Minnesota Dems Lose Rural Support As Gov Candidates Appeal To Big City Activists

Ahead of a critical governor’s race, Minnesota Democrats are threatening to tear their party apart over rural economic development initiatives that big city DFL activists vehemently oppose.

It’s just the latest sign, warns the press, that the DFL will continue to hemorrhage rural voters.

First, DFL candidates are split over the Enbridge pipeline – a project that would create “6,500 jobs over two years in a part of the state that has often lagged economically.”

But most DFL candidates offer “mixed feelings” for the project that could greatly benefit rural Minnesota’s economy. In fact, one of the leading DFL candidates – Tim Walz – selected a far-left activist running mate who is “a staunch opponent of the project.”

Second, the Mesabi Daily News explains that DFL candidates are being torn apart over copper/nickel mining, with rural voters in favor and big-city liberal activists against.

“So as another statewide political campaign for the governor’s office kicks into gear, copper/nickel is once again a blessing for Republicans and a political land mine for the DFL Party.”

“The party of left wing environmentalists faces what has become a traditional dilemma — try to walk the tightrope between its Twin Cities region money- and activist-base and what has been a strong DFL ‘We Support Mining — Mining Supports Us’ blue collar voting bloc on the Iron Range.”

“Republican candidates are unequivocal in their support…Not so, however, DFL office seekers.”

If Minnesota Democrats continue to choose big-city liberal activists over rural voters, it will cost them in the 2018 governor’s race.