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Capitol Update - Election Results
by Sarah Psick, AGC Legislative Consultant Written November 6, 2024
Voters across the country and in Minnesota headed to the polls yesterday to cast their ballots and while the results are still being counted in some areas, winners have been declared in key races. President Trump will return to the White House, which means that Governor Walz will return to Minnesota. Senator Amy Klobuchar (DFL) won a fourth six-year term, all Minnesota Congressional incumbents won reelection and the only open seat, the 3rd Congressional District, remained in the Democrat column with Kelly Morrison’s victory. 2024 MN election results for president, Congress & more
Minnesota Senate Democrats retained the majority with Ann Johnson Stewart (DFL) defeating Kathleen Fowke (GOP) in the Senate District 45 special election.
Ann Johnson Stewart (DFL) 29,794 (52.43%)
Kathleen Fowke (GOP) 26,969 (47.47%)
However, the DFL trifecta in Minnesota has ended. The Minnesota House currently is tied with Democrats leading in 67 legislative districts and Republicans leading in 67 districts. Going into last night, Republicans needed to flip four DFL held legislative seats to win the majority; they were successful in flipping three districts with seats in the Iron Range (HD 7B), Winona (HD 26A), and St. Peter (HD 18A) moving to the Republican column. House Democrats are currently leading by a very thin margin in HD 14B (St. Cloud) where incumbent Representative Dan Wolgamott leads by 28 votes and in HD 54A (Shakopee) where incumbent Representative Brad Tabke leads by 13 votes. Recounts will occur in these districts before a winner is certified. Minnesota DFL holds state Senate but House appears tied
Open Seats Flipped from DFL to Republican
HD 7B (Iron Range) Cal Warwas (GOP) 13,781 (56.34%
Lorrie Janatopoulos (DFL) 10,655 (43.56%)
HD 26A (Winona) Aaron Repinski (GOP) 12,241 (52.74%)
Sarah Kruger (DFL) 10,916 (47.03%)
HD 18A (St. Peter) Erica Schwartz (GOP) 12,282 (51.59%)
Jeff Brand (DFL) 11,482 (48.23%
DFL Incumbent Victories Subject to Recount
HD 14B (St. Cloud) Dan Wolgamot* (DFL) 9,757 (49.93%
Sue Ek (GOP) 9,729 (49.79%)
HD 54A (Shakopee) Brad Tabke* (DFL) 10,954 (49.95%)
Aaron Paul (GOP) 10,941 (49.89%
UPDATE (11/8/24): Election results have been updated in HD 14B; Representative Dan Wolgamott (D) now leads challenger Sue Ek by 191 votes which is above the automatic recount threshold. State Rep. Wolgamott widens lead in close race after county discovers mail-in ballot tally error | MPR News
What triggers a recount? Minnesota Secretary Of State - Recounts
A tie in the Minnesota House has not occurred since 1979, the Minnesota House Public Information Office has a good article taking a look at that historic legislative session, The year the House was tied, and how the two parties made peace … until they didn’t - Session Daily - Minnesota House of Representatives
Minnesotans overwhelmingly approved the proposed Constitutional Amendment to continue dedicating a portion of lottery proceeds to the environment.
All state general election results can be found at this link, Home - Election Results
As you wait for final results in a few Minnesota House races, you can always check out the audio book “Minnesota Standoff, The Politics of Deadlock” by Rod Searle, the Republican leader in 1979. Minnesota standoff by Rod Searle | Open Library
The 2025 Minnesota legislative session begins on January 14.
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AGC of America Webinar
2024 Election Results: What Construction Companies Should Expect to See Come Out of Washington
In this webinar on November 14 (2:00 pm), AGC of America speakers will provide critical insights into:
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Election Results Breakdown Election Results Breakdown: Understand how the shifts in political power will affect Congress and the White House.
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Workforce and Immigration Reform: Will the new Congress prioritize workforce development, training programs, and employment-based immigration reform?
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Investment in Infrastructure: Will the new Congress pass a highway and transit reauthorization that builds upon the investments made in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act?
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Taxes on Construction Companies: Learn the prospects for extending or modifying key provisions in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and how that could affect your business’s tax planning strategies.
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Regulatory Road Ahead: Will there be a change in course on regulations coming out of agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Labor, and others?
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Learn how much DBE participation credit is calculated for suppliers/distributors/brokers
On Jan. 1, 2025, MnDOT will start counting DBE credit per the updates to the federal regulations. These updates affect the regular dealer category and the new distributor category. Join a training session to learn about applying DBE participation credit and updates to the federal regulations on these categories.
- Learn how to calculate DBE participation credit for suppliers/distributors/brokers
- Understand the updates to the DBE special provisions
- Review the revised Exhibit A form
- Review the (new) USDOT regular dealer affirmation form
Dates and times
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Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024, 9 - 10:30 a.m. Join the Dec. 5 open training session via Microsoft Teams
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Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024, 3 - 4:30 p.m. Join the Dec. 10 open training session via Microsoft Teams
For details on these updates, refer to 49 CFR 26.55(e).
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CHASE Recognition Event
Congratulations to the 57 Construction Health and Safety Excellence (CHASE) contractors who were honored this week at the CHASE Recognition event! We heard an excellent message on safety from Dr. Charlie Cartwright and celebrated the exceptional 1.22 incident rate achieved in 2023 by CHASE contractors, making CHASE jobsites among the safest in Minnesota. View event photos
2024 CHASE Contractors
Adolfson & Peterson Construction
Ames Construction
ArchKey Solutions
Atlas Foundation Company
Belair Sitework Services
Benike Construction
Bituminous Roadways, Inc.
The Boldt Company
C.S. McCrossan
Carl Bolander & Sons
Danny's Construction Company, LLC
Donlar Construction
ECSI
Egan Company
Frattalone Companies, Inc.
Gardner Builders
Gilbert Mechanical Contractors, LLC
Harris
Hunt Electric
Ironmark Building Company
JE Dunn Construction
Kelleher Construction Company
Knutson Construction
Kraemer North America
Kraus-Anderson
Lakehead Constructors, Inc.
LS Black Constructors
Mathiowetz Construction
McNamara Contracting, Inc.
Meyer Contracting LLC
MG McGrath
Minger Construction, Inc.
Minnesota Paving and Materials
Minnesota Utilities & Excavating
Molin Concrete Products
Moltron Builders, Inc.
Mortenson
Muska Companies
Northland Concrete & Masonry
Palmer Soderberg Inc.
Park Construction Company
PCL Construction
Q3 Contracting Inc.
Rachel Contracting
Ramsey Companies
Rice Lake Construction Group
RJM Construction
Rochon Corporation
Ryan Companies US, Inc.
Sellin Brothers, Inc.
Shaw-Lundquist Associates, Inc.
Sowles Company
Ulland Brothers
US SiteWork, Inc.
Veit & Company, Inc.
Vic's Crane & Heavy Haul
Weis Builders
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AGC Safety Committee November Meeting
All AGC members are invited to join the Safety Committee for a meeting at 8:00 a.m. next Thursday, November 14 (in person and online options available), where we'll hear an OSHA update from Nancy Zentgraf, and have a vendor spotlight from VITA Industrial.
Register to attend.
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AGC Form Construction Contracts & BA/TBB Forms
AGC is updating its contracts platform to a more user-friendly system, and new contracts, along with new bargaining authority/To Be Bound forms, will be online next week. Stay tuned for information on how to utilize this member benefit!
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It's Award Season at AGC!
Nominations and applications are open for AGC's many awards honoring both individuals and companies for their commitment to the industry, to safety, to inclusion, and to stellar projects.
Click below to nominate an individual or your company for an award! All awards will be presented at AGC Honors 2025 on February 18.
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Lifetime Achievement and SRI Awards
Nominate an individual who has shown steadfast commitment to the Minnesota construction industry as well as our core values of Skill, Responsibility, and Integrity, for one of these two individual awards!
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Jeff Jensen Memorial Construction Safety Excellence Awards
If 2023 was a great year for safety in your company, it's time to apply for a Jeff Jensen Safety Award, given in three categories based on number of work hours!
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DEI Awards
Whether your company is promoting inclusion on your jobsites, creating an innovative way of increasing diversity, or you are a diverse business that's increasing engagement , AGC wants to celebrate your efforts!
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Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis Survey
The Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis needs your input on current conditions in the construction sector. This survey is critical to understanding the sector, and they are very interested to learn about recent activity, the (early) impact of rate reductions and your outlook for 2025.
Please take this short survey to help everyone better understand business conditions at your company and across the sector.
Why respond? A couple of reasons:
- It provides real-time information to Minneapolis Fed President Neel Kashkari for FOMC meetings (where the Fed decides interest rates and other monetary policy).
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Media also write about survey results, and the Fed covers it on their website.
All responses are anonymous. To maintain anonymity, please do not include any self-identifying information in comments. If you receive this survey from multiple partners, please respond once.
Your input is greatly valued, and the Minneapolis Fed appreciates your time and insights on these important matters.
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Fabyanske Firm Sues to Protect Integrity of Minneapolis Procurements
Protecting public procurement integrity has always been a concern and goal of the Fabyanske, Westra, Hart & Thomson firm. Recently, the firm took on a case pro bono to protest improper procurement and administration of Minneapolis City contracts. The result of the case discussed in this month’s Briefing Paper upheld important procurement principles. Click here to read more.
Dean B. Thomson and Zachary E. Coppola are members of the Fabyanske Westra Hart & Thomson's Construction Law Department. Dean can be reached at 612.359.7624 or DThomson@fwhtlaw.com. Zach can be reached at 612.359.7667 or ZCoppola@fwhtlaw.com.
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Upcoming Rochester Link Bus Rapid Transit Project: Updated Dates
You are invited to participate in a pre-bid open house by the City or Rochester. This event will provide valuable information regarding the initial three bid packages on the Link Bus Rapid Transit project.
Date: Monday, November 18
Time: 3:00PM-5:00PM
Location: Rochester Police Department- North Station (4001 W. River PKWY NW, Rochester MN)
Room: B164 Classroom
Registration is not required, and we highly encourage DBE contractors to attend and ask questions, as member of the City of Rochester team will be present to assist. For further details, please refer to attached flyer.
The schedule is to open bids December 10.
Click here to view the flyer and learn more.
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DIVERSITY, EQUITY, & INCLUSION (DEI) NEWS | |
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From Apprenticeship to Contractor: Lifecycle of a Tradeswoman
In commemoration of National Apprenticeship Week, please join us in exploring the inspiring career journeys of tradeswomen as they progressed from apprentices to leadership roles and beyond. This event will feature insights from tradeswomen at various stages in their careers, including apprentices, journeymen, foremen, project managers, and contractors. Participants will also learn about the importance and good practices of recruiting more women into pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs.
Thursday, November 21, 2024
5:00 – 6:30 PM CT (Virtual via Webex)
REGISTER HERE
Questions? Email: WB-CHI@dol.gov
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3rd Annual Summit on Mental Health in Construction
The Minnesota Construction Coalition for Mental Health & Suicide Prevention is proud to announce our upcoming Annual Summit. The agenda features subject matter
experts discussing how we can plan for and respond to a traumatic injury, mental health crisis, overdose, and suicide in the construction workplace.
7:30am | Registration and Continental Breakfast
8:00am | Welcome & Summit Overview | Rob Dahl, Scott Staffon
8:10am | Crisis Response: What Your Plan May Be Missing | Rob Dahl, Scott Staffon
8:30am | Return to Work, Return to Life: Leadership in Times of Crisis | Bob VandePol
9:30am | Break
9:45am | The Postvention Puzzle: Picking up the Pieces Starts by Being Prepared | Cal Beyer
10:45am | Break
11:00am | Audience Q&A, Polling Questions
11:30am | Stakeholder Commitment to Mental Health in Construction
BACK AGAIN THIS YEAR - Optional Suicide Prevention Training (space is limited so register now!)
Suicide Prevention Training Descriptions:
VitalCog: Construction has one of the highest rates of suicide among all industries. This 90-minute training gives participants the skills and tools to appreciate the critical need for suicide prevention while creating a forum for dialogue and critical thinking about workplace mental health challenges, and by promoting help-seeking and help-giving.
VA SAVE: There are several risk factors that contribute to higher suicide rates among military veterans - an average of 20 veterans die by suicide per day. Veterans also make up nearly 7% of the construction workforce, which has greater risk of suicide compared to all other industries. VA S.A.V.E. Training is a free, in-person course that will help you act with care and compassion if you come across a Veteran who is in crisis or having throughts of suicide.
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Lived Experience Collective Convening
A message from Yolanda McIntosh, keynote speaker and AGC Director of DEI:
Dear fellow survivors and advocates,
I'm hoping you will consider joining me and United Suicide Survivors International on November 19, 2024 in Minneapolis where we will redefine the landscape of suicide prevention and support with the global survivor community!
The Lived Experience Collective Convening (LECC) aims to harness the collective wisdom of those who have lived and living experience with suicide and offers a platform to share stories, strategies, and solutions that transcend the traditional approaches to suicide prevention and grief support. There will be keynote speakers, panels and breakout sessions. View the schedule.
LECC registration has a special bonus this year! It also gets you into opening day of the International Association for Suicide Prevention's (IASP) Pan-American Conference (at the same venue) including their opening ceremony, keynote addresses, and a welcome reception.
Register here - The price goes up on November 6.
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It's Time to Make Mental Health an Industry Priority
Great progress has been made in a short time to increase awareness of the construction industry’s mental health crisis. More recently, the concept of worker wellbeing has emerged, transcending an individualized focus on helping those already in crisis, and instead proactively identifying and working to mitigate the stressors found in our unique industry business model with its inherent demands.
Spearheaded by AGC, the Worker Wellbeing Initiative Strategy Team has embarked on a comprehensive strategy approach that brings together all three industry partner segments (employers, workforce, and project owners) to foster a secure and healthy work environment for all construction industry workers. Engaged and productive dialogue is being focused to identify proactive measures that can reduce industry mental health stressors before they take hold and manifest in crisis outcomes. This holistic approach aims to tackle the mental health crisis that is hindering growth within our industry by prioritizing mental health on parallel with physical safety and wellbeing.
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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & EDUCATION NEWS | |
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Executive Circle is AGC of Minnesota's professional development program serving executive owners, taking them offline and away from working in their business, and redirecting their focus to working on their business.
Six intense modules, delivered over six months, explore various aspects of transformational leadership, including Leadership, Vision, People, Communication, Operations, and Technology. Cross-discipline (building/highway) learning and project partner (general and specialty contractors) perspectives are shared and discussed from a partnering perspective as viewed through the project owner lens.
The ideal Executive Circle candidate is an executive owner or top management decision maker within the business. Learn more about Executive Circle
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AGC Edge: Online Training & Development
AGC Edge is AGC of America's online training platform. AGC of Minnesota members get significant discounts on training programs in Lean Constrution, Building Information Modeling (BIM), Project Management Developer Program (PMDP) and more!
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Registration is open for all of the following events.
Secure your sponsorship or registration before events are sold out!
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Thank You to our 2024 Annual Partners! | |
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Don't Miss These Events!
Register now for these upcoming AGC events:
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Your Trusted Resource
Associated General Contractors of Minnesota
525 Park Street, Suite 110 | St. Paul, MN 55103
651-632-8929
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