The northland is represented at the Republican national convention. Duluth is the home of Donna Bergstrom.

Bergstrom is a former GOP Minnesota Lieutenant Governor candidate and enrolled member of the Red Lake band of Chippewa indians.

Donna Bergstrom is representing Minnesota at the RNC because she is now the Deputy Chair of the Minnesota Republican party.

Bergstrom told us Thursday night she is excited to share the energy the delegates have and to get behind Donald Trump and J.D. Vance.

Bergstrom says after Saturday’s attempted assassination of the former president, she feels there’s a sense that both parties need to respect each other.

“I think the message is, this country that we have crafted, that we’ve pulled together people from all nations, including communities like mine, the Red Lake Nation, our Native American, our veterans, our business owners, everybody. We knit this great country together. Even though we have many differences, we all call America home.

Bergstrom said, “What we’re really emphasizing is, were you better off four years ago? That’s really the question people need to ask themselves when they go to cast their ballot. We think that President Trump’s policies were far better for America, and especially for Northeast Minnesota where we have so many natural resources that we can tap into and help our economy and our communities. And that would, I would say, be our number one issue.”

Bergstrom said the convention started on a much more somber note because of the attempted assassination of the former president.

The theme of the RNC in Milwaukee this week was unity. Bergstrom said she thinks it’s important for us to all defend that ideal. “This great ideal that we call America is something we all share. We each need to live out this ideal as our own convictions. Live it out respectfully in our own way and respect each other as we are fellow Americans.”

The Republican national convention wrapped up Thursday night with Donald Trump accepting the GOP party’s nomination for president.