Donald Trump said people should vote as if he’s on the ballot, and they did just that. In a blue tsunami, Americans declared they are unhappy with Trump and his enablers, and they want change.
Americans are unhappy with the brutality of ICE, the cover-up of the Epstein files, siding with the thug Vladimir Putin in the war against Ukraine, tariffs imposed against Canada and other countries, Trump’s pardoning of all the January 6th rioters, Trump’s corruption, which includes his making billions of dollars off the presidency and receiving free gifts, and the war against Iran.
However, most of all, people are angry about the cost of living. They can’t afford groceries, housing and medical bills, and thanks to the war in Iran, they can’t afford the skyrocketing costs of gasoline and diesel fuel.
President Donald Trump outside the White House (2026 CBS News)
Most Republicans in Congress sat quietly and supported Trump’s chaos, cruelty, and corruption. Many of them thought by supporting Trump, they will stay in office. Now, they learned the hard way.
Trump will still exert his power as commander- in-chief and ability to conduct foreign policy. The election also means that because Trump is still president and can issue vetoes, there likely will be little meaningful new legislation. However, Democrats can conduct necessary investigations and oversight.
It also means Trump will have a difficult time appointing judges, especially to the Supreme Court. In addition, incompetent nutcases, similar to Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Pete Hegseth, will not be confirmed by the Senate to Trump’s cabinet.
Perhaps now, Republicans will find their spines and act like an equal branch of government. Meantime, the Democrats should not overplay their hand, and act responsibly.
Vern Thompson (D-Fargo)
In North Dakota, the results confirm how dominant the Republicans are in the state. Many North Dakotans won’t consider voting for you if you are a Democrat.
Case in point, being Vern Thompson. He ran an aggressive, passionate campaign to be agriculture commissioner, and he still lost by 25%.
Still, Democrats can be encouraged by the results in the race for Congress. Two years ago, Republican Julie Fedorchak defeated Trygve Hammer by 39%. This time, Fedorchak beat Hammer by 20%.
The most stunning result, was the defeat of the free school meals measure, which appeared to be very popular. Instead, it lost by 1%. Hindsight is 20-20, but if the measure was statutory, rather than constitutional, it might have passed. That’s why Governor Kelly Armstrong opposed it.
Here’s hoping that Armstrong will push for a free school meals law during the next Legislative session. However, lawmakers who have already defeated the idea twice, might be reluctant to vote for a statutory law, given the results of the measure this week.
Good to see that the measure to make it virtually impossible for North Dakotans to pass a constitutional measure was defeated. However, given the fact that the Legislature hates citizens passing laws, I expect the lawmakers to try again, just as they do in almost every election. They just can’t accept the will of North Dakota voters.
As for Minnesota, the Democrats big win was expected. Minnesota voters, especially those who live in the Twin Cities metro area, were quite influenced by horrific acts of violence.
There was the barbarity of ICE, under orders by Trump. That barbarity led to the inexcusable shooting deaths of innocent protesters Renee Good and Alex Pretti, along with the unlawful arrests of many others.
Also, there was the horrific mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis, the assassination of former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, and the shootings of Minnesota State Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette.
Jim Shaw interviewing Al Franken. Courtesy KVRR-TV.
Minnesota Democrats tried to pass some meaningful gun control legislation at the last session, but that was blocked by House Speaker Lisa Demuth. Now that Minnesota Democrats control both houses of the Legislature and the governor’s office, look for that gun control bill to pass at the next session.
Here’s hoping that former senator Al Franken will be chosen to replace Amy Klobuchar in the U.S. Senate. Franken was a superb senator, who was wrongfully forced to resign from the Senate.
State Senator Rob Kupec (D-Moorhead)
If it’s not Franken, then either Representative Angie Craig (who ran for the Senate) or Secretary of State Steve Simon should be selected.
Locally, with the margin of the election just a few votes, it’s unclear if State Senator Rob Kupec was defeated. If he was, it will be a real shame, and a result of the enormous spending against him. That spending produced ads that were full of lies and distortions.
I worked with Rob at FOX News/KVRR-TV, and know what a class act he is. I also know he has been an excellent senator.
Amber Gustafson
Congratulations to Amber Gustafson for being elected the new Clay County Attorney. Amber is smart, friendly, and highly experienced.
Amber is a former student of mine at Minnesota State University Moorhead. She also worked for me as a production assistant at FOX News/KVRR-TV.
Later on, she went on to become an accomplished attorney and a judge. She had to resign from the bench so she could raise her family after the tragic death of her husband. Amber will do a terrific job.
Obed “Smoky” Williamson. Courtesy KVRR-TV.
–I’m very sorry to hear of the passing of former KXJB-TV sports anchor and sports reporter David Moulton. He worked for KXJB-TV in the 1990s, before it became part of Valley News Live. David was very talented. His sports reports were intelligent and entertaining.
Moulton spent many years working with Joe Buck and Troy Aikman during NFL broadcasts. Buck and Aikman gave a moving tribute to Moulton during last week’s Monday Night Football game, in which Aikman teared up.
–Happy Belated 90th Birthday in Heaven to Obed “Smoky” Williamson. Obed was a colorful restaurant owner known for his inane television commercials. Here’s a television story I did roughly 20 years ago about Obed/Smoky when I was news director of FOX News/KVRR-TV. Enjoy!
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