Posts Published by Michael Brodkorb

TBR – Emmer, Trump, and the MNGOP

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In the lasted episode of The Brodkorb Report, Becky Alery and I discuss the election of Minnesota 6th District Congressman Tom Emmer to serve as House Republican Majority Whip for the 118th Congress. We next have a lively talk about the announcement by former President Trump that he will run for president again in 2022.

The subject of the future of the Republican Party of Minnesota led to a vibrant debate. Becky and I closed this episode by discussing future guests on the program and requesting that listeners of the show offer suggestions. Links to subscribe to The Brodkorb Report are available below.

Please listen to the latest episode and let me know your thoughts!

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TBR – Election Recap

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In the latest episode of The Brodkorb Report, Becky Alery and I discuss the results of the 2022 elections. Becky gives her blunt assessment of the possibility of former President Donald Trump running for president in 2024. The Brodkorb Report will be available in the coming weeks on all podcast platforms.

Please listen to the latest episode below and let me know your thoughts!

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The political malpractice of the 2022 election

on by Michael Brodkorb Share

If you followed my analysis and commentary on Twitter during the election cycle, you know I’ve had many strong opinions about what I thought was going right and what I thought went wrong.

Let me begin with a reminder that I endorsed DFL-incumbent Governor Tim Walz, DFL-incumbent Secretary of State Steve Simon, Republican challenger Jim Schultz for attorney general, and Republican challenger Ryan Wilson for state auditor. In each of my posts, I explained why I endorsed these candidates.

As in previous elections this past decade, I voted for a split ticket. I still consider myself a Republican, but I think of myself as “politically homeless” because I don’t feel at home or even comfortable inside the Republican Party of today. My evolution in voting has created friction and tension between myself and my more partisan Republican friends.

I don’t vote based on party labels but on the candidate’s qualities. Unlike my past voting behavior, which was robotic and partisan, I have spent the last decade taking a more thoughtful and deliberative approach to voting.

I am not paid for my analysis and commentary, and whom I decide to vote for is based on several factors, but again, the party label is not the top factor. I do not believe that people were influenced by my endorsements or by which candidate earned my vote. Again, explaining how I voted will add more depth to my analysis and commentary. People will be able to compare my votes with my take on politics. I have opinions and beliefs, and rather than foolishly submitting a blank ballot or hiding how I vote, I am choosing to be transparent and honest.

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In the news: Breaking up with Trump

on by Michael Brodkorb Share

I spoke to Politico about the need for Republicans to move past Donald Trump and how Republicans have made this difficult.

Trump has survived bad election nights before, often by denying the results themselves. He still has not conceded his own loss in 2020 to Joe Biden — a denialism that has reached many elected officials in his party. On Tuesday night and into Wednesday morning, a similar wave of election conspiracy theorizing erupted online to dismiss the idea that the midterms had been any sort of repudiation of Trump, let alone a lackluster night for Republicans.

In part, for this reason, some GOP operatives argued, it would remain difficult to imagine Trump being dethroned any time soon as the party’s kingmaker.

“It’s like telling your kid they need to go clean their room, and they deny the room exists,” explained Michael Brodkorb, a former deputy chair of the Minnesota Republican Party.

“Donald Trump should be politically dead. They should recognize that,” he said. “But of course, they won’t … That’s the beauty of not living in the real world.”

Click here to read the complete story from Politico.

Why I am voting for Jim Schultz for AG

on by Michael Brodkorb Share

As I noted in a previous post, I am disclosing how I will vote in statewide races because I want to add context to my analysis and commentary. Over the last decade, I’ve offered detailed analysis and commentary on Minnesota politics while casting my vote in the voting booth’s privacy. I’ve voted for a split ticket in past elections, and I did today.

I am not paid for my analysis and commentary, and who I decide to vote for is based on several factors, but again, the party label is not the top factor. I have no expectation that people will be influenced by my endorsements or by which candidate earns my vote. Again, explaining how I vote will add more depth to my analysis and commentary. People will be able to compare my votes with my take on politics.

In the race for attorney general between DFL-incumbent Keith Ellison and Republican Jim Schultz, I voted on Election Day for Jim Schultz.

Schultz was the only Republican candidate I voted for in the Republican Primary in August, which I publicly disclosed on Twitter. He was the first candidate I endorsed.

I know there is a public debate about the attorney general’s role in Minnesota. This debate has shaped how people may cast their votes.

I believe the attorney general has a leadership role in addressing Minnesota’s growing public safety problem. Crime and public safety are among my top issues this election cycle, and Schultz earned my vote because of his focus on building the coalitions needed to tackle this problem.

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Welcome to ‘The Brodkorb Report’ Podcast

on by Michael Brodkorb Share
I am excited to announce the start of a new podcast that I’m hosting with Becky Alery and is moderated by Todd Walker. I hope you’ll listen to the premiere episode. The Brodkorb Report will be available in the coming weeks on all podcast platforms.
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The Brodkorb Report is a new podcast offering a unique insight into politics, policies, and news of the day. Injecting humor, personal stories, and blunt analysis of the political environment – all with a refreshing and entertaining perspective. While I’m no stranger to sharing my analysis and commentary about politics on both sides of the aisle, Becky Alery has spent the last decade behind the scenes and will be taking a new opportunity to share a fresh view of things – and serve as the podcast’s co-host.
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Please listen to the premiere episode below and let me know your thoughts!
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Why I am voting for Ryan Wilson for Auditor

on by Michael Brodkorb Share

I am a Republican, but as I detailed in my endorsement of Governor Tim Walz, I would describe myself as “politically homeless” because I don’t feel at home or even comfortable inside the Republican Party of today.

I also noted that I don’t vote based on party labels but rather on the candidate’s qualities. Unlike my past voting behavior, which was robotic and partisan, I have spent the last decade taking a more thoughtful and deliberative approach to voting.

My evolution in voting has created friction and tension between myself and my more partisan Republican friends. This tension and frustration were fully displayed after I published my endorsement of Governor Tim Walz or Secretary of State Steve Simon, but I firmly stand by my decision.

I am disclosing how I will vote in statewide races because I want to add context to my analysis and commentary. Over the last decade, I’ve offered detailed analysis and commentary on Minnesota politics while casting my vote in the voting booth’s privacy. As I noted previously, I’ve voted for a split ticket.

I am not paid for my analysis and commentary, and who I decide to vote for is based on several factors, but again, the party label is not the top factor. I have no expectation that people will be influenced by my endorsements or by which candidate earns my vote. Again, explaining how I vote will add more depth to my analysis and commentary. People will be able to compare my votes with my take on politics.

In the race for state auditor between DFL-incumbent Julie Blaha and Republican Ryan Wilson, I will vote on Election Day for Ryan Wilson.

I have never seen Ryan Wilson or Julie Blaha speak in public or met either of the candidates. I started following the race for state auditor more closely in late September.

I’ve been impressed by Wilson’s campaign – specifically, Wilson’s focus on issues relevant to the role of state auditor. Unlike other Republican candidates for statewide office, Wilson hasn’t been tripped up or sidelined by distractions.

Let me offer a few examples.

Wilson has been clear that the 2020 election was fair and that Joe Biden is the duly elected President of the United States. It’s refreshing to see a Republican candidate for statewide not using their platform to regurgitate misinformation about the 2020 election.

Abortion has become an essential issue in numerous statewide campaigns, especially in the race for governor. Wilson has wisely stayed away from allowing the politics of abortion to enter the race for state auditor. Wilson told the Sahan Journal, “it’s really not a part of our race.”

As I watched the race for state auditor unfold over the election’s final weeks, I was dismayed by Blaha’s insistence that she had no leadership role or responsibility in the ongoing scandal involving Feeding Our Future. Wilson has made it clear that he views this issue as within the accountability and oversight of the state auditor.

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