“most people in northern minn are soc libs and fiscal con”
I think you inverted the adjectives. The stereotypical voter in northern MN is socially conservative (pro-life, pro-gun) but economically liberal (populist, protectionist, all for federal subsidies), à la longtime Duluth Congressman Jim Oberstar (defeated by Chip Cravaack in 2010) and longtime Otter Tail Congressman Collin Peterson (who is still in Congress).