Minnesota farmers weigh Trump tariffs against diesel costs ahead of midterms
Producers in southern and central Minnesota describe a difficult choice between a Republican administration that raised operating costs and a Democratic opposition they feel has ignored rural concerns.
By Larissa Shah ·
Robert Roelofs, a livestock and crop farmer in Garden City, Minnesota, says he feels he is voting for the lesser of two evils in this year's midterm elections. Roelofs notes that the past two years have been difficult despite promises from the Trump administration to support agriculture. He cites the war in Iran for driving up diesel costs and points to unresolved trade disruptions as key sources of financial stress.
Roelofs, a long-time Republican, has not yet seen the benefits promised to farmers. He remains disappointed with the current administration's performance but also finds state Democrats frustrating due to regulatory burdens. He described this election cycle as one of the more challenging he has faced as a rural Minnesota voter. Amy Frederiksen, a Republican political strategist, said farmers are caught between a rock and a hard place. She noted that while Trump accelerated a shift toward Republican votes in greater Minnesota, Democrats have recently focused on affordability without re-engaging the agricultural community.
Jason Keck, a livestock and crop farmer in Steele County, believes the administration's tariffs will improve U.S. trade positions in the long run, even if they have caused short-term pain and volatility. Keck points to positive developments such as changes to crop insurance and investments in domestic fertilizer manufacturing. He plans to vote for Republican U.S. Senate candidate Michele Tafoya, whom he found well-informed on agricultural issues during interviews with Minnesota Farm Bureau members. He views her Democratic opponent, Peggy Flanagan, as carrying baggage from state-level fraud scandals. For the governor's race, Keck prefers Republican nominee Lisa Demuth over DFL nominee Amy Klobuchar, citing Demuth's local ties and fiscal responsibility.
Andy Maier, a crop farmer in Wilkin County, has not yet decided who to support. He supports the administration's push for deregulation but says the financial pain from trade policies and doubled diesel prices outweighs those benefits. Maier worries that keeping Klobuchar in Minnesota as governor would remove a powerful advocate for farmers from Washington, D.C. Roelofs says he will likely vote Republican for both state and federal seats. He expects a Democratic victory at the national level would increase Republican resistance to President Trump.
The Minnesota Farm Bureau endorsed Tafoya following candidate interviews. Keck said he was impressed by her awareness of agricultural issues. The group's endorsement adds weight to the Republican bid for the U.S. Senate seat in a state where rural voters are closely monitoring how both parties address cost of living and trade policy.
