREAT RIVER ENERGY: PROVIDING WHOLESALE POWER TO 28 MINNESOTA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES, AND THE SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY: A SOVEREIGN TRIBAL NATION IN SCOTT COUNTY.

>> "ALMANAC: AT THE CAPITOL" IS A PRODUCTION OF TWIN CITIES PBS FOR THE STATIONS OF MINNESOTA PUBLIC TELEVISION ASSOCIATION.