MINNESOTA $$ MILLION:

The records of Minnesota $$ Million include bylaws, member brochures, steering committee minutes, lists of development prospects, newsletters, and news clippings that document the association's formation in late 1990 and its efforts to raise one million dollars in pledges to elect a DFL woman to the U.S. Senate in 1994. Also included are speeches made by Barbara Stuhler who co-chaired the steering committee with Nina Rothchild. Stuhler's speeches describe how Carol Flynn, a state senator from Minneapolis, envisioned early fund raising as an enticement for women to enter the campaign for the senate seat to be vacated by David Durenberger. Additional impetus was fueled by women's outrage at the treatment Anita Hill received by the all male Judiciary Committee in the Clarence Thomas hearings. After several brainstorming meetings between Carol Flynn, Lou Fuller, Phyllis Kahn, Marge Romero, Nina Rothchild, Barbara Stuhler, Mary Vogel, and others the formation of Minnesota $$ Million was officially announced in November 1991.

Initially the association planned to raise one million dollars from 1,000 women who each pledged $1,000 and who would later meet to select a candidate to be endorsed by Minnesota $$ Million. Federal election laws prohibiting campaign donations of more than $1,000 focused the association's emphasis on raising pledges rather than monetary contributions. In this manner the association functioned more as a search committee than a political action committee.

By the end of 1993 Linda Berglin and Ann Wynia stood as the frontrunning women in the DFL primary campaign. Campaign literature regarding both these candidates is included within the collection. At that time the association debated whether they should give their endorsement and pledges to one of these candidates prior to the state DFL convention in June 1994 or wait until after the convention. The endorsement of Ann Wynia came as a clear option when Linda Berglin withdrew from the race in late May 1994. Wynia also received the endorsement of the DFL party at its convention. Minnesota $$ Million held a check writing party on June 8 and merged its support with the Wynia for Senate organization. Though short of its original one million dollar goal, the association raised over a quarter million dollars in pledges. Despite that financial backing and the DFL endorsement Wynia lost the general election to Independent Republican candidate Rod Grams.

Shortly following the check writing party, the National Republican Senatorial Committee filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission claiming that Minnesota $$ Million had violated election laws by making excessive contributions to Wynia's campaign. Included within the records is a copy of the General Counsel's report containing the Commission's decision. Their decision found that Minnesota $$ Million's pledge-raising activities did not violate election laws.

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Availability:

The collection is open for research use.

Preferred Citation:

[Indicate the cited item here]. Minnesota $$ Million Association Records. Minnesota Historical Society.

See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional examples.

Accession Information:

Accession number: 15,383

Provenance:

Acquired as a part of the papers of Barbara Stuhler who originally collected the records in her role as co-chair of the Steering Committee.

Processing Information:

Processed by: Monica Manny Ralston, March 2001

Catalog ID number: 990017370020104294

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This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the Minnesota Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons or places should search the catalog using these headings.

Topics:

Women political candidates -- Minnesota.

Campaign funds -- Minnesota.

Women -- Political activity -- Minnesota.

Politics, practical -- Minnesota.

Places:

Minnesota -- Politics and government -- 1981- .

Persons:

Berglin, Linda Lee, 1944- .

Wynia, Ann, 1943- .

Stuhler, Barbara.

Durenberger, David.

Types of Documents:

Campaign literature.

Speeches.

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