Breaking the GOP supermajority and defending a Democratic governor’s veto is a top priority for the DLCC
This competitive chamber’s majority was won by just under 1,500 votes in 2022 and the 2024 election is expected to be just as competitive.
WASHINGTON — Today, the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC) announced our slate of candidates running in target races across Minnesota to defend the majority in the House and the state’s Democratic governance. These thirteen Spotlight candidates provide strong opportunities to defend and flip seats to ensure the DFL majority remains in control of the Minnesota House.
The DFL Spotlight candidates unveiled today are:
- Harley Droba (HD-03A) is a U.S. Army veteran and former small business owner running for the Minnesota House to flip his district blue. Harley currently serves as the Mayor of International Falls, where he works hard to bring people together to create a positive impact for his community. Harley is a strong champion for his fellow veterans, and he wants to improve life for all Minnesotans by pushing for increased access to health care, investments in outdoor tourism, protection of natural resources, and sustainable economic development.
- Mark Munger (HD-03B) is a retired district court judge and veteran of the U.S. Army Reserve who has lived in Northeastern Minnesota all his life. This fall, he’s running for the Minnesota House with a chance to flip his district blue. Protecting his grandchildren’s future drove Mark to run for office, and he’s committed to ensuring that quality public education, a clean environment, and affordable health care are all accessible for many generations to come.
- Abdi Daisane (HD-14A) is a small business owner, childcare provider, and community activist, who immigrated to the United States fifteen years ago. Abdi settled down in St. Cloud, Minnesota and now he’s running for a seat in the state House to flip his district blue and ensure working families have access to the resources they need. If elected, he’s committed to fighting for women’s bodily autonomy, increasing public education funding, expanding investments in affordable housing options, and making affordable health care accessible to give all Minnesotans the opportunity to build a better life.
- Rep. Dan Wolgamott (HD-14B) is a high school football coach and fierce advocate for public education running for reelection to the Minnesota House. In Dan’s six years as a representative, he’s worked to improve life for Minnesota’s working families. Wolgamott has championed legislation to increase access to mental health care resources, retain first responders, strengthen voting rights, and increase funding for public education while supporting teachers.
- Rep. Jeff Brand (HD-18A) is a 5th-generation Minnesotan and small business owner running for reelection to the Minnesota House. A staunch advocate for preserving Minnesota’s natural ecosystems, Jeff operates a family business with his wife specializing in native and sustainable landscaping. As a legislator, he’s introduced several key pieces of environmental legislation including measures to protect the state’s waterways and limit carbon emissions.
- Rep. Matt Norris (HD-32B) is an attorney and dynamic community advocate who began his career in public service at age sixteen. As a state representative, Matt has used his experience working with people of all backgrounds and ideologies to find sensible solutions to the day-to-day issues Minnesotans face. Matt is running for reelection because he knows there’s still work to be done.
- Rep. Zack Stephenson (HD-35A) is a prosecutor and lifelong Minnesotan running for reelection to the Minnesota House. Through his work in the legislature, Zack hopes to build a future for Minnesota where success is a possibility for all. For Zack, this means building the economy through forward-thinking policies that fully fund public schools, improve and expand transportation infrastructure, keep kids safe from gun violence, and ensure that health care is both affordable and reliable for every Minnesotan.
- Kari Rehrauer (HD-35B) is a former science teacher running for the Minnesota House to bring humanity and compassion to the state capitol. Kari was inspired to action by the 2016 election and is adamant that lawmakers’ role is to improve the quality of life for their constituents, not the kind of self-enrichment in which MAGA extremists are engaging. If Kari is elected, she will work to uphold the democratic process, support public education, protect the environment, and safeguard reproductive freedom including access to abortion care.
- Janelle Calhoun (HD-36A) is a local business leader running for the Minnesota House to flip her district blue. Janelle is committed to finding common-sense solutions for the good of all Minnesota communities, and she’s excited to bring her enthusiasm for helping others to the state legislature. Janelle is a fierce believer in equality for all, and will be a strong champion for LGBTQ+ Minnesotans and protecting reproductive freedoms including abortion care.
- Lucia Wroblewski (HD-41A) is a retired police officer running for the Minnesota House. Lucia spent nearly thirty years working to keep her community safe, and though she’s left the force, she still feels a strong sense of duty to society’s most vulnerable members. Lucia is excited for a chance to flip her district blue and be a champion for legislation to protect Minnesota’s natural resources, defend voting rights, and ensure concrete protections for reproductive freedoms including abortion care.
- Jen Fox (HD-41B) is a small business owner and lifelong resident of Hastings running for the Minnesota House to flip her district blue. Jen is highly active in her community where she’s pushed for initiatives to support local businesses and foster sustainable growth. Now, Jen wants to expand that progress to all Minnesotans as a state representative and use her position to bring together small businesses, local governments, and all members of the community to solve tough issues.
- Rep. Lucy Rehm (HD-48B) is a longtime Minnesotan and community advocate running for reelection to the Minnesota House to continue pushing forward-thinking solutions to improve the lives of all Minnesota residents. During her time in the state House, Lucy has helped secure funding for Minnesota’s public libraries, reduced social security taxes for seniors, supported local farmers, and addressed food insecurity through statewide programs.
- Rep Brad Tabke (HD-54A) is a local business owner running for reelection to the Minnesota House. Brad was raised on a farm where he learned the value of hard work, civic engagement, and cooperation. As a state representative, Brad relies on these values while pushing for progress on issues including public education funding, affordable health care, public safety, and lowering the cost of living.
These thirteen candidates join over 180 state legislative candidates in our Spotlight program who are running across the country to build Democratic power and counter MAGA control of state legislatures. Excitement on the ground is palpable in Minnesota this cycle – the DFL has recruited candidates in 132 out of 134 House races, ensuring we have the candidates needed to mount strong campaigns all across the state. Last month, the DLCC updated our 2024 target map to include a majority-sustaining special election in the Minnesota Senate and Spotlighted Ann Johnson Stewart (SD-45).
Defending Democratic governance in Minnesota this November is critical to protecting the progress Democrats have achieved since 2022, when Democrats achieved governing majorities in the House and Senate. DFLers have passed laws to fund free breakfast and lunch for K-12 students, increase funding for mental health services, protect school library books from censorship, establish paid family and medical leave, and enshrine protection for reproductive freedom. As Republicans across the country pursue an extreme MAGA agenda and seek to gut reproductive rights, Minnesota Democrats are focused on helping families and securing fundamental freedoms.
DLCC Board Member and Minnesota Speaker of the House Melissa Hortman issued the following statement:
“DFL candidates running for the Minnesota House are committed to preserving the rights and freedoms of Minnesotans, growing the middle class, and ensuring everyone has the opportunity to build better lives for themselves and their families. We have made great strides over the last two years to help Minnesota workers and families, but there’s more to do — our Spotlight candidates are hard at work on the campaign trail and talking with voters about how we can work together on legislation to improve their lives. These candidates are strong leaders in their communities, and they will help us return a DFL majority to St. Paul. I’m proud to support them. The future of our great state hangs in the balance, and we’re not taking anything for granted.”
Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee President Heather Williams issued the following statement:
“Minnesota will be one of the most consequential battleground states up and down the ticket in 2024. The DFL trifecta has delivered incredible progress for communities across the state, from providing free school meals and establishing paid family and medical leave to protecting abortion rights. As Gov. Walz joins the top of the ticket, we must also make sure that these impactful Democratic majorities are defended. Republicans are poised to roll back this progress if they regain this chamber, and they’re just a few seats away from their goal.
“We can’t let that happen – that’s why the DLCC is highlighting thirteen impressive candidates who offer the best chances to protect and strengthen the Democratic majority in the Minnesota House. Minnesotans’ fundamental freedoms and democracy are on the line with this majority, and Minnesota will remain a top priority for the DLCC.”
The DLCC is the official arm of the Democratic Party with the sole mission of building Democratic power in the states and setting the national agenda at the state level. Over the last decade, we have fought cycle-over-cycle to gain a dozen new legislative chamber majorities and we are leading the effort to bring national attention and investment to our ballot level. State legislatures are the building blocks of our democracy and have the closest connections to Americans’ day-to-day lives. From protecting fundamental freedoms and voting rights to growing the middle class, the DLCC and state legislators are moving the Democratic agenda forward and shaping the future of this country.
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