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Minnesota is in the spotlight this summer thanks to primary races for several its highest offices.
Endorsed DFL candidate Peggy Flanagan faces a widely publicized challenge from Minnesota Rep. Angie Craig for the U.S. Senate nomination.
On the Republican side, several candidates for governor are hoping to advance to the general election where they would face Sen. Amy Klobuchar. Several candidates are also running for the Senate seat. Decisions will be made next week on Tuesday.
Judging from posts on my Facebook, the Senate DFL race has led to divided opinions even among local and regional party members.
One person posted that he supports Craig for being moderate, and for getting elected in a suburban Congressional district formerly served by Republican Rep. John Kline.
He posted that he has faced negative reactions from some of his fellow party members for not supporting Flanagan as the party's nominee.
Another friend of mine posted that he stands behind Flanagan. He stated that she's more progressive, and that she's less likely to be influenced by special interests.
I haven't seen any posts by Republican friends about their races. I've noticed governor yard signs for Mike Lindell, the "Pillow Man" but signs aren't always the best indication for how people will vote. We'll have to wait for the primary results.
In general I think it's good that we have races at the primary level. Minnesota has open primaries, which means that you don't have to be a registered party member to cast a vote. People can vote on either side of the ballot, the Democratic or Republican side.
It's an incentive for people to participate in the primary election. Historically voter turnout has been low in primaries.
That should be a concern because if many voters think the nominations are already decided they might stay home. It's possible that a candidate with a small but ardent set of followers could score a surprising win.
The publicity given to candidates in primary races benefits the party in the long run. It leads to name recognition and possibly indications of support. They're in the spotlight at a crucial time, when the race could really take shape.
Those who don't like contested primaries seem to want a party's endorsement process to go unquestioned. They seem to want the final say in who represents the party.
It doesn't have to be that way. At a convention there's always the option of giving endorsements to two candidates, even to more than two if several qualified people are running. Sometimes it might be best to let the voters decide.
Our two party system has weaknesses. Many of them are due to how a large percentage of voters don't feel much of a connection to either party.
The open primary is a chance for rank and file voters to help shape the choice of candidates. They have the opportunity to tell party leaders that they maybe want someone else. It might be a wake up call for future campaigns and conventions.
We shouldn't want a system in which average voters believe their choices don't count. Instead they should believe that they can influence the process, that they might make a difference in who gets elected.
August is a busy time of the summer. In the process of enjoying the last days of summer vacations it's easy to forget about the election process. It's important to remember the need for public involvement. It's worth the time to cast a vote.
Anyone who doesn't feel familiar with the candidates should do some research. They should find out the differences between those who are running in contested races, and should see how those differences compare with their own viewpoints.
Almost everyone agrees that high voter turnout is good. A well thought out decision is more likely if a solid percentage of voters become part of it.
It's important that everyone knows we have an election next week. It's vital that they feel motivated to help in shaping our future.
-- Jim Muchinski is a longtime reporter and contributor to the Marshall Independent