--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Minnesotans are ticket splitters. They…" description: "\"Minnesotans are ticket splitters. They look to the candidate, not the party, which is the way it should be, and that's only going to help me.\" — Erik P..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3c/erik-paulsen-30333_candidate_minnesotans-are-ticket-splitters-they-lo_1137269.jpg" --- # Minnesotans are ticket splitters. They look to the… ![“Minnesotans are ticket splitters. They look to the candidate, not the party, which is the way it should be, and that's only going to help me.” quote by Erik Paulsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3c/erik-paulsen-30333_candidate_minnesotans-are-ticket-splitters-they-lo_1137269.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3c/erik-paulsen-30333_candidate_minnesotans-are-ticket-splitters-they-lo_1137269.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3c/erik-paulsen-30333_candidate_minnesotans-are-ticket-splitters-they-lo_1137269.jpg) > “Minnesotans are ticket splitters. They look to the candidate, not the party, which is the way it should be, and that's only going to help me.” [Erik Paulsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-paulsen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Minnesotans evaluate candidates individually rather than voting strictly by party, which benefits the speaker. **In simple terms:** Voters focus on people, not parties. Key Takeaway Encourage candidate‑focused voting. Themes politics voter behavior individualism Mood analytical optimistic Type political observational When to use this quote - elections - primary campaigns - voter outreach Key Concepts candidate evaluation party independence Questions to Reflect On - How can we further promote candidate over party voting? - What barriers prevent voters from ignoring party labels? A Different Perspective Party loyalty can still dominate in polarized environments. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Candidate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/candidate/) [Candidate Party](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/candidate-party-3154844/) [Going](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going/) [Help](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/help/) [Look](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/look/) [Look Candidate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/look-candidate-3154846/) [Me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/me/) [Minnesotans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/minnesotans/) [Minnesotans Ticket](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/minnesotans-ticket-3154843/) [Only](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/only/) [Party](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/party/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Ticket](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ticket/) [Ticket Splitters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ticket-splitters-3154845/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Which](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/which/) ## Related quotes > [I will look for a candidate, Republican or Democrat, who seems to be on the way or understands how to resolve the economic difficulties…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/i-will-look-for-a-candidate-republican-or-democrat-who-seems-to-be-on/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [In no case can I permit myself to be a candidate of any party or yield myself to any party schemes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zachary-taylor/in-no-case-can-i-permit-myself-to-be-a-candidate-of-any-party-or/) [Zachary Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zachary-taylor/) > [After thinking carefully about how I can best help my fellow Minnesotans, I have decided to not seek election for a different office in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-paulsen/after-thinking-carefully-about-how-i-can-best-help-my-fellow/) [Erik Paulsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-paulsen/) > [I think there are some people in Washington who are pretty out of step with what people want, certainly what Minnesotans want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-smith/i-think-there-are-some-people-in-washington-who-are-pretty-out-of/) [Tina Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-smith/) > [It was cold out there, bitter, biting, cutting, piercing, hyperborean, marmoreal cold, and there were all these Minnesotans running around outdoors, happy as lambs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kuralt/it-was-cold-out-there-bitter-biting-cutting-piercing-hyperborean/) [Charles Kuralt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kuralt/) > [I love the State Fair. It's an event that really brings the urban and the rural Minnesotans together. Rural people get a chance to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-klobuchar/i-love-the-state-fair-it-s-an-event-that-really-brings-the-urban-and/) [Amy Klobuchar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-klobuchar/) > [Minnesotans who bought scenic art usually avoided winter scenes. Hannah didn't find that surprising. Minnesota winters were long. Why would they want to buy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanne-fluke/minnesotans-who-bought-scenic-art-usually-avoided-winter-scenes/) [Joanne Fluke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanne-fluke/) > [I think most Minnesotans are in a grey zone politically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-painter/i-think-most-minnesotans-are-in-a-grey-zone-politically/) [Richard Painter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-painter/) > [Minnesotans hate zeal. Zeal is right up there on the list of suspicious emotional behaviors like joy and despair. Always err on the side…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tami-hoag/minnesotans-hate-zeal-zeal-is-right-up-there-on-the-list-of/) [Tami Hoag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tami-hoag/) > [Minnesotans really think they run the whole world, I love that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louie-anderson/minnesotans-really-think-they-run-the-whole-world-i-love-that/) [Louie Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louie-anderson/) > [Minnesotans know the difference between the job of satirist and the job of senator. And so do I.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-franken/minnesotans-know-the-difference-between-the-job-of-satirist-and-the/) [Al Franken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-franken/) > [My fellow Minnesotans join me in mourning the loss of America's 40th President and celebrating the life of a man who personified both the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-ramstad/my-fellow-minnesotans-join-me-in-mourning-the-loss-of-america-s-40th/) [Jim Ramstad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-ramstad/) > [When we go out, we have our favorite places, and the great thing about Minnesota is that most Minnesotans are pretty respectful of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-thielen/when-we-go-out-we-have-our-favorite-places-and-the-great-thing-about/) [Adam Thielen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-thielen/) > [I am a Minnesotan, and not just because I root for the Vikings and the Twins. I like the Minnesota-nice sensibility. I like the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-franken/i-am-a-minnesotan-and-not-just-because-i-root-for-the-vikings-and-the/) [Al Franken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-franken/) > [As Minnesotans, we value education and preparing the next generation for success in their careers and their lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-phillips/as-minnesotans-we-value-education-and-preparing-the-next-generation/) [Dean Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-phillips/) ## More by Erik Paulsen > [There is no question we need an energy policy overhaul in America. A key part of that overhaul must include moving forward aggressively with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-paulsen/there-is-no-question-we-need-an-energy-policy-overhaul-in-america-a/) [Erik Paulsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-paulsen/) > [Since I joined Congress, I've been shocked at how many times we were forced to vote on 1,000-plus-page bills without ample time to read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-paulsen/since-i-joined-congress-i-ve-been-shocked-at-how-many-times-we-were/) [Erik Paulsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-paulsen/) > [Any law can be changed, obviously, at any time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-paulsen/any-law-can-be-changed-obviously-at-any-time/) [Erik Paulsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-paulsen/) > [As Congress debates overhauling the nation's health care system, it should not authorize a reform plan that would further our financial woes. We must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-paulsen/as-congress-debates-overhauling-the-nation-s-health-care-system-it/) [Erik Paulsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-paulsen/) > [The medical device tax repeal is the only proposal that had the most bipartisan votes coming out of the House and has the opportunity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-paulsen/the-medical-device-tax-repeal-is-the-only-proposal-that-had-the-most/) [Erik Paulsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-paulsen/) > [Our democracy is predicated on the belief that our government should be accessible by the people. We cannot allow ourselves to give in to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-paulsen/our-democracy-is-predicated-on-the-belief-that-our-government-should/) [Erik Paulsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-paulsen/) > [The bottom line is we need a tax code that is more simpler, that is more fairer, that gets rid of the special carve-outs,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-paulsen/the-bottom-line-is-we-need-a-tax-code-that-is-more-simpler-that-is/) [Erik Paulsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-paulsen/) > [College campuses are a focus of prevention efforts for meningococcal disease because of the increased incidence of the disease during adolescence and young adulthood,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-paulsen/college-campuses-are-a-focus-of-prevention-efforts-for-meningococcal/) [Erik Paulsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-paulsen/) > [I'm not a supporter of ObamaCare. I voted to repeal it, to defund it, et cetera. But we do need to move on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-paulsen/i-m-not-a-supporter-of-obamacare-i-voted-to-repeal-it-to-defund-it-et/) [Erik Paulsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-paulsen/) > [I've criticized Republicans for their lack of fiscal discipline when they controlled Congress before 2007. However, that is no excuse to just continue with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-paulsen/i-ve-criticized-republicans-for-their-lack-of-fiscal-discipline-when/) [Erik Paulsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-paulsen/) > [Spending more time with my colleagues outside the Capitol helps build bipartisan relationships.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-paulsen/spending-more-time-with-my-colleagues-outside-the-capitol-helps-build/) [Erik Paulsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-paulsen/) > [We need a tax code that promotes savings, investment, achievement, innovation, and hard work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-paulsen/we-need-a-tax-code-that-promotes-savings-investment-achievement/) [Erik Paulsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-paulsen/) > [I just want to listen and build relationships with as many of my colleagues as possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-paulsen/i-just-want-to-listen-and-build-relationships-with-as-many-of-my/) [Erik Paulsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-paulsen/) > [After thinking carefully about how I can best help my fellow Minnesotans, I have decided to not seek election for a different office in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-paulsen/after-thinking-carefully-about-how-i-can-best-help-my-fellow/) [Erik Paulsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-paulsen/) > [Thats been hard being away from the family, because Washington can be lonely. When you tune out of all the activity, thats like, youre…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-paulsen/thats-been-hard-being-away-from-the-family-because-washington-can-be/) [Erik Paulsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-paulsen/) [Explore all 17 Erik Paulsen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-paulsen/) ## More Candidate quotes > [I know of not one Republican candidate that would not appear publicly with Mitt Romney and I know many Democrats that don't even want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-sessions/i-know-of-not-one-republican-candidate-that-would-not-appear-publicly/) [Pete Sessions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-sessions/) > [As a registered Democrat, I am praying for a credible presidential candidate to emerge from the younger tier of politicians in their late 40s.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/as-a-registered-democrat-i-am-praying-for-a-credible-presidential/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [Obama did organize a great large number of people and many enthusiastic people, what's called in the press 'Obama's Army.' But the army is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/obama-did-organize-a-great-large-number-of-people-and-many/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Candidate Trump held out his hand to Vladimir Putin. He rejected further U.S. intervention in Syria other than to smash ISIS.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/candidate-trump-held-out-his-hand-to-vladimir-putin-he-rejected/) [Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/) > [You should not be misled about the so-called single opposition candidate. There are so many of them now that you will lack the fingers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-lukashenko/you-should-not-be-misled-about-the-so-called-single-opposition/) [Alexander Lukashenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-lukashenko/) > [I want to say that I cannot be intimidated or stopped. In order to put an end to various attempts to get rid of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vitali-klitschko/i-want-to-say-that-i-cannot-be-intimidated-or-stopped-in-order-to-put/) [Vitali Klitschko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vitali-klitschko/) > [Today, I'm a candidate for the office of president of the United States of America. My kids can't believe I just said that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-huntsman-jr/today-i-m-a-candidate-for-the-office-of-president-of-the-united/) [Jon Huntsman, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-huntsman-jr/) > [I think Trump is a very interesting candidate in this sense: I think he has cross-party appeal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/i-think-trump-is-a-very-interesting-candidate-in-this-sense-i-think/) [Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/) > [I do think that sometimes, especially coming into this going straight from activism to being a candidate or to being a person who potentially,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandria-ocasio-cortez/i-do-think-that-sometimes-especially-coming-into-this-going-straight/) [Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandria-ocasio-cortez/) > [Even though I don't agree with Donald Trump on everything, and I think there may be certain things or statements of his that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-zeldin/even-though-i-don-t-agree-with-donald-trump-on-everything-and-i-think/) [Lee Zeldin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-zeldin/) > [I'm not quite certain how you can force a candidate to stick by the rules.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwen-ifill/i-m-not-quite-certain-how-you-can-force-a-candidate-to-stick-by-the/) [Gwen Ifill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwen-ifill/) > [I am not a fan of Mitt Romney, but I admit that he is, politically speaking, a good candidate for president. He has no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-schlossberg/i-am-not-a-fan-of-mitt-romney-but-i-admit-that-he-is-politically/) [Jack Schlossberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-schlossberg/) > [I am aware of the responsibility I am taking on as the chancellor. Things have developed very quickly for me in recent years, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-kurz/i-am-aware-of-the-responsibility-i-am-taking-on-as-the-chancellor/) [Sebastian Kurz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-kurz/) > [For people to even think that I'd be considered or a good candidate for a supporting actress nomination is mind blowing to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naya-rivera/for-people-to-even-think-that-i-d-be-considered-or-a-good-candidate/) [Naya Rivera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naya-rivera/) > [A candidate's faith is not the only consideration, but should be a major consideration in electing the president of the United States.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jeffress/a-candidate-s-faith-is-not-the-only-consideration-but-should-be-a/) [Robert Jeffress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jeffress/) [Browse all 529 Candidate quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/candidate/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Minnesotans are ticket splitters. They look to the candidate, not the party, which is the way it should be, and that's only going to help me.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Erik Paulsen" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-paulsen/minnesotans-are-ticket-splitters-they-look-to-the-candidate-not-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Candidate" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-paulsen/minnesotans-are-ticket-splitters-they-look-to-the-candidate-not-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3c/erik-paulsen-30333_candidate_minnesotans-are-ticket-splitters-they-lo_1137269.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3c/erik-paulsen-30333_candidate_minnesotans-are-ticket-splitters-they-lo_1137269.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3c/erik-paulsen-30333_candidate_minnesotans-are-ticket-splitters-they-lo_1137269.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Minnesotans are ticket splitters. They look to the candidate, not the party, which is the way it should be…” — Erik Paulsen", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Erik Paulsen", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-paulsen/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Minnesotans are ticket splitters. They look...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-paulsen/minnesotans-are-ticket-splitters-they-look-to-the-candidate-not-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-paulsen/minnesotans-are-ticket-splitters-they-look-to-the-candidate-not-the/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```