I live near the west end of the Boundary Waters. My family’s favorite spot is the Little Indian Sioux River entry point off the Echo Trail. This has been a retreat for me since I first went there as a 10-year-old and discovered the magic of these north woods.
I was glad to see Gov. Walz’s order to halt all new environmental review and permitting work on proposals for copper-nickel mining in the Rainy River headwaters. We who believe (based on ample scientific study) that it is impossible to do sulfide mining in a water rich environment are celebrating his action.
I am alarmed, however, to hear some DFLers say they are so angry at Sen. Grant Hauschild for his statements against Walz’s order that they might withhold their votes for him and other DFLers.
As unhappy as I am with Sen. Hauschild’s disagreement with Walz’s order, I plan to vote for him in November. I hope my friends who share my love and concern for the BWCAW will do so as well, despite our disappointment.
Here’s my message to my friends who (like me) wish that Sen. Hauschild were more in line with our views on this and are now questioning how they should express their sentiments:
Withholding our votes for Hauschild will not help save the Boundary Waters. It will only serve to elect the Republican candidate and lose the DFL majority in the Senate. Do we think his opponent will be more in line with our thinking about copper-nickel mining and the Boundary Waters? Of course not. Do we think a GOP majority in the Senate will be sympathetic to our views and hold hearings on the things we care about? Of course not.
If, in addition, the GOP also takes the House (where they are currently tied for control), and (heaven forbid) they take the governorship as well, we would give Trump what he wants: a MAGA state with no bars to his scorched earth policies.
At stake are human rights, labor rights, marriage rights, public education, family leave, access to childcare, development of green energy programs, protection from violations of the Bill of Rights, the ability of women to make health care decisions about their bodies, and much more.
Withholding our votes for Democrats in these tight races could result in great harm to those who are the most vulnerable people in the state, especially immigrants and members of the LGBT+ community.
Minnesota could become Mississippi or Alabama.
Please don’t help Trump, MAGA, and the authors of Project 2025 to realize their wildest dreams: Minnesota in their pocket.
 Leah Rogne
Greaney