Politics Friday Special: Rochester's growth spurt is driving economic, political change
Oct 24, 2025
Show notes
Rochester is changing in many ways. City blocks are filled with construction work zones. Streets are littered with detours. Cranes tower over the skyline as a massive makeover plays out.
Much of it is tied to a major medical expansion associated with the largest employer around — Mayo Clinic.
There have also been political shifts. Rochester is one of the shrinking number of places outside of the Twin Cities-area where Democrats seem to have an upper hand. It wasn’t always that way.
On this special broadcast of Politics Friday, MPR News politics editor Brian Bakst heads to Rochester, where he and his guests talk about what’s behind the spruce-up and where the city’s politics fit in the southeastern part of the state.
Politics Friday in Rochester, Minn.
Plus, we’ll meet a candidate hoping to make his way to Congress from southern Minnesota. He’s an underdog out of the gate.
Then, we’ll get to know more about Molly Castle Work, the newest MPR News reporter based in Rochester, and a special field production. Later, a politics panel with Dana Ferguson and Catharine Richert.
Politics Friday: Voices from Rochester, Minnesota Matt Alvarez, Molly Castle Work, Lukas Levin, and Paton Whaley. On Fridays, MPR News politics editor Brian Bakst discusses Minnesota politics. The show often features a number of voices in a weekly audio postcard. In this special feature, MPR News reporter Molly Castle Work and producer Matt Alvarez ventured out to gauge the economic temperature from Minnesotans in the southeastern part of the state.
Guests:
Kim Norton is the Mayor of Rochester. She became the first woman to be elected Mayor of Rochester in 2018 after a prior stint in the Legislature.
Patrick Seeb is the Destination Medical Center (DMC) Economic Development Agency Executive Director.
Sen. Carla Nelson is a Republican representing the southeastern area of the state, now in her fifth term.
Jake Johnson is a Democrat running for election to the U.S. House of Representatives for Minnesota's 1st Congressional District.
Molly Castle Work is an MPR News reporter based in Rochester. She covers health care in southeast Minnesota.
Dana Ferguson is a political correspondent for MPR News. She has covered Minnesota politics and state government for Forum News Service.
Catharine Richert is a correspondent based in Rochester, where she covers southeast Minnesota for MPR News. She also leads Talking Sense, a reporting project helping Minnesotans have hard conversations about politics, better.
This discussion was recorded at 125 LIVE in Rochester, Minn. on Oct. 21.
Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation or subscribe to the Politics Friday podcast on:Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or RSS.
Politics Friday: St. Paul mayoral candidates lay out their visions for Minnesota's capital city
Oct 17, 2025
Show notes
Three candidates for St. Paul mayor addressed key issues and how they intend to lead the capital city in a MPR News/Pioneer Press debate.
Incumbent Mayor Melvin Carter, DFL state Rep. Kaohly Her and scientist and business owner Yan Chen talked about their plans for addressing economic development, taxes, crime, homelessness and rising city costs.
MPR News politics editor Brian Bakst and Pioneer Press reporter Fred Melo moderated the St. Paul mayoral candidate debate from the UBS Forum in downtown St. Paul.
This event was recorded on Tuesday. Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation, orwatch the video stream of the debate on the MPR News YouTube channel.
Guests:
Melvin Carter is the incumbent mayor for St. Paul. Carter is running for a third term to serve Minnesota’s capital city.
Kaohly Her is a DFL state representative serving St. Paul.
Yan Chen is a scientist and business owner in St. Paul.
Republican Jensen makes another try for Minnesota governor
Oct 10, 2025
Show notes
Former state Sen. Scott Jensen maneuvered his way through a crowded governor’s race field to gain the Republican Party’s backing in 2022. Now, he’s hoping to do it again.
Jensen, a family physician, won the Minnesota Republican Party endorsement in 2022 but lost in November to Gov. Tim Walz by more than 7 percentage points. He says he’s running again to “restore the values, safety and opportunity that once made Minnesota a national model for prosperity and fairness,” he said in July as he announced his latest candidacy.
MPR News politics editor Brian Bakst talked with Jensen about his new campaign.
Then, it’s harvest time. But this season has a lot of Minnesota farmers on edge. Their crop yields are generally strong, but their markets are in question because of global trade tensions.
We’re joined by two MPR News reporters to detail how farmers are coping with trade barriers with China during the tariffs fight.
Guests:
Scott Jensen is a former state senator and family physician and is pursuing the Republican endorsement for Minnesota’s 2026 governor’s race.
Tadeo Ruiz Sandoval is an MPR News reporter based in the Fargo-Moorhead area. He covers the region with a focus on agriculture.
A Minnesota lawmaker with focus on fraud tries to weave through GOP governor field
Oct 03, 2025
Show notes
Minnesota Republicans feel good about their chances in 2026.
They’ve got lots of opportunities to break through on the statewide map — with several key offices on the line. None is more tantalizing than the governor’s office. DFL Gov. Tim Walz is after a third term, and Republicans are out to convince voters he’s worn out his welcome.
One of the candidates working to make that case is GOP state Rep. Kristin Robbins, who has made fraud a campaign focus from her position as chair of the House Committee on Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight.
Rep. Robbins talks with MPR News politics editor Brian Bakst about why she’s running and how she’ll navigate a field of GOP hopefuls.
Later, we’ll get an update on the impending closure of the Stillwater prison from Corrections Commissioner Paul Schnell. His department is under orders to shutter the facility by 2029.
Politics Friday: Walz sounds off on new book, 3rd term bid and a rift with Republicans
Sep 25, 2025
Show notes
Gov. Tim Walz has divided attention these days as his political past, present and future all collide.
A new book offers details of the vice presidential run that turned him into a national figure. Ongoing issues with fraud in government programs and efforts to combat gun violence have him at loggerheads with legislative Republicans. And he’s in the early days of a run for an unprecedented third, four-year term.
Walz talked with MPR News politics editor Brian Bakst about all of it.
Later, a conversation about the state of speech in current times as political leaders, companies and everyday Americans assess the way we communicate.
Guests:
Tim Walz is a second-term Minnesota governor and 2024 Democratic vice presidential candidate.
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