Chaos at Minnesota conventions reignites calls for a new way of choosing candidates

WASHINGTON – Last weekend’s tumultuous DFL and GOP state party conventions have prompted some Democrats and Republicans to again consider scrapping the way Minnesota chooses political candidates and replacing it with something else.

The state’s modern system of caucuses was established more than a century ago in 1922 and is imbued with tradition and woven into the state’s political culture. But it is also an outlier in American politics.

Only eight other states, including California and Michigan, endorse or nominate candidates at state party conventions.

Minnesota’s nominating conventions have caused problems before and once again there is talk of abolishing endorsing conventions and moving up the date of Minnesota’s primary election, now scheduled for Aug. 11, to an earlier date, perhaps in June.

Making those changes would need the approval of the state parties and the Legislature. But pressure fo...