Election 2024

POSTNOTE March 1, 2024: A news headline tonight: 249 days to the Election.  Where do you fit in this picture?

The formal political process varies state-by-state, and party-by-party in the United States with infinite local variations.  So, as I write on Feb. 29, 2024, the 2020 process has just begun in Minnesota (not counting the endless 2020); and has surfaced in endlessly publicized “beauty contests” in places like Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Michigan.

“Super Tuesday”, which includes  Minnesota, is Tuesday March 5, and on we go in the crucial ritual of electing the many people, including President of the U.S., who will represent “we, the people” of the United States of America in 2025.

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A few words about how my local Caucus and Primary Election follow.

In my corner of the world – about 70,000 people in the east metro of St. Paul MN, mostly the city of Woodbury – the first formal political event for election 2024 was the Precinct Caucus on Tuesday, February 27.

I and others attended on a very dismal weather night.  Attendance was light.  Staying home was very tempting, but showing up was important.  If I was to do a door-to-door canvas in my little neighborhood of perhaps 150 adults, a goodly share of whom are senior citizens, I’d be surprised if there were more than a couple who actually attended this meeting open to everyone.  There were no earth-shaking local issues, which probably contributed to the low turnout.

The next day, Wednesday, February 28, I voted early in the Minnesota Presidential preference Primary Election at the town city hall. As is always true, the election supervisors were very polite and very professional.  There was a single question on the ballot.   In our state you must declare a party preference: Republican, Democrat or (if I recall correctly) Legal Marijuana.  You vote on a specific ballot based on party preference.  Inclusion of party depends on a certain percentage of voters in a previous election.

The actual Primary Election will be March 5.   There are 9 candidates listed on the MN Democratic Primary ballot, including Joe Biden, and only two others whose names I even recognized.  We won’t know the results until after the polls close on March 5.

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The caucus on Tuesday started at 7 and ended at 8.  There were the usual procedural matters, an invitation to present proposed resolutions, and then basically open conversation.  Presidential preference was not even discussed – that comes in the primary on March 5.

A second and crucial function of the caucus is to elect official delegates to subsequent larger gatherings to refine and consolidate resolutions, and to endorse candidates for local, state and national office.

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I always volunteer to be a delegate to the next level.

In my case, my Senate District official Convention is Saturday, April 6, and is open only to elected delegates selected at the Caucus (people who could not attend the caucus, could pre-register for delegate status).

Following is the Congressional District Convention on Saturday, May 4, then the State Convention (Duluth) May 31 – June 2.

I have attended all of these Conventions at one time or another.  They are always very interesting, and those attending take their work very seriously.

The Democrats National Convention is in Chicago Aug 19-24; the Republicans in Milwaukee Jul 15-18.  The actual election is Nov. 5, 2024.

I am nearing age 84, and there is a time and a place for everything.

I am a strong supporter of Joe Biden/Kamala Harris.  At the same time, my mantra has long been that the youth, women, and persons of color need to play the major roles in the future, both because they will live in what results far beyond my own mortality; and their issues are very crucial to their own future.

Another personal mantra: we citizens ARE “politics”.  What we get (and often deride) is exactly what we choose in this democracy, fragile as it has become.  Traditionally, more than a third of eligible voters don’t even vote once every four years.  And often those who vote only vote for a single candidate, with little knowledge of the implications of their vote.  This is a disgrace.

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“Below the Fold” – for readers in my own Minnesota Senate District #47

State and National Politics always get the most attention from the media, but the really important work is what is done at the local level.  And often times, local issues take on great importance in special elections including school issues, and the like.  It is not enough to vote for one person one time every four years.

There is a special event on Thursday, March 14 from 5:30-8:30  pm at Woodbury Middle: HotDish Challenge!  Cake & Pie Auction.   School cafeteria (use the entry facing Valley Creek>. Suggested $20 family donation + bid on auction

I asked the local chair to input on this issue, and below is what she offered.  She has been a very committed chair.