Midwest
Rural Minnesotans who voted for Tim Walz 7 times may support Trump in November: report
The people of rural Minnesota voted for Democrat Gov. Tim Walz six times for Congress, and once for governor, but times have changed, according to a new report.
Residents of Albert Lea, Minnesota, a rural Midwest town of 18,000 in Freeborn County, seem to be abandoning their support for Walz, Politico reported Friday.
“I don’t think Trump has ever been stronger in rural areas,” Terry Gjersvik, a local Democrat who lost his bid for a state house seat in 2018, told Politico.
While Minnesota is not a key battleground state in the upcoming election, national and state polls show support for former President Trump in rural areas and small towns at around 60 percent or above.
But, the Harris-Walz campaign is targeting those rural areas ahead of November’s election.
Voters who spoke to Fox News Digital in Wisconsin were not supportive of Walz. (Reuters)
TIM WALZ SAID HE WENT TO CHINA ‘DOZENS’ OF TIMES, NOW HIS CAMPAIGN SAYS ITS ‘CLOSER TO 15’
“If you can do a couple points better, five points better, in those rural areas, and you multiply that by all the rural areas in those states, it’s a big deal,” John Anzalone, a veteran pollster and Harris adviser, said. Walz, he said, “is the first nominee in modern history, maybe since [Jimmy] Carter, who can talk small town America, rural America.”
Politico spoke with a multitude of people on the ground, and found that many Freeborn County locals who previously had voted Democrat were planning to pull the lever for Trump.
Rich Murray, Albert Lea’s current mayor, told Politico that Harris and Walz will win the state, but that the governor is “not going to get the votes out here,” which was not the case before 2016.
Freeborn County went twice to Obama and Walz carried the county when he unseated a Republican in his House race in 2006. But by 2016, Walz’s support was narrowing and the county went for Trump twice.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz arrives to speak at a press conference regarding new gun legislation at City Hall on August 1, 2024 in Bloomington, Minnesota. ((Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images))
Walz barely won the county when he was elected governor in 2018, but when he ran for reelection in 2022, he lost Freeborn to Republican challenger Scott Jensen by almost 15 points, a nearly 30 percentage point swing against him from his first Congressional race in 2006.
WALZ ROASTED AFTER DECLARING ‘WE CAN’T AFFORD FOUR MORE YEARS OF THIS’ AT RALLY
When he first entered politics, Walz struck a moderate tone, but as governor he signed into law bills that enacted universal background checks, free school lunches and protections for abortion and gender transitions, Politico reported. Those policies, as well as lingering frustration over his COVID response, didn’t appeal to voters in places like Freeborn County.
“I call it the Democrat ‘smash and grab’ in the Capitol,” Freeborn resident Karla Salier said. “They went for everything they could get to make us a sanctuary for transgenders and illegals. They just went nuts.”
But, the shift might be due in part to the polarization of voters.
“I think the voters changed,” Eric Ostermeier, a politics professor at University of Minnesota, told Politico. “And I would say this is the other aspect of it, is the willingness of voters to split their ticket has changed.
“Because I think with people in their [information] silos and increasingly characterizing the other side as evil, it’s difficult for people to say, well, there is this one good Democrat and I’m still going to vote for him, or there is this one good Republican … he’s not so bad,” he said. “Which is saying party over personality, I guess.”
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FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) — More than 50 Indiana law enforcement agencies are taking to the roof to help local athletes.
Police and safety officers will be stationed around various Dunkin’ Donuts, taking up donations for the Special Olympics. People who monetarily donate will receive a coupon for a free donut. Those who donate $10 or more will receive a coupon for a free medium hot coffee.
“Supporting the Special Olympics isn’t just an event for us — it’s a commitment to people who inspire us every day,” Sergeant Wes Rowlader said. “These athletes show what determination, courage, and community truly look like. Every dollar we raise helps transform that spirit into training, competition, and lifelong confidence.”
More than 20,000 Hoosier athletes train and compete for free within the Special Olympics. To date, Cop on a Rooftop has raised more than $125,000 for Special Olympics Indiana.
The Indiana State Police will be at the Dunkin’ Donuts at 9821 Lima Road in Fort Wayne from 5 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Friday.
The Iowa City Community Band (ICCB) returns this summer with performances throughout Iowa City and Coralville in June and July. Now in its 43rd season, ICCB is proud to once again be led by Rob Medd, a retired band director from Iowa City West High School, for the 19th year.
We perform nine times, including Coralville’s 4thFest Parade and pre-fireworks show. Our first three concerts are:
- 12 noon, Saturday, June 6 at the Iowa Arts Festival in downtown Iowa City
- 7 p.m., Wednesday, June 10 at McPherson Park
- 7 p.m., Sunday, June 14 at Fairmeadows Park
Each concert features a combination of traditional marches, contemporary pieces, and some familiar classics. For a full concert schedule, visit our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/ICCBand).
Rehearsals are held on Saturdays at 10 a.m. (May 30 through July 18, excluding June 6 and July 4) at West High School. New members — high school age and older — are welcome throughout the summer, with no audition required. Because new music is introduced each week, participation is flexible and ideal for those who can only join for part of the season. If you are interested in participating or learning more, send an email to iccb.communityband@gmail.com.
ICCB operates solely on donations from individuals and local businesses to provide free concerts to the public.
If you would like to contribute, send your donation to: Iowa City Community Band – c/o West Music, 1212 5th Street, Coralville, IA 52241. Make checks payable to “Iowa City Community Band”.
The Iowa City Community Band is ready for a great summer of making music together. We hope that you’ll join us often, either as a musician or an audience member. See you at the park.
April Donlon serves as the publicist and plays Alto Saxophone for the Iowa City Community Band.
MEADE, Kan. (KWCH) – Wildfires burning in southwest Kansas prompted evacuation orders, a highway closure, and responses from agencies and task forces from across the state, including Sedgwick County.
As efforts to gain the upper hand on fires in Ford, Meade, Clark and Stevens counties continue Friday morning, there’s a piece of good news as the evacuation order for the city of Meade has been lifted. Overnight, residents were told to evacuate due to a fire burning south of town as firefighters battled to gain control of the wildfire. Meade Public Schools will not be in session on Friday.
Around 1 a.m. Friday, the NWS said the fire in Meade County was approaching the southern portion of the city of Meade. Late Thursday, KDOT closed K-23 because of the fire from U.S. 54 to the Oklahoma state line. Kansas Wildlife and Parks also announced Meade State Park had been evacuated late Thursday afternoon.
The Englewood Fire Department shared a video from Clark County that shows what firefighters were facing late Thursday night, with thick smoke billowing from scorched ground and flames still spreading.
Copyright 2026 KWCH. All rights reserved. To report a correction or typo, please email news@kwch.com
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