>> ERIC: RECORD SPENDING IS SURGING INTO THE STATE IN THE PRIMARY ELECTION THAT'S UNUSUALLY COMPETITIVE FOR DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS.

POLITICAL REPORTER MARY LAHAMMER HAS SOME CONTEXT ON WHY THIS YEAR COULD BE DIFFERENT.

>> WELCOME TO "ALMANAC" AFTER HOURS, TRIVIA EDITION!

[ Cheers and applause ] VERY EXCITING.

>> Mary: PEOPLE WHO PARTICIPATE IN TRIVIA AND POLITICS PACKED A BREWERY ON A PERFECT SUMMER NIGHT, EAGER TO TALK ABOUT MINNESOTA'S UPCOMING PRIMARY ELECTION.

>> I THINK THAT REPUBLICANS REALLY HOPE THAT PEGGY FLANAGAN -- >> GO CRAZY, PUNCH A HIGHER FLOOR ... >> Mary: DEMOCRATS ARE DOMINATING THE NEW CYCLE HERE, AS A THOUSAND PEOPLE SHOWED UP AT THE PLACE PRINCE MADE FAMOUS.

THIS TIME IT WAS FOR U.S.

SENATE PEGGY FLANAGAN'S RALLY WITH BERNIE SANDERS.

>> THAT WAS A TELLING MOMENT TO HAVE THAT KIND OF CROWD AND THAT KIND OF ENERGY.

AND I DO THINK THIS IS WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IN PRIMARIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN 2026, IS THE PASSION IS ON THE SIDE OF PROGRESSIVE CANDIDATES OR COMPREHENSIVE CANDIDATES, THE FOLKS THAT ARE IN THE MIDDLE ARE NOT SEEING THAT.

>> THE ONLY MINNESOTA DEMOCRAT WHO VOTED FOR DONALD TRUMP'S IMMIGRATION BILL WAS ANGIE CRAIG.

[ CROWD BOOING ] AND SHE STOOD BY THAT VOTE FOR 14 MONTHS.

WHILE OUR COMMUNITIES WERE BEING TERRORIZED.

>> THE INCREDIBLE COURAGE THAT YOU AND MINNESOTANS SHOWED IF STANDING UP TO TRUMP'S DOMESTIC ARMY, I.C.E.!

WAS SHOWING THE WORLD HOW TO FIGHT BACK AGAINST BRUTALITY AND ILLEGAL ACTIONS AND UNCONSTITUTIONAL ACTIONS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MINNESOTA!

[ Cheers and applause ] >> Mary: WHEN DONALD TRUMP'S I.C.E.

TERRORIZED OUR TOWNS, ANGIE CRAIG TOOK TO THE STREETS AND TOOK THEM ON.

>> Mary: THE AGGRESSIVE ADS TAKE ON THE INTRAPARTY ATTACKS ON HERE, AS DEMANDING WORK IN D.C.

LIMITS HER CAMPAIGNING BACK HOME.

>> I HAVE THIS -- SERVE AS THE RANKING MEMBER OF THE AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE.

OF COURSE WITH THE RED RIVER VALLEY IS AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF THE ECONOMY HERE.

BUT IT ALSO PUTS ME RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF RURAL HEALTHCARE.

AND THE CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE.

IN RURAL COMMUNITIES.

WITH HEALTHCARE THAT MAY LOOK JUST A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN IN AN URBAN SETTING.

>> I'M VERY UPSET WITH WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE NUTRITION TITLE IN THE FARM BILL.

>> THIS IS A REALLY HARD THING WHEN YOU'RE A MEMBER OF CONGRESS AND YOU'RE RUNNING FOR OFFICE, YOU'RE RUNNING FOR HIGHER OFFICE IS THAT THEY NEED YOU OUT THERE TO VOTE AND THEY HAVE SUCH A CLOSE MARGIN IN THE U.S.

HOUSE THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE REALLY NOT LETTING PEOPLE OFF THE HOOK O GO AND CAMPAIGN AND DO OTHER THINGS.

SO CONGRESSWOMAN CRAIG IS GOING TO TRY TO USE THAT TO HER ADVANTAGE.

SHE'S GOING TO TRY TO SHOW, I'M A PERSON WHO'S HERE GETTING THE JOB DONE, STANDING UP FOR MINNESOTANS WHERE IT COUNTS.

>> Mary: WITH MORE MONEY SPENT IN THIS DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY RACE THAN ANY IN STATE HISTORY, WHAT ISN'T GETTING MUCH ATTENTION IS THE REPUBLICAN SENATE CONTEST, WHICH INCLUDES A FAMOUS NFL MEDIA PERSONALITY WHO'S ECLIPSING THE ENDORSED CANDIDATE.

>> WE'RE WORKING HARD TO REACH REPUBLICAN VOTERS IN EVERY CORNER OF THE STATE AND WITH YOUR HELP WE CAN MAKE SURE WE TURN OUT EVERY LAST REPUBLICAN VOTE.

>> Mary: THE MEDIA PROFESSIONAL AND THE REPUBLICAN RACE ISN'T DOING ANY MEDIA, MICHELLE TAFOYA.

>> SHE IS PLAYING IT CAUTIOUS, RIGHT?

AND I THINK SHE IS LOOKING AT THE RACE AND SHE HAS A SIGNIFICANT NAME I.D.

ADVANTAGE.

SHE HAS A SIGNIFICANT FUNDRAISING ADVANTAGE, AND SO SHE'S LOOKING AND SAYING WHY WOULD I ENGAGE AND ELEVATE ADAM SCHWARZE.

>> Mary: FOR DECADES, THE ENDORSEMENT HAS HELD THROUGH THE PRIMARY ELECTION, BUT THIS YEAR WILL BE THE ULTIMATE TEST.

>> THAT'S THE KEY QUESTION NOW IN 2026.

CAN THE TAFOYA CAMPAIGN, CAN LINDELL OR LISA DEMUTH, CAN THEY GET MORE CASUAL REPUBLICAN VOTERS TO ACTUALLY SHOW UP IN A PRIMARY?

AND THAT'S AN OPEN QUESTION.

WE WON'T KNOW UNTIL AUGUST 11TH.

I THINK IT WOULD BE HEALTHY FOR THE REPUBLICAN PARTY TO HAVE SOMEBODY WIN THE PRIMARY WHO'S NOT AN ENDORSED CANDIDATE.

I DO THINK THAT TRYING TO DEMOCRATIZE WHO THE REPUBLICAN STATEWIDE NOMINEE IS BY HAVING THEM WIN A PRIMARY ELECTION WOULD BE A GOOD THING.

>> Mary: THE PRESIDENT PICKING A DIFFERENT CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR THAN THE ONE DELEGATES ENDORSED, AND NOT THE HOUSE SPEAKER LISA DEMUTH, MAKES MINNESOTA POLITICS SEEM EVEN MORE SURREAL.

>> HE HAS MY COMPLETE AND TOTAL ENDORSEMENT.

I HAVE NO IDEA -- >> I'M NOT ELECTEDDABLE, BUT WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

>> I'M VERY EXCITED THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP ENDORSED MIKE LINDELL.

>> FOR BASE REPUBLICAN VOTERS, THE TRUMP ENDORSEMENT HAS A LOT MORE WEIGHT AND VALUE THAN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY MINNESOTA ENDORSEMENT.

IT'S MINNESOTA POLITICS.

AND, YOU NOW, I ALWAYS SAY, I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, I KNOW SOMETHING WEIRD WILL HAPPEN.

>> FIVE PEOPLE WERE HIT ON MAKELET AVENUE -- >> Mary: PUBLIC SAFETY COULD RISE UP AS A CAMPAIGN SLEEPER ISSUE.

>> NINE PEOPLE WERE SHOT THERE.

>> Mary: FOLLOWING A SPATE OF MASS SHOOTINGS.

GUN CONTROL ADVOCATES WENT TO A COMPETITIVE SUBURBAN DISTRICT FOR A RUINED DISTRICT FOR A RUIN ROUNDTABLE.

>> THIS ISN'T SOMETHING THAT'S UNACHIEVABLE.

THERE ARE REAL THINGS THAT WE KNOW THAT WORK THAT WE CAN IMPLEMENT.

>> GUN VIOLENCE CONTINUES TO AFFECT OUR COMMUNITIES.

I WOKE UP THIS MORNING AND HAD TO SEND A TEXT TO MY FRIEND TO MAKE SHIEWSH HER AND HER HOUSE MATES WERE OKAY, BECAUSE SHE LIVED IN UPTOWN, TWO BLOCKS AWAY FROM ONE OF THE MASS SHOOTINGS.

>> Mary: AFTER AN ORGANIZED LOBBYING EFFORT FAILED TO GET A VOTE IN A DIVIDED GOVERNMENT LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION, ACTIVISTS WILL PUSH THE ISSUE ON