Issue link: https://nnumagazine.uberflip.com/i/1068650
6 N A T I O N A L N U R S E W W W . N A T I O N A L N U R S E S U N I T E D . O R G O C T O B E R | N O V E M B E R | D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8 NEWS BRIEFS MINNESOTA T housands of Minnesota Nurses Association doorknocks, phone calls, and other activities over the last year helped an overwhelming number of nurse-endorsed candidates win their elections in November. MNA-endorsed candidates won in every statewide office and in 64 of the 110 state House of Representative races, including 20 of the 26 MNA-targeted races. The governor, attorney general, secretary of state, and state auditor were all supported by MNA nurses this year. The House of Representatives changed from Republican to a Democratic-Farmer Labor majority, meaning nurses will have a stronger voice in the Legislature in 2019. The Senate remained in Republican control by a one- seat margin, after a failed special Senate election. MNA nurses put an unprecedented amount of resources into the 2018 elections, starting with an early endorsement for governor of fellow RN state Rep. Erin Murphy. Nurses' tireless advocacy and enthusiasm helped Murphy win the Demo- cratic-Farmer-Labor party endorsement in June. Unfortunately, she did not win the August primary, but nurses didn't stop caring, voting, or organizing for their patients and their profession. Nurses proceeded to endorse the primary winners, Congressman Tim Walz for governor and state Rep. Peggy Flanagan for lieutenant governor, and went to work on their behalf. "Nurses were everywhere," said MNA Governmental Affairs Commission Chair Jean Forman, RN. "We built an immense amount of nurse power not only internally, but around the state. People are very impressed with the energy and dedication of nurses. We'll continue to build our power in 2019." Nurse activism reached new highs in 2018, showing that MNA nurses know that supporting pro-nurse candidates is one more way to advocate for patients. They engaged other members around the importance of getting involved in elections and building nurse political power in Minnesota. For instance, phone banking nearly doubled over 2016. In 2016, nurses completed 87 phone bank shifts between September and November. In the same time period this year, nurses completed 176 phone bank and postcard writing shifts. From Jan. 1 and Nov. 1 of 2018, however, nurses accomplished much more, complet- ing 567 postcard and phone bank shifts. Nurses made more than 67,000 phone calls and had more than 8,700 conversations with fellow RNs. More than 400 nurses participated in local precinct caucuses. From there, more than 100 nurses went on to their Senate or organ- izing unit conventions and 38 MNA nurses were elected delegates and alternates to the state convention. This far exceeds previous efforts MNA has made in previous years. Nurses are now looking forward to a stronger voice in the Legislature and progress on issues like safe staffing and expanding health care access, which have stalled in previous legislatures not friendly to nurses. —Barbara Brady Hard work pays off for Minnesota nurses and patients in November elections