Esme Murphy reacts to this week’s primaries, progressives and GOP!
Showing mention at 1:18 — highlighted below
Transcript
18 segmentsSo many themes coming out of what happened on Tuesday, how voters decided. Certainly, you got fired up voters in Minnesota breaking records. Joining us now on the John Schuster-Coldwell banker hotline is Esmey Murphy from WCCO TV. One of the first and foremost, the themes that really comes from Tuesday is progressives have got to be pretty happy. Progressive has got to be pretty happy. I think Republicans are also very happy. It's so interesting because neither of the endorsed candidates for Senate or governor for the Republican Party won, but yet Republicans are really enthusiastic about Michelle Tafoya and also Lisa Davis. But you're right. Progressives really did ride a wave. And I think the bottom line, I didn't see... It was a landslide victory for Peggy Flanagan. I didn't think it was going to be that big. I mean, a lot of people thought she could win. But I think in the end, really, it was just a statement against Operation Metro Surge. And that didn't cut just for liberal Democrats in the Twin Cities. I think people across the state really didn't like what they saw. And that was their message. Okay. Let's expound on a couple of the things that you said. So let's talk about Metro Surge. You know, Angie Craig was against it as well, went to some of these detention centers. Yet her vote on Lake and Riley, do you think that ultimately, even though she said she regretted it, was part of the reason or part of the reason, you know, people said they didn't want to vote for her progressives particularly is because of sometimes she did vote with Trump? I think it was the Lake and Wiley vote. And it was the vote and then what people saw with their eyes. And I think it's just... I think, you know, when you live in the Twin Cities, you think, you know, we focus on that. Even, you know, me and the news media, but really there were so many stories that we did out all around the state, little restaurants where people, you know, agents went to eat lunch and then returned and arrested people. I think people were just very, very upset. I think it really cut deeply into Minnesotan's sense of self. and decency. I think people were very, clearly, very, very profoundly upset about it. And I think it dug a lot deeper than many of us realized. I didn't see that coming, but I think that was it. I really do. Well, and then it seems like Peggy Flanagan and her camp in the DFL, all the endorsed candidates, did a better job of really capitalizing on that to some degree. Right. Right. And I think, you know, it's interesting when you look at what happened in Wisconsin with Francesca Hong losing. I think you look at Peggy Flanagan, and she had people like Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren coming here repeatedly saying vote for Peggy Flanagan. And I think that helped too. But I think in the end, it was, you got to give her credit. I mean, obviously people found her the appealing candidate.
They liked her votes. They overlooked any kind of record of fraud that had happened in the Walls, Flanagan administration. And I think they found her a very appealing, positive candidate. And, you know, kudos to her. It was quite a whim. That's a Amy Klobuchar like win, 20 points. Yeah, seriously. Okay, let's get back to the Republicans. You say who are her happy. Yes, the endorsed candidates didn't win, but many Republicans in the state are happy about who will be representing their ticket. And the word is electability. You hear that over and over again, and it seems like this Republican group of voters here in this state are hungry. I mean, they are. They want statewide office. They want someone who can get elected. They do, and I think this is probably their best chance of it, but they really went for two women who are polished, articulate, smart, accomplished. And that's what they went for. And I think it's a real message to the Republican Party. I mean, Republicans across the state kind of said no to the MAGA establishment, said no to their own party. They went with people who they think could win exactly as you said. And I think these are going to be two very fierce, fierce elections. Even in the governor's race, you know, Senator Amy Klobuchar has had such landslide wins. in her Senate races, but really she's run against very weak candidates, in part because so many Republicans are scared to run against her. Right. But, you know, I think it's going to be really interesting to see. Well, and that's one of the things I asked Senator Amy Klobuchar's. You know, how do you not go into this with this feeling like you are the Goliath? You're just going to stomp your competition. But you have to, you cannot count Lisa Demuth out because her rise in politics has been pretty remarkable as me. You know, starting off at the school board, moving her way up. Now, Madam Speaker, you know, she's the House Speaker. You know, it's just amazing how quickly she has coalesced people to have her as a leader and people like her. People really like her. And, you know, I heard your interview with her. I mean, she's... She's a very likable person. I mean, you know, it's very difficult not to like her. I think her rise has been remarkable. And I, but I don't think, just like you can't take Lisa Damis for granted, you cannot take Amy Klobuchar for granted. Way, way, way back in the day, Amy Klobuchar was running against Patty Wetterland. You know, and I thought, well, geez, Patty Wetterling probably when, you know, beat Amy Klobuchar. But. She didn't, and I remember somebody in her office who works with Victims' Advocate, said, don't underestimate Amy Klobuchar, because really, you know, there was a time when she was considered the daughter of a very famous and well-known columnist, Jim Amy Klobuchar. You know, that was back in the day, but she's not taking this for granted. There's no way. I mean, and this will be a fight. I mean, this will be really, really interesting.
to see. And it's exciting that a woman will be governor of Minnesota. I mean, come on. It's taken this long. I mean, hello, Minnesota. What has been going on? What do you got coming up on Sunday? Well, we've got Michelle Tafoya coming in. So that'll be really interesting. I'm excited to talk to her. I've not really done an interview with her since she's announced her run percentage. So that was quite a victory, too. I mean, kudos to her. So we'll talk to her as well. That'll be interesting. And you worked with her because you've been there. Absolutely. Yeah, yeah. So that's interesting. Right. All right. Asmay, we'll be watching. Thanks so much. Okay. Take care, Anita. Bye-bye. Esmey Murphy, WCCO TV.