Minnesota's two political parties are uniting to promote Tuesday's precinct caucuses, the first step in the the process of selecting candidates who will appear on the ballot in the state's critical midterm election.
Republican Party activists will head out in person to more than 120 local caucus events across the state, while a majority of Democrats will participate remotely as the the omicron variant of COVID-19 continues to surge through the population.
"We don't agree on much as political parties," DFL Party Chair Ken Martin said Monday alongside Republican Party of Minnesota Vice Chair Donna Bergstrom. "But there is one thing we agree on, and it's the real importance of people participating in their grassroots democracy."
Republicans are hoping for a big turnout Tuesday night from activists who want to vote in a preference poll in the race for governor.
More than a half-dozen Republican candidates are vying to challenge DFL Gov. Tim Walz next fall and all have pledged to abide by activists' decision, meaning they won't challenge the endorsed candidate in the August primary. A strong performance in the precinct caucus straw poll could give a candidate momentum heading into the party's May endorsing convention in Rochester.
"If in fact you're tired of yelling at the TV and yelling at the radio … this is a great time to come out and participate," said Bergstrom. "This is really the building block of where it all starts."
At caucuses, activists will also pick delegates for the party's endorsing convention. Republican candidates for governor have been organizing for weeks to get people who support them to become delegates at the state convention.
Republican Sens. Michelle Benson and Paul Gazelka are among the Republican candidates running for governor, along with former state Sen. Scott Jensen, one-time congressional candidate Kendall Qualls, dermatologist Neil Shah and Lexington Mayor Mike Murphy. One candidate, businessman Mike Marti, has already dropped out of the race and others could still jump in. Former Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek is being courted to join the race as a Republican candidate.
Democrats currently hold all Minnesota's statewide offices, including governor, so the party isn't conducting any preference polls this year. Martin said he expects roughly 70% of people to participate remotely by filling out a form on the party's website. Some DFL activists will gather in person, mostly in greater Minnesota, but attendees must provide proof of vaccination or a recent negative COVID test to caucus in person.
Democrats are hoping for broader participation following a recent court ruling that the party says allows ineligible voters, such as those convicted of a felony and on probation and immigrants who are not U.S. citizens, to participate in their precinct caucuses on Tuesday.
"Our party wants to live its values and allow all people to participate," Martin said Monday defending the move.
When asked to respond, Bergstrom pushed back on the DFL Party's interpretation of the ruling, bringing a quick end to the party's bipartisan message about precinct caucuses.
"We in the Republican Party have been working hard for a very long to make sure your legal vote counts, because every illegal vote dilutes your vote," she said. "That's where we stand."
