MANKATO — Political divisions frequently become the focus every election year. One reality that can be too often overlooked in that discussion is the division within a specific political party. That divide was on full display as Republican voters from across Blue Earth County gathered at their precinct caucus in Minnesota State University’s Armstrong Hall Tuesday.
“Not everybody votes for the same person. Just trying to organize independent conservatives is like trying to herd cats or push a chain,” said Mapleton resident Jeff Taylor. “Hopefully you can get the cats interested in one thing enough, and the chain stiff enough, that you can push it.”
The point of a precinct caucus, according to Blue Earth County Republican Chair Yvonne Simon, is to elect party leaders and delegates, suggest changes to the state Republican party platform and, this year, hold a straw poll on their preference for governor.
Most in attendance agreed on some of those most important topics — fraud, immigration enforcement and school choice are some of the biggest — but stances on the issues vary.
One couple from Mankato, who declined to give names to The Free Press, admitted they felt that ICE was “going too far” in their enforcement in Minneapolis. Taylor’s stance on fraud is another one you may not hear much at the state and national level.
“There have been some Republican legislators that have pointed (the fraud) out many years ago. … It’s not just that nothing was done because they were controlled by Democrats. A lot of Republicans are just as guilty,” he said.
It’s a stance that contradicts what a lot of Republican candidates, including Ryan Wilson who’s running for Lieutenant Governor under Rep. Lisa Demuth, say.
“Since 2019 (Republicans) have been pushing bills (to address fraud). … A lot of (Demuth’s) bills can’t be heard, even though they were common sense, anti-fraud measures, if the Democrats didn’t want to hear it,” Wilson said.
Those differences, however, are heightened once the two parties are dealing with each other. It’s an issue some voters wish would be resolved.
“I’ve been following politics for 20 years now … it’s becoming more and more polarized,” One resident, who also didn’t want to give his name to the Free Press, said. “It needs to be brought more to the center. Both sides, neither of them are talking to each other anymore.”
Part of Tuesday’s caucus was a straw poll indicating voters preference for Minnesota Governor. It’s something that Simon hoped drew more voters out to the caucus.
“Hopefully, it’s a bigger turnout than last time, which would have been two years ago, because of the straw poll. We’re hoping that’s a draw,” she said.
In a race of 12 candidates, three main ones stood out. In Blue Earth County, Kendall Qualls came away with the No. 1 spot with 33% of the votes, followed by Demuth (23%) and Mike Lindell (16%). At the state level, early results showed voters leaning a slightly different direction, with Demuth coming number one, Qualls at two and Lindell at three.
Up next will be the county conventions for each party. For the Republicans, that’s taking place March 7 at the Eagle Laker American Legion. For the DFL, it will be March 14 at East High School.