At times, people get cynical and frustrated with how government presents itself, but it appears the American people are done sitting on their hands and instead are willing to be idealistic in 2016.
Tuesday’s caucus in Minnesota was record-breaking. Traffic jams, long lines and crowded halls were the norm at just about every precinct around the state and across the country.
Is it because of Trump? Are people that dissatisfied with how the country is being run? Are the people more well-informed, savvy, or just plain scared of who might or might not be running this country in 2017?
The next few months should reveal more of the truths.
Tuesday in Becker, the GOP caucus at Becker Baptist Church could just as well be held in the fieldhouse for all the people who ditched the TV and made an appearance for their favorite candidates.
On the GOP side, Marco Rubio was the favorite state-wide with 36.8% of the vote. Ted Cruz was second with 28.9% and Donald Trump third with 21.2%.
For the DFL, Bernie Sanders won handily over Hillary Clinton with 61.7% of the vote compared to 38.3% for Clinton.
Upstairs in the sanctuary at Becker Baptist, citizens from Becker City and Becker Twp. split both sides of the room and listened to Sen. Dave Brown and Mark Swanson convene the meeting.
Everyone who entered the doors received a yellow slip that was to be filled out with name, address, etc. and turned in for an official straw poll ballot for preference of the new President.
Delegates for upcoming regional, state and national conventions were voted on and approved as well as alternates. The CD6 Convention is April 23 at Monticello Middle School. The state convention is May 20-21 in Duluth and the national convention is July 18-21 in Cleveland, OH.
Much of the same things were happening in the downstairs rooms where residents from Santiago and Palmer Twps. were in one room and residents from Big Lake and Orrock Twps. in another.
Both rooms were standing room only as people clamored to find a seat in the specified area of each room.
U.S. Rep. Tom Emmer popped in to the caucus and gave quick speeches as he jumped from room-to-room. As did Rep. Jim Newberger, who said he just arrived from Sauk Rapids where he spoke to people in a room that was originally set up to accommodate around 50 people.
“I quickly told then to expect more like 200 and, sure enough, they set out more chairs and ended up with people standing along the walls,” he said.
Campaign paraphernalia was outside each room with flyers and postcards promoting senators running for Brown’s seat and an opponent running for Emmer’s seat.
The new District 15 senator choices for Republicans are Andrew Mathews of Milaca and Dan Whitcomb of Princeton, District 15 includes parts of Mille Lacs, Sherburne, Morrison and Wright counties.
AJ Kern of Sauk Rapids is challenging Tom Emmer as a Republican candidate for the 6th District congressional seat.
Just before official ballots were passed out in each room Tuesday, three letters from three GOP candidates running for President were read aloud. Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio and Dr. Ben Carson provided endorsements of themselves and thanking constituents for attending the caucuses. Donald Trump and John Kasich did not provide letters.
A truly special moment occurred in the room downstairs where Santiago and Palmer Twp. residents gathered. Before the meeting begun, seven-year-old Sarah Norton of Palmer volunteered to sing God Bless America in front of the packed room. She brought her favorite, patriotic bear that sings with her and she “wowed” the crowd with her poignant rendition of “singing for the United States”, as she put it.
Sarah’s father, Tim, is a veteran of the Iraq War and she attended the caucus Tuesday with her grandmother, Nancy.
In District 6, Cruz won the majority of votes with 33.68% votes to compare to Rubio’s 33.56% and Trump’s 22.52%*.
On the DFL side in District 6, Sanders won 62.38% of the vote compared to Clinton’s 37.62%*.
*(Sources came from the StarTribune website Wednesday morning).
