Contention was followed by congeniality on stage Wednesday night in Ely.
State Sen. Grant Hauschild (D) and his Republican challenger - Babbitt Mayor Andrea Zupancich - pulled no punches during an exceedingly testy 45-minute clash at a candidates forum held before a packed house.
The ensuing debate, involving State House candidates Roger Skraba and Aaron Kania was remarkably uneventful in comparison.
The event, sponsored by the Ely branch of the American Association of University Women and Ely’s Rotary Club, drew an almost-packed house of more than 200 people in the theater on the Vermilion campus of Minnesota North College.
Hauschild and Zupancich are squaring off in a rematch of their race four years ago, and they butted heads repeatedly over independence.
Several times, Hauschild challenged Zupancich to identify an instance in which she disagreed with the Republican party, and the incumbent rattled off instances where he disagreed with fellow Democrats.
Zupancich countered that Hauschild had little to show for his disagreements with Gov. Tim Walz over copper- nickel mining and closed the event with an attack over gun rights.
“Vote for Andrea - I won’t take your guns away,” said Zupancich.
Earlier, Hauschild pressed Zupancich over and over to publicly distance herself from her party.
“I have called out my own side just as strongly as I have called out the opposing side,” said Hauschild. “Ask my opponent if she has ever disagreed with her political party.”
Zupancich turned to Hauschild, referencing the Democrat’s opposition to the recent executive order by Walz to ban copper-nickel mining development adjacent to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
“How did that go, did he give you an answer?” said Zupancich.
Several times, Hauschild pivoted back and challenged Zupancich to identify instances in which she opposed her party, blasting federal action that reduced Medicaid benefits for many Minnesotans, calling the “One Big Beautiful Bill” some of the “most damaging legislation in our history.” “I said is there any issue that my opponent disagrees with her party on, she didn’t answer the question because she fundamentally does not disagree with anything the Republican party does,” said Hauschild. “Northern Minnesota does not need a rubber stamp. They need someone who will put northern Minnesota first.”
The forum covered a series of issues, with Zupancich reiterating her support for mining and for diversifying a regional economy she contends is too dependent on tourism.
“I’ve always supported mining,” said Zupancich. “I’ve gone down to the capitol in support of union jobs and jobs for our region. It’s a matter of being able to grow again. This region used to be tourism, logging and mining. And we can do it again. Tourism should be the icing on the cake.”
Hauschild responded and took aim at Zupancich, challenging her for supporting “right to work” legislation.
“I’m endorsed by every single trade and every single labor union in the state,” said Hauschild.
Hauschild also touted his record in St. Paul, highlighting that he “delivered” for his district and particularly the Ely area with legislation that aided Ely’s nursing home and ambulance service as well as several measures that benefited the Ely School District, among others.
Asked what would be his highest priority should he win another term, Hauschild responded: “One thing that is really hurting people is the cost, the cost of everything has gone up whether it’s gas being at $4 a gallon because of the war in Iran, which is something again that disproportionately impacts northern Minnesota.”
Hauschild and Zupancich are squaring off for a fouryear term in the evenly-divided State Senate.
It’s a rematch of a 2022 clash, which Hauschild won by about 1,000 votes.
The clash between the House candidates was serene, with the incumbent Republican Skraba and his DFL challenger Aaron Kania even finding common ground on the often-divisive issue of voter security.
Both noted that their spacious district, which is larger geographically than nine states, has a high percentage of voters who rely on mail-in ballots.
“Mail-in ballots are under attack and we are in a rural area and a large part of the people in this room need mail-in ballots,”said Kania.
Skraba said “the shortcoming of mail-in ballots is it comes automatically. If someone dies it still comes in the mail.”
Kania echoed Hauschild’s earlier contention that affordability remains one of the region’s biggest challenges.
“I’ve been knocking on the doors,” said Kania. “They are struggling. It’s affordability. The cuts from the federal level are causing that.”
Questioning turned to potential economic relief for businesses in light of the recent wildfires, and Skraba said the challenge is convincing urban legislators to sign on in support.
“It’s not as easy as going to the legislature saying ‘look, we’ve got problems, help us,’” said Skraba. “I mean both sides, Republicans and Democrats, saying ‘it happens, get over it.’ Trust me I’ve heard it already. This is when the horse trading starts. Other legislators are saying we want $150 million for ICE reparations in the metro area, and you want how much?”
Regarding potential protections for immigrants, Kania said “the number one thing we have to do is protect our constitutional rights. We all have freedoms. How many people in this room are immigrants or came from immigrant families? The system isn’t the way it was when Ellis Island was here. I think we need to go back to our roots.”
Skraba responded “The fundamental question needs to be asked -why aren’t you legal? Is there a path we can get you to so you’re not illegal?”
Asked how he might be different than Republicans, Kania said “I would boil it down to I care. I care about people. When it comes to health care, I care about people. When it comes to clean water, I care about people. I think that’s one of the biggest distinguishings between us.”
Kania said he talked to Skraba before he filed for office and said “it’s about giving people a choice.”
Skraba said “I too care about people. I call myself an old Democrat. A Jim Oberstar Democrat. Pro life pro gun pro labor.”
The forum comes in advance of the Nov. 3 general election and with early voting slated to begin later in the month.
Skraba is seeking a third term in the Minnesota House. He won the seat from Democrat Rob Ecklund in a tight 2022 race and scored a comfortable re-election win two years later.
Wednesday’s event was the first of three candidates forums scheduled to be held in Ely - all at Vermilion.
The forum was taped for future viewing on Ely’s public access cable television channel 98, as well as on YouTube.
Candidates for Ely city offices are invited to an event at Vermilion on Thursday, Sept. 10, from 7 to 9 pm.
The first 45 minutes will involve the two candidates for mayor - incumbent Heidi Omerza and Emily Roose.
Then those running for council (Abby Dare, Angela Campbell, Al Forsman, Lacy Squier, Mark Zupec and Josh Brang) will have the remaining time to respond to questions.
The forum for school board candidates Jen Westlund, Derekah Kingery, Steve Hornstein, Baily Belehar, Joe Weise, and John Kannas will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 30 at 7 p.m.
