This election year is testing the American civic dialogue in more ways than we’ve seen in a generation.
Beginning with President Biden’s poor debate performance and concluding with his choice to end his campaign, the democratic process by which we choose our candidates was upended. Despite having been chosen by Democrat voters across the country to be nominated at their convention, the pressure on Biden was too strong and he left the race.
Meanwhile, during a rally for President Trump, two attendees were severely injured, and another person killed, while President Trump faced only minor injuries by sheer luck. The attendees at the rally were engaged in their civic responsibilities, supporting a candidate they preferred, and President Trump was speaking to the issues he wanted to address if elected. Instead of finishing his speech, attendees were bystanders to an attempted assassination.
With very different circumstances, both turns of this presidential race speak to the need for Americans to recommit to respectful political discourse.
In President Biden’s case, potential challengers were discouraged from considering a run for office, and a coronation was planned. Voters were denied a debate this spring, and those who did vote were denied their choice by an orchestrated effort to remove Biden from the ballot. It’s a sadly cynical rejection of a democratic process from start to finish. While I wasn’t going to support Biden and certainly didn’t think he was qualified to run, this new “selection” of a candidate is counter to what we expect from the American political process.
In President Trump’s case, he’s has been vilified by his opponents as an existential threat to America. Is it any wonder that repeated rhetoric about how dangerous Trump is may have led a young man to see glory in killing him to prevent his election? Americans are rightfully appalled and shocked to have witnessed on live TV the attempted assassination and recognize that a turn of the cheek, a shift in the wind, or a step to the left could have left us with a very different outcome. This stunning act of political violence should wake all of us up to the need for a greater civic dialogue.
There aren’t easy answers to fix what’s wrong. One step is for leaders to spend more time listening. I learn far more from my constituents back home about their needs than I do from meetings at the Capitol. Their concerns aren’t red or blue – they are about helping them afford their monthly bills and give their children a better life. I frequently work across the aisle to try to solve problems and look for common ground where I can. I am proud of my work to expand mental health support for youth and pursuing housing policy to help all Minnesotans own a home. It’s frequently bipartisan, and it makes a real impact on the lives of my constituents. The little steps we take locally are the foundation of making the big steps we need nationally, and I’m ready to do my part – are you?