Live from the polls in three competitive districts in Minnesota

CATHY WURZER: It's 12:06. Under eight hours remain until the polls close in Minnesota. MPR News reporters are spread out across the state talking to voters right now. We're going to check in with two of them.

First, we're going to go to Minnesota's second congressional district. The race to represent that area in the US House is shaping up to be one of the most competitive in the state. Three-term DFL incumbent Angie Craig is facing a challenge from former federal prosecutor and Republican nominee Joe Teirab.

The district comprises much of the South Metro area, but it also stretches deep into rural South Central Minnesota. Reporter Sarah Thamer has been out this morning talking to voters in Burnsville, and she joins us to talk about what they're telling her. Hi, Sarah.

SARAH THAMER: Hi, Cathy.

CATHY WURZER: Where are you? What's it like down there?

SARAH THAMER: Yeah,. So I'm at the Dakota County Library in Burnsville. That's just off of Burn Haven Drive. It's a rainy afternoon, I'll tell you that. But it's certainly not stopping anybody from coming out to vote today.

It's been a constant stream people going in and coming out. I spoke with election officials here who tell me before the polls were open, they already had about 50 voters waiting outside. But they were able to go inside because it was cold and raining.

So far today, they say they've had over 300 people vote. I'm also told that 38% of the precincts here voted early.

CATHY WURZER: So those 300 people voting today, is that considered pretty decent?

SARAH THAMER: Yeah. They say it's pretty decent. They haven't had any issues. It's been pretty quick compared to previous years. So no issues yet.

CATHY WURZER: Good. All right. Say, what's motivating the folks to get out in the rain and vote today?

SARAH THAMER: Well, being in an evenly split district, I noticed a variety of voices and different reasons for why people are voting today, whether that be the economy, abortion, taxes, health care, immigration, just to name a few. I spoke with some people, including Dinorah Mirahori, who shared with me that reasons that she'll be voting for Angie Craig.

DINORAH MIRAHORI: Racism is probably the biggest one, and just women's rights, and no hate, and to have love for everybody, regardless of their beliefs, their choices.

CATHY WURZER: So that was an Angie Craig supporter, obviously. What are folks telling you about challenger Joe Teirab?

SARAH THAMER: Well, of course, there are people who are voting for both. As I mentioned earlier, this is a really tight race. Teirab is a former Marine and federal prosecutor, as you said. He's also the son of an immigrant from Sudan.

He's campaigning on priorities like economic reform, public safety, and stricter border policies. Those are just some reasons why Julie Carstens, who I spoke with earlier, said she'll be voting for him.

JULIE CARSTENS: I could go on and on about the money that is spent on things that could be spent better. But we do need to help people in their mental health and their addictions. But we need to also stop those things from happening.

CATHY WURZER: So there is the big congressional race in CD2-- of course, there's the really big race at the top of the ballot, right? What are voters telling you about who they're voting for President?

SARAH THAMER: Yeah, so it's really indicative of what you mentioned earlier, Cathy, about this district covering south, suburban, and rural areas, and has a pretty balanced voter base between Democrats and Republicans, really making it a battleground in Minnesota. It's one of the few districts, just to give it a little bit of context, in the country where voters favored Donald Trump in 2016 and then Joe Biden in 2020.

You're really seeing that here today. It's been a mix between Harris and Trump this morning, and even some voters who didn't necessarily want to go on record but said they are not happy with either party.

CATHY WURZER: All right. Sarah Thamer, thank you. We appreciate it.

SARAH THAMER: Thank you, Cathy.

CATHY WURZER: Sarah Thamer is in CD2, congressional district 2, in the Burnsville area. We're going to go north right now on I-35 to Duluth. Reporter Dan Crocker is up there.

He's spending today in two townships that were extremely close in the 2020 presidential race. One of those townships is also voting in a competitive race for the Minnesota House, the results of which could help decide control of the state legislature. Dan Crocker is on the line. All right, my friend, where are you right now?

DAN CROCKER: Well, I am outside of Thompson Town Hall, which is outside of Esko, between Cloquet and Duluth, as you know. And it's been busy here, Cathy.

I talked to folks who've been, the lines have been steady, about a half hour wait for people to vote here. I talked to a voter who was hoping to come between the morning rush and the lunch rush and was surprised to find a midday rush. But people said it's been smooth.

The line has moved quickly. I actually talked to a recent transplant from Washington state who said that she appreciated voting in person because for the past several decades, she's voted by mail in Washington, which is mostly how it's done out there, she said.

And then earlier today, Cathy, I was out at Midway Township, which is a smaller township out at Proctor, and steady traffic there-- not as long of lines, but definitely steady traffic.

CATHY WURZER: OK. So what are voters saying about what's getting them to the polls today?

DAN CROCKER: Well, first of all, I've heard a lot about civic pride. People pride themselves on voting in Minnesota, having very high turnout, especially during these presidential elections. So that's the first thing driving folks to the polls.

And then I did not hear a lot about local races for the state house or even for Congress. Really, what's driving folks to the polls today, at least from the people I talked to, is high interest in the presidential race.

CATHY WURZER: So not even the CD8 race between Stauber and Schultz are really bringing people out, I guess? It's the presidential race?

DAN CROCKER: That's what I heard. Yeah.

CATHY WURZER: Yeah. Can I ask you, these are two really interesting townships that you're in, Midway and then Thompson-- when you look back on other presidential races, how have those two townships broken when it comes to who they supported in the past?

DAN CROCKER: It's really interesting. That's why I came here, because, like I said, these are in between Duluth and Cloquet. Duluth, of course, is heavily Democratic. Cloquet, also, is strongly Democratic. But these townships are very, very 50/50.

Midway Township is only separated by 2 votes in the last presidential election in 2020. And where I am now, Thompson Township, was also really close. Trump had about 51% of votes to 49% for Biden four years ago.

CATHY WURZER: Wow. Have you had a chance to talk to anybody?

DAN CROCKER: I sure have. So I've talked to supporters of both candidates, Cathy. And for Harris supporters, I've really heard a strong anti-Trump message. Folks are excited about Harris, but they're really equally motivated to prevent Trump from winning the White House again.

These folks talked about a fear about democracy and anxiety for the country if Trump wins. And for these folks, it wasn't so much about the issues. It really was more about character. Let's hear from Walt Pfister in Midway Township. He works for Viking Coca-Cola bottling in Duluth.

WALT PFISTER: For me, it's really just about protecting the Constitution and just really kind of keeping America what it's been-- a democracy. I've just seen too much of Donald Trump's kind of trying to take the election, and twist the results, and stuff like that. I just don't agree with that. And I'm really somebody that's voted for both sides of the aisle my entire life, but not this time.

DAN CROCKER: And then, Cathy, for Trump supporters, I heard more about the issues, issues like immigration. Of course, he's been talking about that so much, really resonated with folks. Also, Second Amendment rights were important with some voters who I talked to, concerns about election security. I heard that from voters as well.

But the main theme I really heard from Trump supporters was a desire to get back to what these folks remember as more prosperous times when President Trump was president the first time. Let's hear from Preston Fuller here in Thompson Township.

He's 25, works in retail. He actually didn't vote four years ago, so this is his first time voting for President.

PRESTON FULLER: I remember gas prices were down. And I feel like everything was more affordable. And now, everything's just been going up crazy because of Bidenomics or whatever, call it.

I feel like it's hard for a lot of people right now, especially with the way the economy is and trying to find places to live or rent whatever-- everything's so high, and groceries are high, and stuff like that. Yeah, that's the main thing for me. I feel like we need to get back to where we were back in like 2016, 17.

CATHY WURZER: This is his first time voting-- interesting. Say, of course, everyone's focused on the presidential race, but I personally, as a reporter here in the state of Minnesota, really interested in control of the Minnesota legislature. And there's this competitive House race in the Midway Township area. That's district 3B. So what's going on with that race?

DAN CROCKER: Yeah. So that's Natalie Zeleznicar, who shocked a lot of people when she defeated Mary Murphy two years ago, who was one of the longest serving state representatives in state history. But she's facing a tough match with Mark Munger, who's a well-known figure here, a retired judge, has a famous Munger, politically affiliated last name.

That race was exceedingly close two years ago, just 30 votes. And it's the most expensive state house race in the state this year. So a lot of attention, a lot of ads.

But, Cathy, it's interesting-- a lot of folks who I talked to weren't really that focused on that race. The one thing I did hear from a couple of voters is just sort of fatigue with the ads that they've been seeing. Like I said, just tons of spending, a lot of negative ads on both sides.

And one voter, Cathy, it was really interesting, said she's seen so many ads for and against, negative ads about both candidates, that when she came time to vote, it was actually kind of hard to sort through all that, and remember what you heard, and figure out who she wanted to vote for.

CATHY WURZER: Yeah, It's been pretty intense when it comes to the ads that we've all seen. Dan Crocker, I know you're busy. I appreciate your time. Thanks for the report.

DAN CROCKER: Happy to do it, Cathy.

CATHY WURZER: Dan Crocker is our reporter based in Duluth.