Opinion editor's note: Editorials represent the opinions of the Minnesota Star Tribune Editorial Board, which operates independently from the newsroom.

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As Americans wait for final vote tallies to confirm who will be the next president, the wise words of a long-ago leader, one who led the nation through perhaps its most tumultuous chapter, bear contemplation:

"A house divided against itself cannot stand."

President Abraham Lincoln issued this prescient warning two years before he was elected in 1860, well aware of the deep divisions over slavery pitting one half of the country against the other. Under his leadership, the United States survived the coming Civil War. But the conflict revealed how fragile the ties are that hold the nation together.

This critical connective tissue cannot be taken for granted. It requires tending and from time to time, serious repair. This is one such moment. The 2024 election follows two previous close and hard-fought presidential elections. All three have illuminated deep fissures that will not disappear with the declaration of the presidential victor.

As of this editorial's initial publication, the race had not been called. But whoever does win the White House must have national unity at the top of their Oval Office agenda.

America has endured for nearly 250 years, but this union cannot be taken for granted, as political historian Colin Woodard recently warned on the Star Tribune's opinion pages. Whoever is inaugurated in January must prioritize building bridges to span political and cultural differences.

For Vice President Kamala Harris, this would include a commitment to healing a fractured country, with ongoing calls to unity that are meaningful, real and actionable. Her one proposed gesture toward bipartisanship — appointing one token Republican to her cabinet — is a welcome step but just the beginning.

Her running mate, Gov. Tim Walz, should also join in, leveraging his upbringing in small-town Nebraska to remedy the urban-rural divide. Walz's "One Minnesota" campaign suggests he understands how vital it is to mend these fences, even though his work in Minnesota on that remains unfinished.

It's imperative that Trump push for unity as well. If he wins, he'll be the first and only president since Grover Cleveland who has been elected to non-sequential terms. His previous experience in the White House should bring with it an understanding of how important it is to govern on behalf of all Americans.

Swiftly ruling out retribution against nonsupporters would signal that Trump understands the grave responsibility inherent in winning a second term. His deep support within Christian evangelical communities provides an opportunity as well to meaningfully call for social and spiritual healing to take place.

He must also take the lead in fighting disinformation that has divided us on everything from hurricane relief efforts to COVID to vaccine safety. One valuable early step he could take on this front: appointing someone other than Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the political scion best known for trafficking in dangerous vaccine safety conspiracies, to lead federal public health agencies.

America's enemies have made it clear that they understand the implications of Lincoln's "house divided" warning. The Information Age has opened new fronts in this nation's long-simmering conflicts with anti-democratic regimes. These forces know that division within creates weakness abroad.

Who benefits from that? An empire-minded Russia, rogue actors like Iran and North Korea and a China aiming for greater global power and influence. It's no surprise that disinformation campaigns can often be traced back to these malevolent actors. Russia, for example, was behind falsehoods circulating online that ultimately led to threats against federal relief workers in North Carolina after Hurricane Helene.

But the president alone can't knit a nation back together. Americans also have a moral obligation to take individual action to unites us around our core values. Steps that can be taken right now include:

  • Seeking common ground with family member, co-worker, or neighbor who holds a different political persuasion or voted for the other candidate. Braver Angels, an organization with Minnesota roots, has resources for those interested in reaching out. For more information, go to braverangels.org.
  • Listening more and judging less.
  • Critically evaluating information sources for credibility.
  • Accepting that, in the absence of extraordinary evidence, the election is legitimate, even if the Electoral College outcome doesn't match the popular vote.

More specific actions for Minnesotans:

  • Embracing and strengthening the neighborliness and sense of community that make Minnesota such a standout place to live and raise a family.
  • Supporting local, state and federal leaders whose policies unite us, not divide us.

No matter which presidential candidate you supported, it's time to remember that the house Lincoln mentioned is the nation that all of us call home. The work must begin now to shore up the cracks in its foundation and make other necessary repairs.