Tag Archives: Sen Clare Verbeten

Senate District 66 LWV Candidate Forum October 1, 2026

This post has all the questions asked, and when the responses are have timestamps on them starting from the start of the video.

For the sake of fairness, to start off we will not list the incumbent’s title, just what party endorsed both of them.

Kathleen Bart Endorsed Republican

Clare Verbeten Endorsed DFL

There are 21 questions asked plus opening & closing statements by each candidate. So click the “More” when you come to it below question 4 to see all the questions asked.

Time Stamps from the start of the video above

0:00-6:23 Debbie Magnusson who is a member of the LWV of St Paul does an introduction and explains the rules and where the restrooms are at. She asks that members of the audience to not video the forum, even though SPNN is open to the public. So none of this video is edited on our end (the sound quality of the video is of a very low volume so you might have to turn on the closed captioning, put on headphones or turn up the volume).

The Rules she states are that each candidate can have an opening and closing statement that is 2 minutes long each, and can only have 1 minute to respond to a question. Both candidates have agreed to it. If quoted by another candidate, the candidate can have a 30 second rebuttal.

She talks about questions submitted prior to the forum and questions can be asked from the audience using note cards, then they review them.  Questions have to apply to both candidates.

6:27 – 7:59  Kathleen Bart Opening Statement

8:07 – 9:46  Clare Verbeten Opening Statement


10:20 Question 1: If you are elected, what strengths will you bring as a political leader in the Legislature? Where might you learn some new skills? Please answer both parts to the question.

10:40 Kathleen Bart

11:28 Clare Verbeten


12:30 Question 2: Is regarding gun violence. Gun Violence is consistently a top issue for voters. What specific policies do you support to reduce gun violence in our community?

12:47  Clare Verbeten

13:43  Kathleen Bart


14:48 Question 3: Due to the cuts to the Affordable Care Act subsidies for purchasing insurance, the Congressional Budget Office estimates that 7 million Americans may lose health coverage over the next decade. The effect of these Federal cuts could drive up health care costs across the country. In this context, will you work as a State Legislator to achieve affordable healthcare for all Minnesotans? If so, what will you do?

15:20  Clare Verbeten

16:40  Kathleen Bart


17:44 Question 4: In regards to the recent “Metro Surge,” and ICE impact on our state in the past year. Do you believe that ICE’s action in the past year crossed moral or legal lines? If Minnesota were to face another major ICE operation how do you believe the state government should respond?

18:13  Kathleen Bart

19:03  Clare Verbeten

Continue reading Senate District 66 LWV Candidate Forum October 1, 2026 →