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Republicans stay to right Resolutions cover voting machines, sanctuary state, drag shows
National politics were intertwined with state and regional issues as area Republicans caucused Tuesday in Ely.
The grassroots gatherings, which U.S. Rep. Pete Stauber (R) called “the onramp to the 2024 campaign” in a written message to caucus- goers in Ely, were held across the state and mark the first step in the process both major parties use to select candidates and develop party platforms.
About 35 people convened in a classroom at the Vermilion campus of Minnesota North College, and the Ely affair had a decidely- rightward bend.
Republicans from Ely and the surrounding townships passed resolutions opposing abortion, digital currency and Minnesota’s new state flag, while calling for more election safeguards.
They endorsed a resolution calling for the elimination of voting machines and for hand-counting of paper ballots, while also opposing mail-in ballots.
“Mail-in ballots are ripe for ballot harvesting,” said Ely caucus-goer Mike Banovetz. “You don’t have to prove anything.”
Some local Republicans were more skeptical of other election security ideas offered in Ely - including one to make election day a national holiday and another to move toward “blackchain” voting - such as using security measures such as thumbprints or retinal eye scans to ensure voters cast just one ballot.
Attendees also passed a resolution opposing sanctuary state status for Minnesota - and they were assured by caucus chair and State Rep. Roger Skraba (R-Ely) that the sanctuary state push has little traction in St. Paul.
“That’s not happening,” said Skraba.
He cited a pre-legislative session forum hosted by the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce when legislative leaders from both parties, and from both branches of the legislature, indicated the push does not have enough support.
“All of them said no,” said Skraba. “Part of it and I’ll give credit where credit is due. (State Sen.) Grant Hauschild came out publicly before all this started and said ‘no way no way.’ And that started a chasm where others said ‘we’re not doing this.’ They can still do it. They have every right to try and push that bill through. But everybody who said they are not going to vote for it, if they hold their word true, it will not happen.”
Several issues of local and regional interest were also addressed, with local Republicans passing measures in support of continuing the permitting process for copper-nickel mining ventures such as those proposed by Twin Metals Minnesota and New Range Copper, which was formerly known as PolyMet.
They also passed a resolution opposing “federal judge interference” with Minnesota’s management of the wolf population.
Drag shows were another hot topic.
In the wake of events at the Grand Ely Lodge that generated protests, the Ely area caucus passed a resolution seeking that drag shows be classified as “adult entertainment,” and banned from public places.
By city ordinance, if drag shows were deemed to be adult entertainment they would be restricted to the city’s existing adult entertainment zone, which is located near the softball complex on Ely’s eastern edge.
Larry Reedy, who was involved in the drafting of the adult entertainment zone when he was a member of the city’s planning and zoning commission, said the language related to adult entertainment is clear and “tell me it doesn’t apply” (to drag shows).
The caucus attendees also gave poor reviews to the new state flag and one called for a referendum on the issue.
“The bill we’re trying to push does just that,” said Skraba.
Skraba also pressed for caucus-goers to work for Republican causes and candidates, indicating that data show 250,000 Republicans sat out and didn’t vote in 2022.
“In my district 2,200 people didn’t vote,” said Skraba. “I needed 15 people to vote for me (his margin of victory over incumbent Rob Ecklund in the 2022 legislative race).”
Local Republicans also went on record protecting embryos and opposing abortion up to the point of birth, as well as a proposed constitutional amendment that would limit U.S. Senators to two six-year terms, and change the terms of U.S. House members to four years with a two-term limit.
