Minnesota Equal Rights Amendment supporters renew push for ballot
Minnesota Equal Rights Amendment supporters say the DFL's sweep of the State Capitol could give them their best shot yet at getting the measure on the ballot. Why it matters: The proposed language would ask voters to add broad protections for gender, race, abortion, national origin and LGBTQ rights to Minnesota's 169-year-old constitution. The big question: Whether backers, who plan to launch their renewed campaign Thursday, can secure the votes in the reshaped Legislature to place the measure on the 2028 ballot. What they're saying: "There's real momentum to finally get this done," DFL state Rep. Leigh Finke, the chief House author, tells Axios. "There's a lot of enthusiasm, and I'm optimistic." Catch up fast: ERA supporters came within what Finke called "a hair's breadth" of passing the measure in 2024, when Democrats last had full control of state government. Disagreements between House and Senate Democrats over the precise language slowed that effort, and boosters ran out of time to get the bill through both chambers before the adjournment deadline. What we're hearing: Supporters say hang-ups over language have largely been resolved. "We are ready to go," DFL state Sen. Mary Kunesh tells Axios. "I think this is the year."
