More than two months have passed since the 2024 presidential election, and many are still taking stock of the results. Clearly, we remain a divided nation. While Donald Trump convincingly defeated Kamala Harris in the Electoral College by 312 votes to 226, the popular vote was much closer with 49.9% for Trump and 48.4% for Harris, a margin of just 1, 5 percentage points.
By reviewing the election results on the Minnesota Secretary of State’s website, it is easy to discover the location of the most pro-Trump community and the most pro-Harris community in Minnesota. Comparing these two areas might shed light on why we differ so much in our presidential politics.
Statewide, three of the precincts that voted the most for Trump are in Morrison County, just east of Little Falls along Minnesota Route 25. Buckman, Buh and Pierz townships voted an average of 91.55 percent for Trump, with an average of just 7.05 percent. vote for Harris.
The small working-class town of Buckman, population 312, is in the center of Trump country. According to U.S. Census data, the median annual household income in this area is $82,500, with a median home value of $212,585. Around 9.5% of the population lives below the poverty line. Additionally, while 92.3% of the city’s residents are high school graduates, 23.8% of residents have a bachelor’s degree or higher.
Visiting the people there, I found them very friendly and open. In particular, the people at the family-owned Buckman Bank Tavern were very insightful and friendly.
The tavern is located in the old Buckman State Bank building, built in 1917. It still contains the bank’s original safe. In fact, the owners painted the front door to look like the bank vault door.
The tavern is a charming place with a myriad of neon signs, flags, and other sports and drink-related decorations. In many ways, it’s exactly what you imagine when you think of a classic, traditional, no-frills bar, complete with comfortable high-backed stools, pool table, dart leagues and pull tabs. .
There are two flags on the walls of the tavern that signal the political leanings of the community. Toward the back is a “Trump – 2024 – Make America Great Again!” » red, white and blue! flag and near the front is a flag with a picture of Governor Tim Walz on it wearing a dunce cap with the message: “My governor is an idiot.”
Statewide, three of the precincts that voted the most for Kamala Harris are in Minneapolis’ Hennepin County, just east and south of Lake Harriet. These precincts voted on average 91.33% for Harris and just 6.42% on average for Trump. They are located in the Lynnhurst, King Field and East Harriet neighborhoods.
The bustling, upper-middle-class neighborhood of Lynnhurst, with a population of 5,691, is in the center of Harris Country. According to census data, the median annual household income in this area is $177,490 with a median home value of $651,372. Around 3.3% of the population lives below the poverty line. Additionally, while 94.1% of the neighborhood’s residents are high school graduates, 65.1% of residents have a bachelor’s degree or higher.
Visiting the people there, I found them very friendly and open. In particular, the people at the George and the Dragon Public House were very insightful and kind.
The pub is housed in a building constructed in 2010 and is home to Patina, a high-end gift shop, and the chic and refined French bistro Sainte Geneviève.
The pub is a charming place with lots of soft wood tones, attractive colors and delicate lighting. The walls look like an art gallery with lovely paintings by a local artist. In many ways, it’s exactly what you imagine when you think of an eloquent restaurant complete with a chef, a maître d’, and a boutique bar selling wine and beers artisanal.
There are two signs in the pub window that signal the political leanings of the community. One sign features a photo of four young people from diverse backgrounds, one of them wearing a shirt that reads “#Ican’tbreathe” and a larger caption: “No justice, no peace” . The other sign has the symbol and name “World Central Kitchen,” indicating that George and the Dragon have partnered with WCK to provide meals to those in need in the Twin Cities.
Buckman Bank Tavern and George and the Dragon Pub, located just 95 miles apart, are mirror images of their respective communities. Buckman people are more definitive in that choices should be simple, traditional, and clearly understood, while Lynnhurst people see more shades of gray with evolving and multiple possible definitions. The two toilets in the tavern, for example, are labeled “men’s” and “women’s”, while the two toilets in the pub are labeled “unisex”.
Moreover, the cuisines of these respective localities encapsulate their fundamental differences. The tavern offering simple, comfort food like chicken strips and mini corndogs shows a desire for simple, unambiguously clear politics, while the pub’s complex chicken Milanese and pepper steak show a desire for diverse, complicated political perspectives. and involved.
The menus reflect the mentalities of these two subcultures.
Dave Berger, of Maple Grove, is a retired sociology professor, freelance writer and author.