zlacker

Melissa Hortman wasn’t a niche local politician - she was the speaker of the Minnesota House.

>>germin+(OP)
Would you care to estimate the number of Americans who even knew her name?

She had power in MN, but had not become a "national" politician (yet).

>>PaulDa+8c
I made no claim that she was a national figure. Merely pointing out that calling a politician holding one of the highest offices in state government a niche, local politician intentionally diminishes them.

>>germin+Tk
I was not intentionally trying to diminish her.

I suspect that unless you live in New Mexico, you have no idea who the speaker of the NM House is. That's not a diminshment of the office or the person holding it, it's a recognition that while such positions come with significant power within the context of a state, they are quite hidden from residents of other states.

>>germin+(OP)
And how many people outside of Minnesota you think would know her. I bet the majority of people in MN wouldn't didn't know who she is.

For instance do you know Brandon Ler, the Montana House of Representatives speaker? Or, say, Nathaniel Ledbetter, the Alabama House of Representatives?

Are they "niche" politicians? In their states, no. But, absolutely yes when it comes to people from other states and more so from across the world.

>>PaulDa+fw
They hold meaningful office within their states. That is neither niche nor local even if they lack a national profile.