Minnesota Citizens for Clean Elections (MnCCE) is a non-partisan, non-profit organization that promotes electoral and government policies which reflect the will of the people and not the power of money.
“We may have democracy, or we may have vast wealth concentrated in the hands of a few, but we can't have both.” - Justice Louis Brandeis
“The practice of democracy is not transferred through the gene pool. It must be taught and learned anew by each generation of citizens.” - Justice Sandra Day O'Connor
You can become a member of Clean Elections MN for only $25 annual dues. And please consider supporting our work with an extra contribution. We are a 501(c)(3), so both dues and contributions are tax-deductible. To pay on line click the "Donate" button. To pay by mail, send a check payable to MnCCE (Minnesota Citizens for Clean Elections), to Treasurer Jim Herrick, 1780 Lake Street, Lauderdale, MN 55113. We thank you for your support!
Tuesday, August 14: Primary Elections (or Vote early)
Whether you consider yourself a Democrat, a Republican, or proponent of another party, now is the time to be thinking about your vote in the primary election for all state offices and US Senate. If you just can't wait for August 14 for any reason, early voting began June 29. You can vote in person early polling center or you can vote by mail. To receive a mailed ballot, visit the "mnvotes" website maintained by the Minnesota Secretary of State.
Clean Elections Releases Results of 2018 Candidate Survey
In June of this year, Clean Elections MN volunteers distributed a three-question survey to roughly 400 candidates running for all state congressional offices, constitutional offices, US Congress, and in the special election for US Senate. Judicial candidates were not included. The survey was distributed by email, US mail, or on the telephone, depending on candidate contact information. Most who did not respond initially were contacted again. We received answers from 136 candidates providing yes/no responses to questions about the advisability of (1) reversing the 2010 SCOTUS decision in Citizens United, (2) providing some level of public financing of political campaigns, and (3) requiring complete transparency for all campaign contributions. The results are available in a Candidate Response Spreadsheet. We hope this well help you in deciding how to vote in the August 14 primary and the general election in November. On July 19, Clean Elections MN sent a press release about the survey to more than 100 news outlets around the state plus our nonprofit allies.
Wednesday, August 22: Dark Money Book Club Meeting
The third round of Dark Money Book Club meetings is well under way. Discussion at the June meeting (6/27) focussed on the May 28 Time magazine cover article, "How My Generation Broke America," by Steven Brill. There is no meeting scheduled for July. More information about reading topics will appear here as available. For more information, contact Mary Morris, hayesmorris@gmail.com.
September 7: Dark Money Showing at Lagoon Theater
Return engagement! This movie about the dire effects for democracy of Citizens United as illustrated by events in the microcosm of Montana politics, was shown as part of the Minneapolis/St. Paul International Film Festival on April 22 and 23, 2018. For once, audience applause in a movie theater was not like the proverbial tree falling in the forest: Director Kimberly Reed was there to hear. It is, indeed, "A densely packed documentary that earnestly and obsessively addresses campaign finance reform, its history, and vital importance." -- Hollywood Reporter. For more information go to https://www.darkmoneyfilm.com/. Click here to View the trailer...
Saturday, September 8: Clean Elections Monthly Meeting
Annastacia Belladonna-Carrera from Common Cause MN will kick off the meeting with a 20-30 minute presentation about gerrymandering, which is sure to be an issue in the next legislative session. Meeting time is 10 a.m., and the place, as before, is the Edina Public Library, 5280 Grandview Square in, of course, Edina. It's just a bit west of Highway 100 and near 50th Street.
Saturday, June 30: Filing Extension - Tax Rally 2018: Read a transcript of George Beck's speech here.
The Tax Day Rally, sponsored by Tax March MN, was originally scheduled to occur on Sunday, April 15 but was canceled because of the late winter storm. The rescheduled rally was held on June 30, 11 AM - 2 PM. In addition to Judge George Beck (Clean Elections Chair) speakers included Richard Painter, Ben Gubits (from American Promise), Angie Craig, Reverend Nancy Nord Bence (Protect MN), and representatives of March for Our Lives and Black Lives Matter. For the contents of George Beck's speech, see cleanelectionsmn.org/2018-tax-day-rally-talk. See also www.taxmarchmn.org.
Make a Difference!
Act now to support an effort in Minnesota to overturn the Supreme Court's disastrous decision in Citizens United. Follow the link to a Clean Elections resolution to present to leaders in your municipality. For more information, contact Jim Herrick, jherrick512@gmail.com.
Saturday, May 5: Clean Elections Monthly Meeting Slide Presentation
Peter Wattson gave an informative and entertaining presentation on partisan gerrymandering at our May meeting. You can review the slides by clicking here.
Watch Jeff Clements's talk about Reclaiming Democracy on MTN
If you missed the talk in February and subsequently on SPNN and MTN's Channel 16, by clicking here you can watch the presentation delivered in February by Jeff Clements, president and co-founder of American Promise and author of Corporations Are Not People. In the St. Paul studio of SPNN in February, Mr Clements explained the need to amend the US Constitution to reverse the effects of Citizens United. American Promise is a cross-partisan network of Americans working to establish the 28th Amendment to the Constitution "to end the tyranny of big money and special interests in our elections and government." An attorney, Jeff has been a partner in a major Boston law firm and has served as Assistant Attorney General and Chief of the public law enforcement bureau in the office of the Attorney General of Massachusetts. Clean Elections Minnesota co-sponsored the event. SPNN broadcast the proceedings; they will also be available on You Tube.