Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party

During the 1930s, the Farmer–Labor Party had gained traction with radical platforms that challenged economic and social inequalities, backed by Governor Floyd B. Olson. However, by 1938, the party's influence waned due to internal conflicts and accusations of incompetence and corruption, leading to a loss in gubernatorial elections.

On April 15, 1944, the Farmer–Labor Party merged with the Minnesota Democratic Party, forming the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL).{{Cite news |newspaper=The Minneapolis Star (Minneapolis, Minnesota) |date=April 15, 1944 |page=Saturday Page 1 |title=Democrats, F-L, Complete Fusion}} Leading the merger effort were Elmer Kelm, the head of the Minnesota Democratic Party and the founding chairman of the DFL; Elmer Benson, effectively the head of the Farmer–Labor Party by virtue of his leadership of its dominant left-wing faction; and rising star Hubert H. Humphrey, who chaired the Fusion Committee that accomplished the union and then went on to chair its first state convention."DEMOCRATIC-FARMER-LABOR PARTY." n.d. Minnesota Historical Society. Accessed May 26, 2023. http://www2.mnhs.org/library/findaids/00586.xml . This merger marked a pivotal shift influenced by academic liberals at the University of Minnesota who advocated for integrating the New Deal's progressive reforms within a more centralized, managerial political framework, transitioning from the movement-oriented politics of the Farmer-Labor party to a structure that emphasized interest-group pluralism.

During the post-war years, the DFL confronted various social issues, including antisemitism, which reflected broader national conversations about race and ethnicity. The DFL also navigated with its stance on civil rights and economic justice, influenced significantly by Minnesota's small but politically active African American communities. In early 1946, as a Fair Employment Practice (FEPC) bill was moving through Congress, there was a surge of civil rights activism in the Twin Cities.{{cite journal |last=Kortenhof |first=Kurt |date=2022-07-07 |title=Searching for Bright Sunshine: The Civil Rights and Black Power Movements – 1945-1975 |url=https://mlpp.pressbooks.pub/mnhist/chapter/searching-for-bright-sunshine-the-civil-rights-and-black-power-movements-1945-1975/ |access-date=2024-08-07 |website=Minnesota Libraries Publishing Project}}

Factional battles were intensified by differing views on how to address the left-wing influence within the party, with significant conflicts between proponents of Henry A. Wallace's progressive policies and the more moderate wing led by figures like Hubert Humphrey. By the party's second convention in 1946, tensions had re-emerged between members of the two former parties. While the majority of delegates supported left-wing policies, Humphrey managed to install a more conservative, anti-communist ally, Orville Freeman, as party secretary.{{Cite journal |last=Mitau |first=G. Theodore |date=1955 |title=The Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party Schism of 1948 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/20175887 |journal=Minnesota History |volume=34 |issue=5 |pages=187–194 |jstor=20175887 |issn=0026-5497}} Some disaffected Farmer–Labor leaders such as Benson moved to the Progressive Party.{{cite news|last1=Nathanson|first1=Iric|date=February 26, 2016|title=The caucus that changed history: 1948's battle for control of the DFL|publisher=Minnesota Post|url=https://www.minnpost.com/politics-policy/2016/02/caucus-changed-history-1948s-battle-control-dfl/}} Freeman was elected the state's first DFL governor in 1954. Important members of the party have included Humphrey and Walter Mondale, who each went on to be United States senators, vice presidents of the United States, and unsuccessful Democratic nominees for president; Eugene McCarthy, a U.S. senator who ran for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1968 as an anti-Vietnam War candidate; Paul Wellstone, a U.S. senator from 1991 to 2002 who became an icon of populist progressivism;{{cite web |author=Loughlin, Sean |date=October 25, 2002 |title=Wellstone Made Mark as a Liberal Champion |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2002/ALLPOLITICS/10/25/elec02.mn.s.wellstone.obit/ |access-date=June 23, 2014 |publisher=CNN}} Amy Klobuchar, a U.S. senator who ran for the Democratic nomination for president in 2020;{{cite web |last1=Smith |first1=Allan |title=Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar announces run for president |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-election/democratic-sen-amy-klobuchar-announces-run-president-n969796 |publisher=NBC News |access-date=30 September 2024 |date=10 February 2024}} Dean Phillips, a U.S. representative who ran for the Democratic nomination for president in 2024;{{cite web |last1=John |first1=Arit |last2=McKend |first2=Eva |last3=Pellish |first3=Aaron |title=House Democrat Dean Phillips launches primary challenge against President Biden |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/10/26/politics/dean-phillips-presidential-campaign-launch/index.html |publisher=CNN |access-date=30 September 2024 |date=27 October 2023}} and Tim Walz, two-term governor chosen as Kamala Harris' running mate in the 2024 presidential election.{{Cite news |last=Epstein |first=Reid J. |date=2024-08-06 |title=Tim Walz Is Kamala Harris's Choice for Vice President: Live Election Updates |url=https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/08/06/us/kamala-harris-vp-trump-election |access-date=2024-08-06 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}} The DFL has had varied success beginning in the late 1970s and through the late 2010s, in part due to the growth of single-issue splinter groups after reforms brought by the national party.

Following the 2022 Minnesota elections, the DFL became the dominant party in the state, retaining every executive office, winning majorities in the state House and Senate, and re-electing all incumbent congressional representatives. With their newly elected trifecta, the DFL pursued a progressive agenda in their first legislative session. Governor Tim Walz described the session as "the most successful legislative session, certainly in many of our lifetimes and maybe in Minnesota history."{{Cite web |date=2023-05-23 |title='Transformational' and also 'bonkers:' Minnesota Legislature ends big session |url=https://www.minnpost.com/state-government/2023/05/transformational-and-also-bonkers-minnesota-legislature-ends-its-session-of-historic-spending-policy-changes/ |access-date=2023-05-26 |website=MinnPost |language=en-US}} The newly elected government passed large expansions in welfare programs and spending. Notable policies passed include the expansion of abortion rights, new programs to provide reproductive healthcare, protection of gender affirming care,{{Cite web |date=2023-04-27 |title="It's a good day for freedoms": Walz signs bills on reproductive freedom and trans refuge, ban on conversion therapy |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/its-a-good-day-for-freedoms-walz-signs-bills-on-reproductive-freedom-and-trans-refuge-ban-on-conversion-therapy/ |access-date=2023-05-26 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}} the legalization of recreational cannabis, indexing education spending to inflation, investments in public transit, and paid sick leave for Minnesota workers.{{Cite web |date=2023-05-26 |title=Weed, abortion, paid leave, rebates and taxes: A look at what MN lawmakers got done this year |url=https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/minnesota/weed-abortion-paid-leave-rebates-and-taxes-a-look-at-what-mn-lawmakers-got-done-this-year |access-date=2023-05-26 |website=Duluth News Tribune |language=en}} Former president Barack Obama praised the state government's actions, saying that "Minnesota has made progress on a whole host of issues – from protecting abortion rights and new gun safety measures to expanding access to the ballot and reducing child poverty. These laws will make a real difference in the lives of Minnesotans."{{Cite web |last=Turtinen |first=Melissa |date=2023-05-26 |title=Barack Obama tweeted about Minnesota as reason you should vote |url=https://www.fox9.com/news/barack-obama-tweeted-about-minnesota-citing-reason-why-you-should-vote |access-date=2023-05-26 |website=FOX 9 |language=en-US}}

File:MinnesotaDFLconvention2006-06-08.JPG of the 2006 state convention]]

The DFL is governed by a state central committee, which is composed of representatives from each of the state's congressional districts. The state central committee is responsible for setting the party's platform, electing party officers, and conducting other party business. The DFL also has a constitution and bylaws that govern its operations.

The party operates several community caucuses that organize and represent different communities within Minnesota; they not defined geographically.{{Cite web |title=Community Caucuses and Outreach Organizations |url=https://dfl.org/communitycaucus/ |access-date=2024-05-06 |website=DFL Minnesota |language=en-US}} These include the:

• African American Caucus, which organizes African Americans.
• Asian Pacific American Caucus, which organizes Asian Americans and Pacific Islander Americans.
• Disability Caucus, which advocates for Minnesotans with disabilities.
• Environmental Caucus, which advocates for environmental protection and sustainability.
• Feminist Caucus, which advocates for feminist and women's issues.
• Hmong American Caucus, which organizes Hmong Americans, the largest Asian American group in Minnesota.
• Latino Caucus (Spanish: Movimiento) which organizes Latino Americans.
• Minnesota Young DFL, which organizes young people.
• Muslim Caucus, which organizes Muslims, who make up between 1–2% of the state.{{cite web |last=Masadde |first=Mohmud |date=2016-06-21 |title=Large Muslim Community in Minnesota Observes Ramadan |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/large-muslim-community-in-minnesota-observes-ramadan/3384969.html |access-date=2024-05-06 |website=Voice of America}}
• Native People's Caucus, which organizes and supports Native Americans and tribal communities.
• Progressive Caucus, which advocates for progressive policies and opposes "corporate money in politics".
• Rural Caucus, which supports the state's rural communities.
• Senior Caucus, which advocates for the interests of senior citizens.
• Somali American Caucus, which organizes Somali Americans, who make up over 1% of the state's population.{{cite web |date=2019-07-23 |title=What Is The History Behind Minnesota's Somali-American Community? |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/minnesota-somali-american-population-good-question/ |access-date=2024-05-06 |website=CBS Minnesota}}
• Stonewall DFL, which organizes LGBTQ+ Minnesotans.
• Veterans Caucus, which organizes veterans and their families.

The DFL's base of support is diverse, and it includes urban and suburban voters, working class voters, labor unions, environmentalists, and other progressive groups.{{cite web |last=Orrick |first=Dave |date=2018-11-07 |title=This map shows the DFL dominated the suburbs. How'd they do it? |url=https://www.twincities.com/2018/11/07/this-map-shows-the-dfl-dominated-the-suburbs-big-time-howd-they-do-it/ |access-date=2024-05-06 |website=Twin Cities}} The party has a strong presence in the Twin Cities metropolitan area.{{cite web |last=Orenstein |first=Walker |date=2023-06-16 |title=The DFL's legislative majority is concentrated in the Twin Cities metro. In a consequential session, what did that mean for Greater Minnesota? |url=https://www.minnpost.com/greater-minnesota/2023/06/the-dfls-legislative-majority-is-concentrated-in-the-twin-cities-metro-in-a-consequential-session-what-did-that-mean-for-greater-minnesota/ |access-date=2024-05-06 |website=MinnPost}} The DFL has lost support in traditional DFL strongholds such as the Iron Range since 2016.{{Cite web |last=Orenstein |first=Walker |date=2022-10-11 |title=Will the Iron Range finally go red? Control of Legislature could hinge on 7 seats in northeastern Minnesota |url=http://www.minnpost.com/elections/2022/10/will-the-iron-range-finally-go-red-control-of-legislature-could-hinge-on-7-seats-in-northeastern-minnesota/ |access-date=2024-05-06 |website=MinnPost |language=en-US}}

• Senior senator: Amy Klobuchar (since 2007)
• Junior senator: Tina Smith (since 2018)

Out of the eight seats Minnesota is apportioned in the U.S. House of Representatives, four are held by members of the DFL.

• 2nd district: Angie Craig (since 2019)
• 3rd district: Kelly Morrison (since 2025)
• 4th district: Betty McCollum (since 2001)
• 5th district: Ilhan Omar (since 2019)

• Governor: Tim Walz (since 2019)
• Lieutenant Governor: {{Sortname|last=Flanagan|first=Peggy}} (since 2019)
• Secretary of State: Steve Simon (since 2015)
• State Auditor: {{Sortname|last=Blaha|first=Julie}} (since 2019)
• Attorney General: {{Sortname|last=Ellison|first=Keith}} (since 2019)

• President of the Senate: Bobby Joe Champion (since 2023)
• Senate majority leader: Erin Murphy (since 2023)
• House speaker: Melissa Hortman (since 2019)
• House majority leader: Jamie Long (since 2023)

• Minneapolis (list): Jacob Frey (since 2018) (1)
• Saint Paul (list): Melvin Carter (since 2018) (2)
• Duluth (list): Roger Reinert (since 2024) (5)

File:The Minnesota DFL Booth at the Minnesota State Fair (53956129681).jpg]]

• Chair: Richard Carlbom (since 2025){{cite news |author1=MPR News Staff |title=Richard Carlbom ascends to top role at Minnesota DFL Party as its first new chair in 14 years |url=https://www.mprnews.org/story/2025/03/29/richard-carlbom-ascends-to-top-role-at-minnesota-dfl-party |access-date=March 29, 2025 |work=Minnesota Public Radio |date=March 29, 2025}}
• Vice chair: Marge Hoffa (since 2011)
• Second vice chair: Shivanthi Sathanandan (since 2021)
• Treasurer: Lindy Sowmick (since 2025)
• Secretary: Ceri Everett (since 2021)
• Outreach officer: Quentin Wathum-Ocama (since 2025)

Through 1975, the party's constitution called for the election of a separate chairman and chairwoman to head state party activities. Only the chairman received compensation. In the mid-1970s, the party voted to change the titles of the chief party offices to chair and associate chair, specifying that they must both be salaried and must be of the opposite sex.

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• Elmer Kelm (1944–1946)
• Harold Barker (1946–1948)
• Orville Freeman (1948–1950)
• Karl Rolvaag (1950–1954)
• Ray Hemenway (1954–1960)
• Adrian Winkel (1960–1961)
• George Farr (1961–1967)
• Warren Spannaus (1967–1969)
• Richard Moe (1969–1972)
• Hank Fischer (1972–1975)

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• Ione Hunt (1948–1950)
• Dorothy Jacobson (1950–1956)
• Anne Vetter (1956–1958)
• Geri Joseph (1958–1960)
• Evelyn Malone (1960–1962)
• Pat St. Angelo (1962–1963)
• Betty Kane (1963–1968)
• Koryne Horbal (1968–1972)

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• Koryne Horbal (1968–1977)
• Claire Rumpel (1978–1979)
• Mike Hatch (1980–1983)
• Mary Monahan (1983–1985)
• Ruth Stanoch (1985–1989)
• Todd Otis (1990–1993)
• Rick Stafford (1993–1995)
• Mark Andrew (1995–1997)
• Richard Senese (1997–1999)
• Mike Erlandson (1999–2005)
• Brian Melendez (2005–2011)
• Ken Martin (2011–2025)
• Richard Carlbom (2025-present)

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{{See also|Governor of Minnesota}}

{{Portal|United States|Politics}}

• List of political parties in Minnesota
• Political party strength in Minnesota
• Politics of Minnesota

{{Reflist}}

• Delton, Jennifer A. Making Minnesota Liberal: Civil Rights and the Transformation of the Democratic Party. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 2002.
• Haynes, John Earl. "Farm Coops and the Election of Hubert Humphrey to the Senate". Agricultural History 57, no. 2 (Fall 1983).
• Haynes, John Earl. Dubious Alliance: The Making of Minnesota's DFL Party. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 1984.
• Henrickson, Gary P. Minnesota in the "McCarthy" Period: 1946–1954. Ph.D. diss. University of Minnesota, 1981.
• Lebedoff, David. The 21st Ballot: A Political Party Struggle in Minnesota. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 1969.
• Lebedoff, David. Ward Number Six. New York: Scribner, 1972. Discusses the entry of radicals into the DFL party in 1968.
• {{cite journal|last1=Mitau|first1= G. Theodore|title=The Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party Schism of 1948|journal=Minnesota History|volume= 34|issue=5|date=Spring 1955|jstor=20175887|url=http://collections.mnhs.org/MNHistoryMagazine/articles/34/v34i05p187-194.pdf|pages=187–194}}

{{Commons category|Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party}}

• {{Official website|https://dfl.org/}}

{{MinnesotaPoliticalParties}}

{{U.S. Democratic Party state parties}}

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Category:Democratic Party (United States) by state

Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party

Category:Political parties established in 1944

Category:1944 establishments in Minnesota