One year in

It was one year ago today that I got off the fence and joined the Republican Party. 

The first BPOU meeting I went to was rather a somber affair, with the co-chair opening the meeting by recounting the past few months- Republicans had lost the White House, failed to dislodge Tim Walz from the 1st CD, the Coleman-Franken recount was still ongoing, and in Owatonna, the DFL gained a house seat that had spent decades in conservative hands.  The topic of discussion was how to lick our wounds, regroup and carry on.  Needless to say, it was a quiet discussion, and the meeting barely lasted an hour.

One year later, the change could not be more evident.  We are one week away from a special election for SD 26 where the GOP drew 7 candidates for the endorsement, and the Democrats had to use persuasion to get only one to come forward.  The GOP endorsing convention had over 100 delegates voting their preference, while the DFL had 16 delegates with only one candidate to vote for.  Grass roots turnout for Mike Parry has been great, and the door knocking and phone calling has been getting high positive response rates.

Last night's Steele County BPOU meeting went almost three hours, with no less than seven state and federal candidates stopping by to introduce themselves.  Each candidate mentioned the political earthquake set to happen in Massachusetts today, and the prospects of a conservative tsunami to follow in November.  It was almost difficult to get through the meeting agenda because every few minutes someone would interrupt with a new idea. 

What a difference a year makes.