Opinion editor's note: Star Tribune Opinion publishes a mix of national and local commentaries online and in print each day. To contribute, click here . ••• The headline from last Tuesday's primaries was the resounding defeat of U.
S. Rep. Jamaal Bowman, the first member of the so-called Squad of ultra-leftist Democrats to fall to a more moderate challenger.
But the welcome results in New York's 16th Congressional District were far from the only sign that Americans are growing fatigued with candidates on the political fringes. Donald Trump had a bad day at the office as well, with losses suffered by three of the candidates he'd endorsed in key Republican primaries. They included one of the most high-profile GOP contests of the night, the race to succeed retiring Utah Sen.
Mitt Romney, who, not coincidentally, is Trump's most ardent Republican antagonist remaining in office. John Curtis, currently a Utah congressman, easily defeated the Trump-endorsed Trent Staggs, mayor of Salt Lake City suburb Riverton. Curtis believes action is needed on climate change and is a staunch supporter of Ukraine — positions antithetical to those of Trump.
Could the noxious extremist fever that has gripped this nation for years finally be breaking, at least a little? We're going to need more days like Tuesday before we conclude that's what's happening. After all, Trump still tops the GOP ticket, and his election to a second term would most likely send people scurrying back to their partisan.