House Speaker, PAC make appeal for two suburban DFLers

Minnesota House Speaker Paul Thissen, DFL-Minneapolis, is raising money for the Minnesotans United PAC on behalf of two fellow Democrats who voted last session for the bill to legalize same-sex marriage in the state.

Thissen sent a fundraising letter this week, seeking donations for state Rep. Will Morgan, DFL-Burnsville, and Rep. Barb Yarusso, DFL-Shoreview.

“For some of these legislators, this wasn't the easiest vote to cast,” Thissen wrote. “Let's show them we've got their backs!”

The Minnesotans United PAC started raising money in June to help some of the DFL and Republican legislators who were believed to be in for tougher re-election bids after voting for the same-sex marriage bill.  Morgan and Yarusso were not part of that original group, known as the Minnesota 15.

Morgan won his District 56B seat in 2012 by a narrow 170-vote margin. Yarruso’s margin of victory in District 42A was 1,531 votes.

Yarusso, who does not yet have a declared opponent,  said she was not sure why she was included in the letter. She said it's hard to predict what kind impact the issue might have in her district next November.

"I know that there will be a few people that might not vote for me because of it, but I don't know if that's enough people to make a difference in the election," Yarusso said. "And I don't know if those are people who didn't vote for me to begin with."

Create a More Connected Minnesota

MPR News is your trusted resource for the news you need. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.