Minnesotans' reactions to the presidential outcome reflect the stark division at the ballot box

At the ballot box on Tuesday and in the post-election comments on Wednesday, Minnesota voters were sharply divided on the presidential election.

Republican Donald Trump did not win Minnesota on his way to a second term in the White House – he trailed Democrat Kamala Harris in the state by about 51 percent to 47 percent.

But that result — even with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as Harris' running mate — was an improvement for Trump over 2020, when he finished about 8 points behind Joe Biden.

Daniela de los Rios of Minneapolis was among the Minnesota residents who voted for Trump and said Wednesday she was struck by the “hope in people's eyes when they talked about him winning,” the 26-year-old said , she did not vote in the previous two presidential elections.

De los Rios said she liked the energy of the Trump campaign and the inclusion of “innovators” like businessman Elon Musk, who she said would not be given opportunities to contribute under a Democratic administration.

A second Trump presidency, she said, “just feels like it's going to be a lot more innovative and what we could use right now rather than just sticking with the same old thing.”

Dominique Evans, 32, of Minneapolis, voted for Harris and said she feared Trump's victory would mean some of the Biden administration's policies – such as student loan forgiveness – would be eliminated.

“I'm afraid we're going to lose a lot of things, especially the fact that we're a woman,” Evans said. “I feel like we are losing a lot of freedom and a lot of resources. It’s really hard to plan for the future right now because I can’t really understand what’s next and what impact it will have on me and the rest of my lineage.”

Harris supporter Ryan Bibo was in Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport on Wednesday morning and said he was surprised at how “overwhelming” the GOP success was after what appeared to be a close election campaign.

Of a second Trump presidency, Bibo said: “I think at the end of the day it will hopefully be a repeat of the last time, where the crazier things didn't happen and he mostly managed to keep it under control,” Bibo expressed particular concerns about Trump's economic policies, including tariffs.

Bibo said he sees a silver lining in the quick, definitive outcome of the race – and avoids the potential for weeks of uncertainty and unrest.