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Election Day is history and in some ways that’s one more surprise in a crazy election year.
One might recall that only four years ago it took several days to call the presidential race and there were more than a few suggestions that we needed to brace for Election Week rather than Election Day.
But thankfully, the presidential contest delivered a clear and decisive winner with Donald Trump completing an improbable comeback and moving back to the White House for a second four-year stint.
At other levels, voters delivered their verdict, with Republicans riding a national wave but with some clear wins for Democrats as well - including right here in Minnesota with Amy Klobuchar cruising to another six-year term in the U.S. Senate.
No matter your political leanings, one has to admit it’s good to have a Senator in Washington who not only knows where Ely is on a map, but has local ties and has proven to be an ally to the area on a slew of local issues.
U.S. Rep. Pete Stauber is heading back to Washington and we’re encouraged that some of the changes afoot could aid his efforts to ease the gridlock on proposed new mining ventures in the region.
Ely will also once again be represented in St. Paul, as Roger Skraba did not have to sweat out a win this time around. Two years ago, Skraba eked out a 15-vote win over Rob Ecklund but this year voters gave the first-term Republican a nearly 15 percentage-point edge over his DFL challenger.
Skraba not only flipped the script and won on his home turf but ran up huge margins in International Falls, where Droba serves as mayor.
Locally, two new council members will be at the table at Ely’s City Hall, with political newcomer Emily Roose scoring an impressive win and John Lahtonen joining city government in a new role after spending decades in a patrol car and police uniform.
And as Ely School Board members move on after the passing of longtime chair Ray Marsnik, they’ll welcome Erin Moravitz, who won this week as a write-in candidate.
Election season can be rife with hyperbole and hostilities and this one was no exception, particularly at the national level. How many times have we heard both candidates and pundits say “this is the most important election of our lifetime?” By our count, at least once every four years.
But really despite those dire warnings, life goes on as the pendulum shifts and political power ebbs and flows through the years. The sun indeed came up on Wednesday morning and continues to do so.
Perhaps we all can agree to do our best to turn down the rhetoric and tamp down the tension that’s been prevalent over this election.
Maybe we can even put our phones down and get out of our political echo chambers and actually talk about our differences, rather than take to social media and attack from our keyboards. Life seemed a lot easier before this era of cell phones, social media and 24/7 polarization.
Deer season starts today. Thanksgiving is in a few weeks and the holiday season is soon to follow.
Those happy about this year’s results may have been despondent two or four years ago. And no doubt many still in shock over Tuesday were dancing in the streets in November of 2020.
No matter your feelings about this year’s results, life goes on and it won’t be long before there’s another election and another chance to make our voice heard. Until then we’re all better served if we step back, relax, be kind and even consider the opinions of those we disagree with.
