When Minnesota voters become disenchanted, disengaged and disenfranchised - like they are today - they launch third-party political movements. From the rallying cry of Farmer Labor Party Governor Floyd B. Olson's first campaign, "Throw the Rascals Out!", to Reform Party Governor Jesse Ventura's battle cry of "Retaliate in '98", Minnesotans have shown their willingness to reject the usual choices. Since 1929, Minnesotans have elected an independent governor 5 times. In 2006, Team Minnesota (Peter Hutchinson - Governor, Maureen Reed - Lt. Governor, John James - Attorney General, Lucy Gerold - State Auditor, and Joel Spoonheim - Secretary of State) will do it again!

Can independents win? Consider this:

• 46% of voting-age Minnesotans (over 1.5 million people) say they are politically independent.
• It will take approximately 900,000 votes to win the 2006 election.
• 800,000 Minnesotans have voted for an independent governor once, and 400,000 have voted for an independent twice.

Here's our formula for winning in November:

• The independent vote counts in 1998 and 2002 show the base of known independents is about 500,000 votes.
• Republicans who feel exiled or embarrassed by the current direction of their party will add another 200,000 votes.
  (Republicans are joining and contributing to Team Minnesota's campaign in VERY large numbers - our co-chairs include very visible Republican leaders including the chiefs of staff of Governors from Elmer Anderson to Arne Carlson). They will support our team because of our focus on getting better results in the areas of education, health, transportation and environmental quality AND more value for our money without being distracted by divisive social issues.
• Young people - the most disengaged and disaffected of our voters - will add another 100,000. (They're not connected to any party. They'll support us because we talk straight and we're committed to NOT piling up more debt that will fall on them after we're all gone.)
• Discouraged Democrats will complete the victory. 100,000 - 200,000 Democrats who see their candidates as unable to win will come to us in the fall pushing us over 40 percent. It is true that the DFL vote will be split BUT SO WILL THE REPUBLICAN VOTE.

Victory for Team Minnesota will take work - but we can do it!
Join our team by clicking HERE.