Minnesota’s changing politics?
Gently, like a falling safe, the political landscape in northern Minnesota is changing. It was inevitable because Alida Messinger’s DFL isn’t appealing to people who don’t share the DFL’s intemperate view on the environment and mining.
Thanks to Chip Cravaack’s victory, people are taking a first serious look at incumbents like John Carlson and Carolyn McElfatrick. As incumbents, people already took them seriously. Running against Tom Saxhaug and Tom Anzelc respectively, though, new people are taking a serious first look at Sen. Carlson and Rep. McElfatrick.
Though this isn’t a prediction, I expect Sen. Carlson to defeat Sen. Saxhaug and Rep. McElfatrick to defeat Rep. Anzelc.
The CD-8 GOP Facebook page is better known as Parade Pictures Central. The numbers of volunteers marching in parades is impressive. Even in the northernmost parts of CD-8, the numbers of volunteers is impressive.
Redistricting added new legislative districts to central Minnesota. Candidates like Jim Newberger and Dave Fitzsimmons will win their elections to the House of Representatives. Dave Brown will win re-election to the Senate. Mary Kiffmeyer will win election to the Senate.
Barring something unexpected happening, Jeff Howe will replace Larry Hosch in the House.
When the dust settled on Election Night, 2008, the DFL held the Senate seats in SD-15 and SD-16. They held the seats in HD-15B, HD-16A and HD-14B. They held 5 of the 9 seats in SD-14,SD-15 and SD-16.
When the dust settled on Election Night, 2010, Larry Hosch was the DFL representation for SD-14, SD-15 and SD-16. After the dust settles on Election Night, 2012, SD-13, SD-14 and SD-15 (their new numbers after redistricting) will be totally red.
Reports I’m getting tell me that swing areas in central, northern and western Minnesota are moving out of swing district status. That makes sense with people understanding that the metrocentric DFL has focused on an agenda that only public employee unions could love.
I wrote here and here about the DFL’s hostility towards mining. Miners are noticing and they’re abandoning the DFL in ever-increasing numbers.
They’ve noticed that the militant environmentalists from the Twin Cities are targeting the mining industry. Why be part of a coalition that wants to shut down your industry in northern Minnesota?
Put slightly differently, the DFL’s anti-mining chickens are coming home to roost. Simply put, the DFL’s’ accusations, based mostly on Sen. Bakk’s bluster, that the GOP isn’t fit to lead are being ignored by the voters thus far.
Comments welcome at Let Freedom Ring.