Politics Posts

Sign of the Times

Democracy has been a tricky thing these days. Used to be I would occasionally post on Facebook about my candidate of choice, proudly display a sign in my yard and make a fuss about donning my sticker on Election Day. Now, it’s fair to say, “it’s complicated.”

Not that I don’t have a candidate of choice — I do. But I’ve rather ghosted off social media where I’d display my virtual heart on my cyber sleeve. These days, I pop in just enough to spin my social plate as it bobbles on the stick of my outward-facing life. After a friend was criticized for being “too happy” in pictures with his young children during these troubled times, I found myself going dark, getting insular. That’s saying something for someone who wrote a memoir. I’m not sure I could write that book today. Actually, I’m sure I couldn’t.

However, there’s been some amazing shifts in my household. While typically forward-leaning me has reclined into quietude, my less demonstrative husband has found his voice. And it’s not an electronic one. Sickened by watching the political battle waged behind screens, he decided to literally “put himself out there,” standing at a popular Duluth intersection holding a political sign. With a small parcel of like-minded friends (which only occasionally includes me), he’s there, every day, for 30 days.

Duluth General Election Sample Ballot 2020

As usual, the ballot in this year’s General Election is not the same for everyone in Duluth. People who live on the western side of town will see the District 3 County Commissioner race shown above. Those on the east side of Duluth will instead see Patrick Boyle running unopposed in District 2. People in the center of the city will not see a County Commissioner race because District 1 Commissioner Frank Jewell is not up for reelection.

Voters in central and western Duluth neighborhoods will see the District 7B Minnesota State Representative race shown on the ballot above. Those in the northern portions of the Duluth Heights and Kenwood neighborhoods will see the District 3B Minnesota State Representative race between Republican Andrew J. Hjelle the Democratic-Farmer-Labor incumbent Mary Murphy. Voters on the eastern side of Duluth will see the District 7A Minnesota State Representative race between Republican Tom Sullivan and Democratic-Farmer-Labor incumbent Jennifer Schultz.

And don’t forget the judicial races are on the back side.

AP: Lake Superior Bull Shark Eradicated by Duluth Autonomous Navy

DULUTH, Minn. (AP) – On August 10, 2020, Duluth Mayor Emily Larson commissioned the Duluth Autonomous Navy to eradicate the bull shark terrorizing Duluth’s beaches. Only four days later, the DAN co-Admirals have announced “mission accomplished.”

Duluth 2020 Primary Election Results

Absentee ballots will continue to be accepted after election day, but below are the statewide numbers for races relevant to Duluth with all precincts reporting.

District 3 St. Louis County Commissioner Candidate Forum

The League of Women Voters held this candidate forum for District 3 St. Louis County Commissioner on July 29. Pat Castellano is the moderator.

Minnesota Senate District 7 Candidate Forum

The League of Women Voters held this candidate forum for Minnesota Senate District 7 on July 10. Mary Faulkner is the moderator.

Duluth 2020 Primary Election Sample Ballot

Depending on where you live, your ballot might look slightly different than the sample shown here. All Minnesota ballots, however, have a slate of partisan races that are divided on the front and back, and it’s potentially confusing.

Robin Washington interviews Jim Richardson about PDD Confederate essay

Robin Washington interviewed me on Wisconsin Public Radio about the essay I wrote for PDD denouncing my white Confederate heritage.

Duluth 2020 Primary Election Primer

Minnesota’s presidential primary is three months in the past, with Joseph Biden winning the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party nomination and Donald J. Trump unopposed as the Republican Party nominee. Other parties will field presidential candidates on the General Election ballot on Nov. 3, but the Primary Election on Aug. 11 will have no presidential candidates. There are also no city of Duluth or Duluth School Board races, although one school board candidate is running unopposed.

Minnesota 2020 Presidential Primary Election Results

In the statewide race, with 4,110 of 4,110 precincts reporting, Joe Biden is the projected winner of Minnesota’s Democratic-Farmer-Labor presidential primary.

Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party Nomination for President of the United States
Joseph Biden – 287,553
Bernie Sanders – 222,431
Elizabeth Warren – 114,674
Michael R. Bloomberg – 61,882
Amy Klobuchar – 41,530

Duluth 2020 Presidential Nomination Primary Sample Ballots

Minnesota’s 2020 Presidential Nomination Primary will be held on March 3. Voters must pick a team: Republican or Democratic-Farmer-Labor party. The Republican sample ballot is above, DFL is below. The Grassroots-Legalize Cannabis Party and the Legal Marijuana Now Party are not participating in the nomination primary.

List of U.S. Presidents who have visited Duluth

General Dwight D. Eisenhower campaigning for president in 1952 at the Duluth Civic Center.

How many U.S. presidents have been to Duluth? Well, we don’t know for sure, but the best answer available seems to be “at least a dozen.” As far as we know at Perfect Duluth Day, no one has ever compiled a list before. There was, however, a fairly detailed exchange of info in the 2011 post “How many U.S. presidents visited Duluth?

Combining that info with more recent discoveries, below is the best available information. History nerds can feel free to add more info.

Video: Duluth Inauguration 2020

Duluth Mayor Emily Larson and newly elected city council members were sworn in at the Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center on Jan. 6.

Historic Inauguration of Duluth City Councilor Janet Kennedy

Duluth’s 2020 Inauguration was historic as the city welcomed its first African-heritage person to serve on the city council. Janet Kennedy has long been serving the city as a leader in the local NAACP as its first vice president and chair for the Health & Environmental Equity Committee. Kennedy now represents District 5 in western Duluth on the council. She joins Renee Van Nett of District 4, who was part of another historic inauguration in 2018 as the council’s first Native American woman.

Duluth 2019 General Election Results

Emily Larson will serve a second term as Duluth Mayor. There will be three new city councilors: Derek Medved, Roz Randorf and Janet Kennedy. Paul Sandholm is new to the school board.

Duluth Mayor
Emily Larson – 13,340 | 63.65%
David Nolle – 7,509 | 35.83%
Write in – 110 | 0.52%