Each year, the Minnesota State Fair looks more and more like a political convention, but this year fair-goers seem to have had enough of the politicization of the Great Minnesota Get-Together.
Both major parties, the Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) Party and the state GOP, have booths at the fair with their respective candidates for elected office campaigning all day long throughout the fairgrounds.
DFL candidate for governor Rep. Tim Walz and his running mate Peggy Flanagan chronicled their adventures at the fair on Twitter, posting of video of Walz delivering “Sweet Martha’s Cookies” to the GOP booth.
“Minnesotans can show this nation that our politics doesn’t need to be narrow and divisive. It can be inclusive, it can be hopeful, it can be visionary, and it can be about one Minnesota gathering together,” Walz said to a crowd of fair-goers.
Kicking off the Minnesota State Fair with a visit to the @MinnesotaDFL booth! Together, we can make our vision for #OneMinnesota a reality. pic.twitter.com/Tg52inyLEG
— Tim Walz (@Tim_Walz) August 23, 2018
Walz’s opponent, Republican Jeff Johnson, is also making his presence known at the annual gathering, which broke its opening day attendance record Thursday with 122,695 Minnesotans in attendance.
“Excited to be at the Minnesota State Fair connecting with voters,” Johnson tweeted. “People are resonating with our message, and grassroots campaign. More than ever, Minnesotans are ready to overthrow the status quo.”
Excited to be at the #MNStateFair connecting with voters. Thanks to @SenatorBenson for the photo!
People are resonating with our message and grassroots campaign! More than ever, Minnesotans are ready to #OverthrowTheStatusQuo…
(just after they finish their corndog)!#MNGov pic.twitter.com/x0Boa8UHw4
— Jeff Johnson (@MNJeffJohnson) August 23, 2018
Republican candidate for U.S. Senate Karin Housley greeted attendants at the main entrance early Thursday morning, while her opponent, Sen. Tina Smith was in Washington, according to ABC.
One debate even occurred Thursday at the annual gathering, with Sen. Amy Klobuchar squaring off against her Republican challenger Rep. Jim Newberger.
Minnesotans, however, seem to be sick of talking politics, instead looking to the fair as an opportunity to escape from the political scene. CBS tried to interview several fair-goers to get their opinions on the candidates at the fair, but some ran away, saying “oh, God no” in response to whether they would like to talk politics.
According to CBS, Trump/Pence 2020 T-Shirts were the hottest-selling item at the GOP booth.
