Turning the Page

Everyday Concerns Often Eclipse Local Politics

It’s high school graduation season in Minneapolis. Backyards and driveways are transformed into celebrations—tents, folding chairs, trays of food. Neighbors and relatives gather to mark a major milestone: students finishing high school and preparing for whatever comes next.

At these events, local politics rarely comes up. For parents, the moment brings pride but also quiet panic. For many, the looming cost of college—$120,000 to $200,000—is a financial cliff they feel obligated to leap off, with few alternatives. The anxiety isn't theoretical; it's part of a growing list of uncontrollable expenses: insurance, elder care, rent/mortgage, childcare, property taxes.

Ask these families about city government, and many won’t know what ward they live in or who their council member is. Still, they feel the city is slipping. The Sunday night shooting at Boom Island is just the latest example. Some fear Minneapolis is headed the way of Portland. Curfews around Bde Maka Ska and Boom Island feel like a warning.

These aren’t political operatives. They’re the people who coach Little League and volunteer in their neighborhoods. They want basic things: safe streets, fixed potholes, working lights. Most of all, they want to feel like their concerns matter. We hope local officials are attending these parties—not for photo ops, but to listen. If they do, they’ll hear a city growing frustrated.

Photo by Olena Kamenetska on Unsplash

Ideological Capture

It’s not hard to see why many residents feel unheard. At recent DFL endorsement conventions, many candidates focused on national talking points rather than the specific, day-to-day concerns of Minneapolis neighborhoods.

Too often, candidates appeared to represent the agendas of labor unions, nonprofits, or advocacy groups—rather than the full range of constituents in their wards. It suggests a form of ideological capture. Some elected officials seem so confident in their policy frameworks that they dismiss concerns from residents who haven’t spent their careers in activism or city hall.

This summer offers an opportunity. Candidates will attend graduation parties, neighborhood festivals, and community events—places where views may differ from those in campaign rooms. We hope they listen carefully.

Politics at its best is a dialogue, not a performance. It takes humility to admit your knowledge is limited or that your priorities may be out of step with those you represent. For their part, residents must engage respectfully and give leaders space to rethink positions. Debate without demonization is needed if we want the city to move forward.

Convention Results

• Ward 9 – Jason Chavez was endorsed by the DFL. Dan Orban continues his independent campaign.

• Ward 10 – No endorsement. This race will be competitive until November.

• Ward 11 – Jamison Whiting was endorsed by the DFL. Miriam DeMello is assessing her options.

• Ward 6 – Jamal Osman was endorsed by the DFL. We’re uncertain at this time if he will have an opponent in the race.

The Minneapolis City Convention will take place July 19–20, with potential endorsements for mayor, park board, and the Board of Estimate and Taxation. Given the deep divisions within the city’s political landscape, it's likely we’ll see more “no endorsement” outcomes than clear picks.