This publication regularly opens these pages to organizations working to end lingering disparities and injustices across the state. We hope these reflections spark conversation and healing across Minnesota. This week’s guest contributor is James Trice, founder and CEO of The Public Policy Project. The views expressed are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect those of the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder.
America is at a critical point in its history. As the nation marks its 250th anniversary, Americans face a daunting future for themselves and their families. It appears that the “egalitarian democracy” we thought we had is actually an autocracy, in which the current regime controls all three branches of government (executive, legislative and judicial) with no checks and balances and uses that power relentlessly to oppress working people, immigrants and the poor. The gap between the haves and the have-nots is quickly widening. We face an existential crisis if something doesn’t change soon, and we cannot afford to sit idly by.
Tuesday, Nov. 3, is Election Day, and much is at stake. Families face higher costs for gas and groceries, while voting rights, civil rights, citizenship protections, education and access to community resources are under attack. The past two years have been exhausting, marked by aggressive immigration enforcement, inadequate oversight and actions that have disproportionately affected Black and brown communities and immigrants of color. It is understandable that many people feel unheard, disenfranchised and tempted to give up. Nearly 90 million eligible Americans did not vote in the last presidential election. Still, we must keep fighting, and voting is one important part of that struggle.
Elections should not be popularity contests or tests of party loyalty. They are about protecting rights and securing the resources our communities desperately need. Both major parties and the two-party system have serious shortcomings. I am not a captive voter for either party, nor do I endorse the Democratic Party. Still, I believe Democrats must win control of Congress to check an administration that has used its power in ways that threaten every American man, woman and child.
Voting alone will not solve every problem, but it is a vital part of a broader strategy for change. Another part of that strategy is holding your elected officials accountable, whether you voted for them or not, to make sure they are protecting your rights and working to ensure your community has the resources it needs.
Every advance this country has made toward fulfilling what the “founding fathers” wrote in the Declaration of Independence has been forced upon it by the oppressed, particularly Black and brown people.
WE HOLD [and have held] these truths to be self-evident,
That all men are created equal,
That they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable [cannot be taken away] rights,
That among these are Life [reproductive rights, livable wage, basic needs met], Liberty [freedom from false arrest and imprisonment, speech and press], and the Pursuit of Happiness [community, peace and well-being]
That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed
America will be what we force it to be. The extreme and often lethal tactics our oppressors have used to keep us from voting only prove how important and powerful our vote truly is.
To make your vote count, confirm your registration with the secretary of state’s office, find your polling place, make a voting plan and vote early if possible. If you vote by mail, return your ballot promptly. Encourage family and friends to vote. Research every candidate and whether their promises are realistic, and choose those who best represent your values, protect your rights and support your community’s needs. In other words, know who you’re voting for and why.
Progress has always required sustained effort from marginalized communities. That work is difficult and tiring, but we cannot surrender. We must keep fighting for equal citizenship, fair representation, education, opportunity and adequate resources for every community. I implore you to vote on Nov. 3. We cannot afford to sit this election out.
What you need to know
Republicans control both chambers of Congress. In the Senate, Republicans hold 53 seats and Democrats hold 45, with two independents who caucus with Democrats, for a total of 47. In the House, Republicans hold a 218-214 majority, with two vacant seats and one independent who remains in the House Republican Conference. Republicans won 220 House seats to Democrats’ 215 in 2024.
All 435 House seats and 35 of 100 Senate seats are on the ballot, including special Senate elections in Ohio and Florida.
To win a Senate majority, Democrats need a net gain of four seats.
To win a House majority, Democrats need a net gain of three seats from their 2024 results.
Every seat Democrats lose raises the number they must flip elsewhere.
Why this matters
Control of Congress determines which party:
Sets the legislative agenda.
Chooses committee leadership.
Advances or blocks legislation.
Influences federal spending and oversight.
Shapes the confirmation process for judges and executive appointments.
Election Day: Tuesday, Nov. 3
Early voting
Early in-person voting begins: Friday, Sept. 18
Voters can insert ballots directly into the tabulator: Oct. 16 to Nov. 2
Last day to vote early in person: Monday, Nov. 2
Vote by mail (absentee ballot)
Ballots begin mailing: Friday, Sept. 18
Recommended application deadline: Tuesday, Oct. 20
Ballot must be received by: Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3
Offices on the ballot in Minnesota
U.S. Senate
U.S. House of Representatives
Governor
Attorney General
Secretary of State
State Auditor
Minnesota State Legislature
Judicial offices
Some local offices
Visit www.Ballotpedia.org for detailed information on the candidates vying for your vote.
James Trice is the founder and CEO of The Public Policy Project. He welcomes reader responses at James_publicpolicyproject@msn.com.