I’ll be heading to the North Star State on Wednesday for a week to take part in the annual festivities, so let’s grab coffee or pitch me stories ideas while I’m in town.

Until then, I’m watching my colleagues at the DNC from afar this time. Today, Rochelle Olson and Glen Stubbe are taking a detour to Milwaukee (site of the RNC) to attend a rally Vice President Kamala Harris and Gov. Tim Walz are headlining. And Walz is set to take the DNC stage to address delegates tomorrow.

MONDAY RECAP: Minnesota political pride was on full display at the state delegates’ first breakfast together, Olson reported.

“This is a moment when we can expect a real sea change in the trajectory of our entire country, because we are going to get to share what we do and why we have the highest voter turnout in the country year after year after year,” Attorney General Keith Ellison told more than 200 Democrats and activists over breakfast.

Meanwhile, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan told Olson she’s misty-eyed seeing Walz, her friend of 20 years enjoy the spotlight.

“When you’re the second in command, your job is to be ready and so often it’s ready for something really tragic and awful,” Flanagan said. “So to be in this moment that is so hopeful and joyful, it’s a very, very different perspective to have but it’s also just so fun to watch him have such a good time on the campaign trail.”

DNC delegates approved a platform on Monday, and the first day of the convention culminated in President Joe Biden’s speech to delegates, you can read about it here.

WHO’S ALL THERE? The DNC has been the place to be and be seen for Minnesota Democrats. All six of the state’s Democrats in Congress are at the DNC this week.

PROTESTS: But while Democrats united around the Harris-Walz ticket Monday, thousands of protesters descended on Chicago to protest the war in Gaza and call for a cease-fire in the conflict. While some protesters remained peaceful, others broke through security fencing and were detained by police.

WALZ’S CHINA TIES: This week, I’ve been following U.S. House Republicans’ probe into Walz’s longtime ties to China, as his past working with the country that has had a shaky relationship with the U.S. has come into focus now that he’s Harris’ vice president pick.

GOP Rep. James Comer of Kentucky, who chairs the House Oversight Committee, called on FBI Director Christopher Wray to investigate Walz’s ties in a letter, asking the agency to provide “all documents and communications in the FBI’s possession” that would shed light on Chinese entities or individuals Walz may have “engaged or partnered” with.

The Oversight Committee chairman argued that Walz’s extensive ties to China “raises questions about possible CCP influence in his decision-making as governor—and, should he be elected, as vice president.”

Walz’s relationship with China began in 1989, when he moved there to teach English as one of the country’s first U.S.-sanctioned educators. He has since visited the country more than 30 times.

He used his experience as an educator in China to influence U.S.-China policy during his six terms in Congress, often as a critic of the country’s human rights abuses.

The FBI told me it received the committee’s letter but declined to comment further.

CD2: Rep. Angie Craig unveiled her first TV ad of the cycle today as one of the country’s most closely watched U.S. House races heats up. In the ad, Craig rides a four wheeler around a farm and touts how she’s “knocked some sense” into Washington by introducing bills to ban members of Congress from buying and trading stocks, pushing to block congressional pay raises and demanding fixes to the local post office.

CANNABIS: More than half of the early social equity applicants vying to be first in line to receive Minnesota cannabis licenses live in other states. Just 802 of the 1,800 pre-applications were from Minnesota, my colleague Brooks Johnson reported.

Social equity applicants can include those convicted of marijuana crimes and their relatives; military veterans; those who lived in areas with high rates of cannabis enforcement and/or poverty; and small farmers.

The preapproval is meant to put those social equity applicants on equal footing with well-funded entrepreneurs who might have an easier time navigating the regulatory process. Those who win the preapproval lottery will be able to go to investors, landlords and local governments with the certainty needed to line up the money and approvals required to start their businesses as the state issues full licenses.

State law doesn’t require applicants to live in Minnesota. All social equity applicants who clear an initial review will have equal treatment in the lottery drawing this fall that will determine who wins the license preapprovals, according to the cannabis office.

WHERE’S WALZ:

The governor once again does not have any official state business planned, but he’s headed to Milwaukee to rally with Harris later in the day and will then head to the DNC in Chicago in the evening, per his campaign schedule.

READING LIST

State warned Minnesota Power about spills before 5-million-gallon coal plant leak, Walker Orenstein reports.
Minnetonka-based Nautical Bowls facing lawsuits, frustrated franchisees, Burl Gilyard reports.
Duluth drive-by shooter tied to death of teen sentenced to 30 years, Christa Lawler reports.

Keep us posted at hotdish@startribune.com.

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