MMA Joins Coalition That Hopes to “Reduce the Rancor” in Politics

March 21, 2024

The MMA has joined a statewide campaign that calls on Minnesotans across the political spectrum to help reduce hostile polarization during what promises to be a politically divisive election year. 

Called “Reduce the Rancor, Minnesota,” the campaign is sponsored by the nonprofit Braver Angels and championed by the chairs of the state’s two major political parties and 21 organizations that include the MMA, elected officials, colleges and universities, Minnesota Public Radio, professional associations, and religious and civic groups.  

In a kick-off event held March 11 at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, David Hann, chairman of the Minnesota Republican Party, and Ken Martin, chairman of the Democrat-Farmer-Labor (DFL) Party, addressed students, campaign partners and Braver Angels members. The MMA was represented by President Laurel Ries, MD. 

MMA President Laurel Ries, MD, (fourth from the right) took part in the Reduce the Rancor, Minnesota, kick-off on March 11.

In developing the initiative, Bill Doherty, a co-founder of Braver Angels and a University of Minnesota professor of family social science, told the crowd of about 160: “A key campaign message is that we can learn to ‘disagree better.’ This does not mean giving up cherished values or policy beliefs. It means learning to disagree with respect rather than rancor.”  

Specifically, the campaign asks sponsoring organizations and individual Minnesotans to take at least one action to lower the temperature in their conversations about politics. See the Reduce the Rancor website for partners and ways to help reduce political hostility.  

To do this, many of the endorsing organizations will be working to increase their capacity to offer their own depolarizing and bridge-building activities in collaboration with Braver Angels. The campaign relies on proven approaches that Braver Angels has developed and used since 2016.  

Reduce the Rancor, Minnesota Partners 

• Advocates for Better Health 
• Association of Minnesota Counties 
• Citizens League 
• College of St. Benedict and St. John’s University 
• Episcopal Church in Minnesota 
• Gustavus Adolphus College 
• League of Women Voters of Minnesota 
• Macalester College 
• Majority in the Middle 
• Minnesota Council of Churches 
• Minnesota Humanities Center 
• Minnesota Justice Research Center 
• Minnesota Medical Association 
• Minnesota Public Radio 
• Minnesota School Boards Association 
• Rotary District 5960, Roseville 
• Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota 
• Transform Minnesota 
• University of Minnesota, Twin Cities 
• University of Northwestern, St. Paul 
• University of St. Thomas