Summary: The election year clock is already ticking for new Minnesota Sen. Tina Smith. She has less than 10 Months to raise maybe as much as $20 million for the 2018 election. Meanwhile, Republican State Sen. Karin Housley held a campaign rally in Stillwater on Saturday. That will start to turn up the heat on Smith, who has to run both a campaign and fulfill her duties in Washington. Meanwhile, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and a new City Council were publicly sworn into office last week. It's one of the most diverse group of elected officials in the city's history. Nearly half of the Council is new and two members are transgender. The public ceremony ushered in what city leadership believes will be a time of unity and progress. After the inauguration, council elections were held. Ward 10 Council Member Lisa Bender was elected president. She replaces longtime City Council member and president Barb Johnson. New Ward 8 Council Member Andrea Jenkins was elected vice president. Of note, both of those votes were unanimous.
