Hundreds went to see different candidates at the DFL caucus Feb. 3, including Attorney General Keith Ellison, Sen. Omar Fateh and school board candidates, to persuade voters for reelection.
At the caucus, Operation Metro Surge and its effects were at the top of Democratic party delegates’ minds. This comes as Operation Metro’s surge drawdown has begun in Minnesota, reported Fox 9 news.
The precinct caucus results show U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar as the front-running governor candidate for the DFL party’s nomination. House Speaker Lisa Demuth (R-Cold Spring) won the majority of the GOP votes, with Kendall Qualls in second and former MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell in third.
The precinct caucus is a meeting held by the Minnesota political parties to start the first phase of endorsing candidates, selecting candidates and setting goals for the party before the midterm elections. The caucuses are held across the state.
Beth Held said this was her first time at a caucus. She wanted to hear about what party members were doing to help Minneapolis.
“I would like to hear like action items. How are we going to get out of this situation that we’re in? Because right now it seems very uncertain and never-ending, and I’m hoping they have a plan,” Held said.
University of Minnesota political scientist professor Larry Jacobs said Operation Metro Surge has changed the way some delegates view federal officers.
“I think it’s radicalized the party. I think there’s a large number of Minnesotans, particularly in the Democratic Party, who are fed up and they’re impatient with leadership even of the Democratic Party,” Jacobs said. “They wanna see radical change, they wanna see ice eliminated, and they feel that the party leadership is too complacent.”
Jennifer Arnold, a volunteer at the precinct caucus and a Minneapolis resident, supported a Minneapolis City Council eviction moratorium and said the party should do more to help its constituents.
“The Democratic Party is in a really hard spot because of the federal invasion. And because the federal government is taking such unprecedented steps, I think that our Democrats should also be courageous in taking steps that they never have before to help protect us,” Arnold said.
Talib Leal, 23, came to the precinct caucus to become more politically aware after Operation Metro Surge. Leal said he would like to see a change in the party.
“I’d like to see if there are any new members or if anyone isn’t looking to change their position to be a socialist,” Leal said. “I think that’s what we need. I think they need to play to their strengths.”
Osman Abdiulle, a Somali American, hoped candidates would help the Somali community with youth violence.
Jacobs said the Democratic and Republican parties will be in difficult positions in the aftermath of Operation Metro Surge. He said in order for a Democratic candidate to win the midterm election this year, he or she will have to meet with people at a local level.
“I think this is a very volatile, democratic party electorate. I think people are really just enraged,” Jacobs said
Held said she was frustrated by some Republican officials, such as United States Rep. Tom Emmer, during the surge. Now she hopes the Minnesota government can prevent a second surge from happening again.
“I guess where they could pick up is how do we make sure this doesn’t happen again. How did this happen in the first place? And what measures can we take to make sure it doesn’t happen again?” Held said.
