Tuesday, February 27, is the evening the major political parties hold bi-annual precinct caucuses. All caucuses are called to order at 7:00 PM.
A caucus is where neighbors gather to discuss political issues and candidates for elective office at the local, state, and federal levels.
Held every two years, caucuses help the parties organize supporters and activists for the fall elections. They are the definition of local, grassroots politics.
This is the beginning of party building, where delegates are elected to represent their neighbors at the next level of organizing. In this case, county and state senate district conventions are where resolutions that can begin at the precinct level rise for debate and a vote to see if they make it to the state party platform.
State law, Section 202A.19, permits Minnesota residents to take time off from work without pay to attend precinct caucuses if they give their employer written notice at least ten days in advance.
The primary election for President of each party is Tuesday, March 5.
THE REPUBLICANS
In Cook County, the Republican Party will caucus at The Hub, 10 Broadway in downtown Grand Marais.
Cook County Republican Party chair Andrew Smith is looking forward to the caucuses this year and naming delegates to the next level.
“I’m urging people to participate,” Smith said. “Come and offer solutions. You’ve got to be involved.”
Lake County Republicans stated on their notice, “The purpose of the Precinct Caucus is to elect delegates to the Lake County Republican Convention. Any person residing in Lake County who agrees with the principles of the Republican Party is invited.”
The caucuses will be held at the Mary MacDonald Business Center, 99 Edison Blvd. in Silver Bay for eastern Lake County (Silver Bay, Beaver Bay, Finland, Isabella). Catherine Miller is the caucus convener.
Western Lake County (Two Harbors, Knife River, Brimson) caucuses will be at the Two Harbors Community Center, 417 South Avenue, in Two Harbors. Dan Schleeter is the caucus convener.
The Northern Lake County (Ely, specifically Fall Lake Township) caucus will be held in conjunction with the St. Louis County Republican Party in Ely.
THE DFL
The Cook County DFL caucuses are planned at four locations across the county.
After its last county caucus was held only in Grand Marais, and the one before it was held on Zoom during the pandemic, the party’s executive board elected to have multiple locations.
“We wanted to broaden access to our caucuses,” said Cook County DFL Chair Kevin LeVoir. He mentioned that having dispersed locations means that people won’t have to drive as far, in the dark, to participate.
The Colvill Town Hall, 2965 East Highway 61, will host the Grand Portage, Hovland, Magney, and Colvill precincts.
Gunflint Trail DFlers will caucus at A. Paul and Carol Schapp Community Center, 7401 Gunflint Trail.
The Arrowhead Center for the Arts, 51 West Fifth Street in Grand Marais is the venue for the Croftville, both Grand Marais, Cascade, Maple Hill, and Pike Lake precincts.
Birch Grove Community Center, 9 Good Neighbor Hill Road in Tofte, is the location for the Lutsen, Tofte, and Schroeder Precincts.
The Lake County DFL also has several locations where its participants may caucus.
William Kelly School, 137 Banks Blvd. in Silver Bay, hosts caucus goers with a 55614 zip code. That includes Beaver Bay, Crystal Bay, and Silver Bay.
Two Harbors High School, 1640 Highway 2 in Two Harbors, is the site for Silver Creek, all Two Harbors precincts, and all precincts in the unorganized territory covered by zip code 55616.
Lake County DFLers in Fall Lake Township will be caucusing at Vermillion College, Room CL-110, 1900 E. Camp Street in Ely.
