Participants in Tuesday’s DFL precinct caucus in Marshall filled out preference poll ballots for Minnesota governor candidates.

MARSHALL — The turnout at Tuesday’s precinct caucuses came as a surprise for Lyon County Democrats.

“The line to register was all the way down the hallway,” said Lyon County DFL chair Anita Gaul. All told, 110 people from across Lyon County packed the Adult Community Center in Marshall. Organizers ran out of chairs, Gaul said. “It’s a good problem to have.”

Tuesday night’s caucus was a chance for Lyon County residents to vote on DFL party platform issues, select convention delegates, and take part in straw polls for Democratic candidates. In general, Gaul said, she was hearing that area voters wanted to take an active part in shaping state politics. “People are fired up. They are motivated to take action,” she said.

In addition to voting for county convention delegates and other resolutions, there were a couple of polls that Lyon County Democrats took part in. The first was a preference poll for Minnesota governor candidates. Gaul said the majority of votes were cast for Amy Klobuchar, at 93 votes. There were also 16 voters who said they were uncommitted, and one vote for Tina Smith.

The other polls that voters took part in Tuesday were “very informal” polls for U.S. Senate and Congressional District 7 races, Gaul said. Voters put soybeans into jars for different candidates they preferred.

In the “bean poll” for Minnesota’s U.S. Senate race, Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan received 52 votes, and U.S. Rep. Angie Craig received 20 votes. The “bean poll” for the CD 7 race was a close one, Gaul said. Minnesota state Rep. Heather Keeler received 33 votes, and candidate Erik Osberg received 35 votes.

Gaul said the turnout at Tuesday’s caucus was a positive sign. Precinct caucuses play an important role in democracy, she said.

“This is where grass-roots democracy really begins,” she said. “Here at the local level, you can potentially influence the DFL party platform.”