From the column: “The Buckman Bank Tavern and the George and the Dragon Pub, just 95 miles apart, are mirror images of their respective communities.”
The George and the Dragon Public House is in the heart of Minnesota Harris country, in Lynnhurst, Minnesota.
(Contributed photo by Dave Berger)
Opinion Column by Dave Berger
Wednesday, December 18, 2024 at 1:00 PM
It’s been over a month since the 2024 presidential election, and many are still taking stock of the results. Clearly, we remain a divided nation. While former President Donald Trump convincingly defeated Vice President Kamala Harris in the Electoral College 312 to 226, the popular vote was much closer with 49.9% for Trump and 48.4% for Harris, a margin of just 1.5 percentage points.
By examining the election results on the Minnesota Secretary of State website, it is easy to discover the locations of support for Trump and the places that supported Harris within Minnesota. Comparing these two areas might shed some light on why we differ so much in our presidential politics.
Statewide, three of the precincts voting the most for Trump were in Morrison County just east of Little Falls, along Minnesota Highway 25. Buckman Township, Buh Township, and Pierz Township voted an average of 91.55% for Trump with an average of only 7.05% voting for Harris.
The small, working-class town of Buckman, population 312, is at the center of Minnesota Trump country. Visiting folks there, I found them very friendly and open. In particular, the people at the family-owned Buckman Bank Tavern were quite insightful and amiable.
The Buckman Bank Tavern is in the heart of Minnesota Trump country, in Buckman, Minnesota.
(Contributed photo by Dave Berger)
The tavern is housed in the old Buckman State Bank building, circa 1917. It still contains the original bank vault. In fact, the owners have painted the front door to look just like the bank vault door.
The tavern is a charming place with a myriad of neon signs, flags, and other sports- and beverage-related decorations. In many ways, it is exactly what is imagined when you think of a classic, traditional, no-frills bar — complete with comfortable, high-back stools, pool tables, dart leagues, and pull tabs.
There are two flags on the tavern walls that signal the political leanings of the community. Toward the back is a red, white, and blue “Trump 2024 Make America Great Again!” flag, and near the front is a flag with a photo of Gov. Tim Walz wearing a dunce cap with the message, “My governor is an idiot.”
Statewide, three of the precincts that voted the most for Harris are in Hennepin County in Minneapolis, just east and south of Lake Harriet. These precincts voted an average of 91.33% for Harris, with an average of only 6.42% voting for Trump. They are in the neighborhoods of Lynnhurst, King Field, and East Harriet.
The bustling upper-middle-class neighborhood of Lynnhurst, population 5,691, is at the center of Minnesota Harris country. Visiting folks there, I found them very friendly and open. In particular, the people at the family-owned George and the Dragon Public House were quite insightful and amiable.
The pub is housed in a building built in 2010 and contains Patina, a high-end gift shop, and the refined chic French bistro Saint Genevieve.
The pub is a charming place with lots of soft wood tones, appealing colors, and delicate lighting. The walls look like an art gallery with lovely paintings done by a local artist. In many ways, it is exactly what is imagined when you think of an eloquent restaurant complete with chef, maître d’, and boutique bar that sells wine and craft beers.
There are two signs in the front window of the pub that signal the political leanings of the community. One sign has a picture of four diverse young people with one wearing a shirt that reads “# I Can’t Breathe” and a larger caption: “No Justice, No Peace.” The other sign has the symbol and name for “World Central Kitchen,” which indicates George and the Dragon has partnered with World Central Kitchen to provide meals to those in need in the Twin Cities.
The Buckman Bank Tavern and the George and the Dragon Pub, just 95 miles apart, are mirror images of their respective communities. The tavern with simple comfort food like chicken strips and mini corndogs shows a desire for simple and clear politics without ambiguity, while the intricate chicken Milanese and steak au poivre of the pub shows a desire for diverse, complicated and involved political perspectives.
The menus reflect the mentalities of these two subcultures.
Dave Berger of Maple Grove, Minnesota, is a retired sociology professor, a freelance writer, author, and a regular contributor to the News Tribune Opinion page.
