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‘We have momentum’

MN state, U.S. legislative candidates speak at DFL corn feed

By Deb Gau 5 min read

REDWOOD FALLS -- People across Minnesota are sharing the same struggles, from the high cost of living to concerns about democracy, speakers at a Democratic-Farmer-Labor potluck in Redwood Falls said Wednesday evening.

"People tell me that they are struggling to afford their lives, and all they want to be able to do is just take care of their families," said Minnesota Lt. Gov. and U.S. Senate candidate Peggy Flanagan.

"We have to pay attention, and then take action and deliver on the things that bring us together, instead of what tears us apart," said DFL lieutenant governor candidate Ben Schierer.

Speakers like Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and Secretary of State Steve Simon also talked about preparing to make sure Minnesota has fair elections.

"A lot of people have asked me, are we going to be able to have a free, fair election given all the shenanigans we've seen from Washington?" Ellison said. "I'm here to tell you that myself and Mr. Simon have been talking about this stuff and working on these things."

There was a long line of guest speakers at this year's Senate District 15 DFL corn feed in Redwood Falls. That was partly because there was a big field of DFL candidates running for state and federal offices, party officials said.

"We have 201 legislative candidates, contesting every single legislative race in this state," said state DFL Chair Richard Carlbom. "Democrats literally are showing up on the ballot every place we can in 2026."

In her remarks Wednesday night, Flanagan reflected on the U.S. Senate candidate forum at Farmfest earlier that day. Participants in the forum included Flanagan, Democratic candidate Angie Craig, and Republican candidates Michele Tafoya and Royce White.

"The two Democrats on stage, we were pretty aligned. I think that's a good thing. And the two Republicans who were there, I don't know exactly what was going on, but what I can tell you is, it felt really disconnected from what I am hearing from people on the ground," Flanagan said.

"We deserve things like Medicare for all, universal child care. Farmers should be able to fix their own equipment," Flanagan said.

She said the Trump administration also needed to be held accountable for the damage it had done.

Speakers Wednesday also talked about the ongoing concerns over fraud in Minnesota.

"Anybody who steals money from the public, anybody who does that is wrong. They must be held accountable. That's why I prosecuted over 370 people for Medicaid fraud, convicted them," Ellison said.

Steve Simon spoke to the audience about preparations for upcoming elections in Minnesota.

"In our office, we have what we call an all-hazards approach," Simon said.

That meant planning for everything from extreme weather or power outages to outside hazards like a bomb threat, he said.

"This year, unfortunately and sadly, there's a new hazard on the list that we have to plan for, and I'm sorry to say that that is the possibility that our own federal government will interfere in some way in this election," he said.

Simon said he and the Attorney General's Office were "actively planning" for scenarios including possible federal interference in elections.

"We're not predicting it'll happen, but it's a precaution we have to take, and we're doing that," he said.

Simon said he was optimistic that Minnesota would have fair elections for reasons including the state's strong legal protections for elections, its historically high voter turnout, and dedication from Minnesota citizens.

Erik Osberg, who is running against Rep. Michelle Fischbach in Minnesota's 7th Congressional District, said in-person outreach would be key for DFL campaigns this year.

"We have momentum right now. For the first time in a very long time, we are in the best position to flip this seat," Osberg told the crowd. "And what we've been trying to do with this campaign is, we've been trying to find what we call common concerns."

Osberg encouraged Democrats to speak out about the campaign.

Attendees at the corn feed also heard from several DFL candidates running for seats in the state Legislature. Speakers included Senate District 15 candidate Andrea Boettger, House District 15B candidate Keith Klawitter and House District 15A candidate Nathan Schmig.

Boettger, a New Ulm resident and New Ulm City Council president, said it was positive to see the energy of the crowd at Wednesday's event and to meet with voters and agriculture groups at Farmfest this week. Boettger said some of the "top of mind" concerns for Minnesotans included the cost of health care, a lack of affordable and available child care and housing, and the impact of tariffs and rising costs on farmers.

"Those are issues I've been hearing consistently," she said.

Boettger said she was willing to work to address Minnesotan's needs in the state Senate.

"My campaign is about working for all of the people in our district, and what their needs are," she said. "What I'm fighting for is everybody, regardless of party."

Klawitter, a Morgan resident, said he hoped to be able to have an opportunity to bring his voice to Minnesota state government, and especially the Agriculture Committee.

"I think we need to restore some fairness, decency and respect to a system that rewards selfish big-money interests," Klawitter added.

Schmig, a Minneota resident, told the crowd he wanted to talk about issues important to them. Schmig said Minnesotans deserved health care that makes sense, environmental protections, accountability for issues like tariffs and rising fertilizer prices, and more.

"Your community needs you. The country needs you," Schmig said. "The cool part is, we can do this. The problems facing us are not insurmountable. If we all push, if we all demand action, rights, better government and justice, we can have it."

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