House DFL take heed: Protecting democracy top issue for Minnesota voters
Thinking Minnesota magazine just hit mailboxes across the state featuring our latest poll revealing the top issues that drove Minnesota voters in the November election. House Democrats should read this poll before they boycott the 2025 legislative session after holding a clandestine swearing-in ceremony last Sunday.
Protecting democracy turned out to be the top issue for Minnesota voters when making their choice for president with 83 percent saying it was “very important” or the “most important” issue.
Harris voters led the way with 91 percent very important/most important, but Trump voters were not far behind at 79 percent. Independent voters also chose protecting democracy as one of their top issues at 63%.
Although the issue appeared non-partisan in the poll, campaign rhetoric suggests Trump and Harris voters came to this conclusion for different reasons. Harris voters likely have the events of January 6, 2021, in mind when they tell pollsters that protecting Democracy is their top issue. Minnesota Democrats not showing up for work in an attempt to prevent their opponents from voting for Speaker sounds very similar to the January 6 “insurrection.” Holding a swearing-in ceremony off-site, before the session begins, in secret, is reminiscent of the alternate electors who met in some states to cast their votes for Donald Trump in December 2020.
On the other hand, Republicans shared the concern about democracy but viewed it through a different lens. Republican voters still harbor skepticism about the narrow margin of the 2020 election, and today’s ruling in the Shakopee House seat is not going to help. The judge bought the DFL argument that it was proper to ask some voters under oath about who they voted for in the 2024 election. A dangerous precedent and not nearly as certain as actually counting ballots (assuming they aren’t destroyed by careless or devious government employees).
The poll was conducted by Meeting Street Insights, a nationally recognized polling operation based in Charleston, S.C. Interviews were completed Nov. 18-21, 2024, among 500 registered voters in Minnesota who voted in the November 5th election using a mix of cell phone and landline interviewing. The margin of error is +-4.38 percent.
Democrats should take a minute to understand that all Minnesota voters are tired of political games and expect their representatives to show up in good faith and do their job. If you agree, take a minute to email your State Representative a little encouragement.