Minnesota State Wire

Hennepin County employee Joan Gabriel contributed a total of $700 to the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party candidate Ruth Richardson, according to the Minnesota Campaign Finance Board.

There have been $15,776 total contributions made to political candidates and committees by Hennepin County employees, 83.8 percent of which have gone to the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party causes and candidates.

Donations made to political groups or candidates must be disclosed under state law for greater transparency in elections. While Congress created the Federal Election Commission to oversee federal elections in 1974, each state is left to regulate its local elections. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, eleven states have no limits on how much can be contributed to a candidate by individual donors, while the other 39 states often limit the amount someone can contribute based on the office the candidate is running for.

Employee	Candidate	Party	Amount
Peter J. McLaughlin	Tim Walz	DFL	$2,000
Abdirizak Botan	Omar Fateh	DFL	$1,000
Kelly Moller	Kelly Moller	DFL	$2,000
Kelly Moller	Addie Miller	DFL	$150
Kaltun Hassan	Omar Fateh	DFL	$966
Susan Whitaker	Susan Whitaker	DFL	$950
Michael Freeman	Patrick Diamond		$500
James Farrell	Patrick Diamond		$500
Daniel Rogan	Patrick Diamond		$300
Louisa Tallman	Paul Novotny	RPM	$500
Matthew Scherer	Anne Claflin	DFL	$250
Matthew Scherer	Ryan Winkler	DFL	$250
Tyler A. Moroles	Tyler Moroles	DFL	$250
Howard Orenstein	Erin Murphy	DFL	$250
Howard Orenstein	Keith Ellison	DFL	$250
Gerald Tyrell	Josiah Hill	DFL	$250
Gerald Tyrell	Lindsey Port	DFL	$250
Gerald Tyrrell	Anne Claflin	DFL	$250
Mike Christenson	Patrick Diamond		$250
Martin Munic	Patrick Diamond		$250
Jonathan Schmidt	Paul Thissen		$250
Deborah Goettel	Michael Howard	DFL	$250
Carol Skradski	Erin Murphy	DFL	$250
Michael O. Freeman	Zachary Stephenson	DFL	$250
Joan Gabriel	Ruth Richardson	DFL	$700
Benedict Schweigert	Emma Greenman	DFL	$300
Benedict Schweigert	Lindsey Port	DFL	$50
Seymour Z. Gross	Keith Ellison	DFL	$975
Margaret Christensen-Freese	Virginia Klevorn	DFL	$600
Norbert Gernes	Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn	DFL	$250
Helen Burke	Tim Walz	DFL	$495
Jason Heaser	Michael F. Erickson	DFL	$40