Serving Roseau County for over 100 Years - The Official Roseau County Newspaper
by Ryan Honl
November 5 is coming quickly and both democrats and republicans are organizing members to get out the vote in Roseau County. The Donald Trump campaign is focusing intensely on Minnesota this year, believing that the state which hasn't voted for a republican since Richard Nixon in 1972, has a chance to turn red.
The Trump campaign has an effort called Trumpforce47 to create local captains that will canvas Roseau County for federal and state votes as they are doing in other areas of the state. They held a meeting on September 4 at the Roseau Event Center handing out signs and bumper stickers to attendees as well as holding a training session.
The Trump campaign became emboldened by President Biden's dip in the polls over the summer which showed Trump and Biden in a dead heat according to 270towin.com polls and implemented Trumpforce47 in Minnesota. Since Vice President Kamala Harris replaced Biden as the nominee the same poll now puts Harris ahead comfortably. Despite that, the Trump campaign is still continuing efforts to get out the vote with their local Trumpforce47 meetings, including the one in Roseau on September 4.
Local Roseau County republican chairman Darrin Smedsmo provided a statement to the newspaper:
"I think it is unconscionable for us as Americans and even more as Christians not to vote. I believe we are stewards of all that God has entrusted to us. Our government is ours. It is us (We the People). We need to do our part. That being said, I hear a lot of people saying everyone should vote. I disagree, and here is why. I think if we are going to vote, we need to be well informed, and here is my example. Many of us have 'flipped the ballot over' and maybe checked some boxes for judges that we knew nothing about. I would say it is much better to leave them blank than to 'guess' who would be better. Those are serious races, and I do believe we should research them so we can make informed votes, but you can see how this applies to the bigger races as well. If people are only voting for a personality, a name, a gender, a color, or even a party, that is a very poor reason to vote for someone. I would wholeheartedly encourage the citizens of our county, state, and nation to research the people (their voting record), the party platforms, and judge accordingly. I will be the first to admit there is no perfect candidate. There are better and worse, and I believe we are accountable for what we have been given as Americans. As John Quincy Adams said, 'Duty is ours, results are God's.' I will say another thing that needs to be said. Do not believe what you see on the television. I heard a saying and it is true. If you don't watch the news on TV you are uninformed, if you do watch the news on TV you are misinformed."
Connie Lindstrom of the Kittson and Roseau County DFL sent a statement in response to the Trumpforce47 get out the vote effort as well as information on how to get involved with the the local DFL.
"As the chair of the local DFL organizing unit, I'm always glad to see people getting involved in the causes that matter to them. In Kittson and Roseau counties, between 25-40% of voters chose DFL candidates in the most recent general election, so in any given room you're in, chances are very high that you're elbow-to-elbow with people who vote differently than you do. Talking with our neighbors about our priorities and values is the best way to find the things that unite us, not divide us, to help us work on those priorities together, so I'm happy the Trump campaign is hosting a training to help more people learn how to have these important conversations."
The DFL statement also included that DFLers who are interested in door knocking, phone banking, or postcard campaigns can reach out to their website at kittsonroseaudfl.org as well as the Kittson-Roseau DFL Facebook group and they will connect people with the candidate they're interested in supporting. The DFL is planning a few more pop-up stops to distribute signs soon to make it easy for people to meet their candidates in their own town and pick up DFL yard signs or signs for candidates they want to support. The best way to get notified of those events is via their email list which people can sign up for on their website or by joining the Facebook group.
Third Party candidates in Minnesota who have filed to be on the ballot such as the Libertarian Party, Green Party, and others can be found at the Minnesota Secretary of State website at candidates.sos.mn.gov. All of the candidates for local, state, and federal elections are listed on the site.
According to the Minnesota Secretary of State's website voting will begin by mail on September 20 and last through election day. Citizens can mail the ballot back in, bring it to the Roseau County Auditor's office, or vote in person on election day at the city and township offices.
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