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Debate in Minnesota over responses to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020
These pages were updated from March 2020 through June 2020 and do not contain the latest commentary available. To submit arguments for inclusion on this page, email editor@ballotpedia.org. To learn how Ballotpedia decides which arguments to feature, click here.
Ballotpedia is providing comprehensive coverage of how the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is affecting America's political and civic life. In addition to monitoring federal, state, and local responses to the coronavirus, we are also capturing the nationwide and local debates on whether to extend or lift coronavirus-related restrictions affecting the economy, schools, government operations, public health, religious services, and travel.
These arguments come from a variety of sources, including public officials, journalists, think tanks, economists, scientists, and other stakeholders. We encourage you to share the debates happening in your local community to editor@ballotpedia.org.
This article covers the debate over continuing restrictions and closures in Minnesota in response to the coronavirus pandemic. You will find the following:
- Debate over the stay-at-home order
- Debate over school closures
- Debate over religious service restrictions
- Debate over election policy
- Links to coverage of responses to the coronavirus in Minnesota
Debate over stay-at-home orders in Minnesota
This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on the stay-at-home order in Minnesota.
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Governor Tim Walz (D) (Governing): Governor Tim Walz said Minnesota should not open back up until the state had the ability to test at least 5,000 people every day for coronavirus. He said he was not sure if the goal was achievable by May 4.
"Those who keep asking ‘What’s the plan to reopen?’ The plan to reopen is very clear: test, trace, isolate, open back up. ... We need to get there within the next few weeks." - "Gov. Calls for 5,000 Daily Tests Before Reopening Minnesota," April 13, 2020.
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House Minority Leader Kurt Daudt (R) (Governing): House Minority Leader Kurt Daudt said Gov. Walz's plan was not transparent enough and that the governor needed to to include more decision makers in the process.
"With the state shut down as a result of the Governor’s executive order, Minnesotans deserve greater transparency and input into the process of eventually reopening our economy and getting folks back to work. It should not be up to a few commissioners in Saint Paul to be the sole decision-makers for thousands of businesses and millions of employees." - "Gov. Calls for 5,000 Daily Tests Before Reopening Minnesota," April 13, 2020.
"Minnesota sees no rise in COVID-19 cases tied to protests: Health official" - ABC News, June 22, 2020
"Coronavirus In Minnesota: Protesters Gather Outside Governor’s Residence Protesting Stay-At-Home Order" - CBS Minnesota, April 16, 2020
Additional reading
Debate over school closures in Minnesota
This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on school closures in Minnesota.
We have not yet identified any statements related to this topic or state. To suggest a statement, email us.
Debate over religious service restrictions in Minnesota
This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on religious service restrictions in Minnesota.
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Jason Adkins, executive director of the Minnesota Catholic Conference (Catholic San Francisco): "Decisions about reopening were being made that prioritized economic considerations and material well-being ahead of spiritual well-being. They (state officials) also exhibited a lack of due consideration given to what communities of faith contribute to the well-being of our state. That prompted a sense among some Christian clergy that we needed to be pro-active in offering our own plan for responsible reopening and move it forward." - "Church reopening debate revolves around religious freedom, public safety," May 29, 2020.
Debate over election policy in Minnesota
This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on election policies in Minnesota.
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State Sen. Mary Kiffmeyer (R) (CBS Minnesota): "Thankfully, Minnesota already has one of the most robust no-excuse absentee ballot request processes in the country. I would suggest that Sec. Simon make the application for an absentee ballot available online today instead of waiting until mid-May." - "Coronavirus In Minnesota: Secretary Of State Steve Simon Proposes Bill To Expand Mail-In Voting," April 8, 2020.
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State Rep. Jim Nash (R) (CBS Minnesota): "It does open the door for elections fraud. That’s why we’re going to be strident in making sure this does not move forward like this." - "Coronavirus In Minnesota: Secretary Of State Steve Simon Proposes Bill To Expand Mail-In Voting," April 8, 2020.
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Secretary of State Steve Simon (D) (CBS Minnesota): "Can you blame voters for telling pollsters that they are uncomfortable setting foot in that location? Can you blame election judges for wanting to bail and leave that job, often on short notice, or no notice? Would you advise anyone you know or love to do that job?" - "Coronavirus In Minnesota: Secretary Of State Steve Simon Proposes Bill To Expand Mail-In Voting," April 8, 2020.
"A DFL push to move Minnesota to entirely vote-by-mail is complicating bipartisan efforts around other COVID-related election changes" - MinnPost, April 27, 2020
Additional reading
Click the links below for more on responses to the coronavirus pandemic in Minnesota.
- Changes to election dates and procedures
- Statewide stay-at-home order
- Statewide travel restrictions
- Executive orders
- Officials and candidates diagnosed with or quarantined due to coronavirus
- Enacted legislation
- Legislative session changes
- School closures
- Court closures
- Prison inmate release responses
- Rent, mortgage, eviction, and foreclosure policies
General resources
The chart below shows coronavirus statistics from countries across the world. The information is provided by Real Clear Politics.
Click the links below to explore official resources related to the coronavirus outbreak.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
- National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor
- U.S. Department of Education
- World Health Organization
- Trends in Number of COVID-19 Cases and Deaths in the US Reported to CDC, by State/Territory
- Coronavirus (COVID-19) Vaccinations, Our World in Data (Number of vaccines administered)
- Coronavirus Vaccine Tracker, New York Times (Progress of vaccine trials)
See also
- Ballotpedia: Political responses to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020
- State government responses to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020
- Government official, politician, and candidate deaths, diagnoses, and quarantines due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020-2021
- Changes to ballot measure campaigns, procedures, and policies in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020-2022
- Ballotpedia's elections calendar
Footnotes
