April 2026 Newsletter
Senate District 24 DFL Endorsing Convention is Sunday, April 26
The Senate District 24 DFL endorsing convention will happen this Sunday, April 26 in the Kasson-Mantorville Middle School Commons in Kasson. 80% of the people in Olmsted 20/24 DFL live in Senate District 24. Registration begins at 1 and the convention starts at 2 PM. Everyone who was a delegate to the Olmsted 20/24 DFL convention last month and who lives in Senate District 24 is also a delegate to this convention. The main business of this convention is to endorse DFL candidates for the Minnesota Senate and House of Representatives. We have one candidate for each seat:
Senate District 24: Simon Glaser (https://www.simonglaser.com/)
House District 24A: Heather Holmes (https://www.holmesformn.com/)
House District 24B: Rep. Tina Liebling (https://www.tinaliebling.com/)
We will also elect officers for this unit and consider changes to its constitution, but we expect the convention will only last 60-90 minutes.
Olmsted 20/24 DFL Convention Was a Success
Olmsted 20/24 DFL held its convention at Mayo High School on March 21. Almost 200 delegates attended, far more than in 2024. The delegates elected the 2026-28 unit leadership, elected delegates and alternates to the 1st Congressional District and state DFL conventions, debated and voted on resolutions that were passed by precinct caucuses (sending the most popular 28 to the state convention for possible consideration there - see list of 2026 resolutions here), and elected members and alternates to the state DFL Central Committee.
Our 2026-28 officers are:
Will Harvey - Chair
Ana Folpe - Vice-Chair
Virginia Wright-Peterson - Secretary
Keith Troke - Treasurer
Aleta Borrud - Inclusion and Outreach Officer
Joan Gordon - Communications Officer
Hutton Kearney - Deputy Communications Officer
George DeStefano - Data and Technology Offficer
The unit's Central Committee meets at 7 PM on the first Thursday of the month at the Rochester DFL office (1500 1st Ave, NE, Suite A). Visitors are welcome.
Senate District 20 DFL Endorses Candidates for Seats in Olmsted County
Senate District 20 DFL had its endorsing convention in Plainview March 14. Delegates unanimously endorsed Steve Holm as the DFL candidate for House District 20B and Jason Lohmann as the DFL candidate for Senate District 20. Both have served in local government positions, but this is the first time either of them have run for the Minnesota Legislature. Both are running for open seats, as Steve Drazkowski, the (Republican) current District 20 Senator is retiring and Steve Jacob, the (Republican) current District 20B House member, is running for Senate.
Volunteers Needed for the Lohmann Campaign!
We are currently looking for individuals who are interested in helping with phone banking and door knocking.
Planned dates for door knocking include:
Saturday May 2nd: Wabasha 10 am - 1 pm; Red Wing 3 pm - 6 pm
Sunday May 3rd: Lake City 2:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Saturday June 6th: Zumbrota 10 am - 1 pm; Goodhue 2:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Sunday June 7th: Pine Island, plan to door knock after Cheese Fest Parade!
Let the campaign know if you are interested in door knocking for any of the above dates, and you will be sent additional information as the dates get closer.
If you are interested in phone banking, please let the campaign know! We are using DNC VoteBuilder MN software to generate the phone banks. Information will be sent individually to anyone interested in making calls for the campaign!
Want to help but door knocking and calling aren't your interests? We are also looking for people to host events and walk in parades. Please email me at jason@lohmannformnsenate20.com or go to my website: https://www.lohmannformnsenate20.com/
Republican Candidate Enters the Race for House District 24B
John Michael Ajouri, a liquor store owner, will be running as the Republican-endorsed candidate against Rep. Tina Liebling. He is a first-time candidate. Republicans also endorsed Carla Nelson to run for re-election in Senate District 24 and Duane Quam to run for re-election in House District 24B.
Join Heather Holmes’ Volunteer Kick-off Event on Sunday, April 26th!
You are invited to Heather Holmes’ volunteer kickoff event on Sunday April 26th at 3:30 in Byron. We are confident that the movement we are building is the movement that is going to win! It's going to be a really fun and helpful day. Bring the family. We're going to do some campaign related crafts, we'll have a potluck - and we'll talk about what ways you will be able to help Heather using your strengths and expanding the movement into your network. Please contact us at kindra@holmesformn.com to sign up to attend.
Two Major DFL Conventions Will Be in Olmsted County in May
For the first time in decades, both the 1st Congressional District DFL and the state DFL conventions will be in Olmsted County.
The Congressional District convention will start at 1 PM Sunday, May 3 at Stewartville High School. Jake Johnson is likely to be endorsed as the DFL candidate for Congress in southern Minnesota. The delegates to the convention will also elect people to postions in the unit's leadership and to a number of state DFL committees. We need volunteers to help put on the convention. Please sign up at: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0549ADAB29A64-63560311-mndflcd1
If you're interested in apply for one of the positions up for election, please submit your interest here: https://forms.gle/vc651HvkzzF8DKKR7
A description of the positions available:
9-15 Directors – The Directors are members of the 1st District Executive Committee (2-yr terms) and attend monthly meetings via zoom. They can bring various talents or interests to the position that help determine the kind of tasks they want to perform in support of the 1st District DFL. They are asked to serve on the sub-committees – Finance & Budget, Fundraising, Communications, etc.
2 Directors to serve on the State Executive Committee (SEC) –These are two year terms. Directors are automatic members of the 1st District Executive Committee and at-large automatic delegates to the state convention that falls at the end of their term. While serving on the SEC they may be asked to serve on state party subcommittees. Meetings generally happen quarterly, some in person and some via Zoom.
7 at-large members of the State Central Committee (SCC) –These are two year terms. The SCC is the governing body of the state DFL between conventions. It meets quarterly (half in person, half via Zoom). It pass a budget each year, approves the Call, and elects the state party officers in the odd years among other responsibilities
The following positions are on the state DFL standing committees. We elect delegates to each standing committee for a two-year term and they also serve as members of the 1st Congressional District DFL Executive Committee.
Affirmative Action, Outreach & Inclusion Committee– This committee generally meets monthly or sometimes bi-monthly. Most meetings are via Zoom. It works to assist outreach officers from around the state and reviews and approves grants to local units for outreach activities.
Constitution, Rules and Bylaws Committee – This committee generally meets bi-monthly, via Zoom or hybrid (both in person and Zoom). reviews our constitution and works on recommendations to revise the constitution every two years at the state convention. It also handles any internal party challenges and complaints and holds hearings to help settle those types of disputes.
Party Affairs – This committee meets every other monthly via Zoom though its subcommittees meet more often, also by Zoom. It helps prepare the party units around the state for the bi-annual precinct caucuses and conventions as well as helping with materials for the state and county fair booths, assisting with officer trainings and developing training materials along with the staff person at the state office, the Party Affairs Director.
Platform and Issues – This committeeusually meets bi-monthly via zoom or hybrid. It reviews all of the resolutions that pass at the organizing unit conventions and compiles and condenses them in to the report/ballot that we will vote on at the state convention to set our state platform and action agenda. It also recommends the legislative priorities that the state party will lobby our DFL House and Senate members on before and during each legislative session.
Budget– This is a two year term. Members must be a unit treasurer or member of the state DFL Central Committee. The committee meets each November to review the proposed budget from the chair and staff, recommend any changes, and present the budget to the state Executive and Central Committees.
Nominations and Search – This is a two year term. The committee meets when there are vacancies to fill on the state DFL Executive Committee – most notably early in the odd years to screen candidates for party officers.
The state DFL convention is back in Rochester for the first time in four years. It will be at the Mayo Civic Center the evening of Friday, May 29, Saturday, May 30, and if needed Sunday, May 31. While the main business in endorsing DFL candidates for U.S. Senator, Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, and Auditor, the convention will also decide on the platform and Action Agenda for the next two years and decide on proposed changes to the state DFL's constitution. Ther convention is open to the public with visitor seating in the arena balcony. The convention will also be live-streamed. Volunteers are also needed for this convention. If you're interested, sign up HERE.
Bernie Sanders Coming to Rochester May 2!
Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders will be at John Marshall High School with Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan and Attorney General Keith Ellison the afternoon of May 2 for an event called Fighting Oligarchy: Where We Go From Here with Bernie Sanders in Rochester.
https://act.berniesanders.com/signup/rsvp-oligarchy-rochester/?source=website-oligarchyThe doors will open at 3:30 and the program will start in the auditorium at 5. There is no charge for the event, and sign-up is at https://brnsndrs.com/rochester-mn.
If you can’t make the event, it will be livestreamed at berniesanders.com
Did You Know That the DFL Senior Caucus Has a Rochester Chapter?
The DFL Senior Caucus is the advocacy group for seniors' issues within the DFL. It's a statewide group with chapters around the state. The Southeast Minnesota chapter meets in the Rochester DFL office at 1 PM the second Tuesday of the month. We're likely to restart a monthly social event outside the office soon. There's no charge for attending the meetings, though donations are accepted. If interest contact the chapter chair, Pat Mann, at mannpa1@charter.net
