A DFL fundraiser held at the farm of Dan Wilson and Rachel Stoll on Sunday, August 28^th, was a huge success. Attendees got to meet DFL Chairman Ken Martin and hear him speak.  Dan Wilson also addressed the group, as did Congressional candidate Rachel Bohman and House District 26B candidate Allie Wolf.  

Martin, who is not only DFL Chairman but also President of the Association of State Democratic Committees and a Vice Chair of the Democratic National Committee, spoke passionately about the importance of keeping the DFL majority in the House, saying that “our values are on the ballot. “ He pointed to the many accomplishments of the “trifecta,” the DFL-led House and Senate working with a DFL governor. “When you win elections, good things can happen to the people of Minnesota,” Martin said, but he added that the trifecta is in peril in the upcoming elections and a DFL majority will hinge on the ability of District 26A to stay blue.  Dan Wilson echoed that sentiment in his address, saying “Whether or not we pass legislation that creates more affordable housing, that addresses the water crisis, and whether or not the ERA can get passed in Minnesota, depends on the DFL holding the house.”  Rachel Bohman, the DFL candidate vying to unseat Brad Finstad in the First Congressional District, also stressed the importance of getting out the vote this election and was upbeat about her chances.  “Brad Finstad has done nothing for the district,” she said, “he thought after he won last time he could just stay in Washington—most people I meet say they don’t even know who he is.”   She pledged to be everywhere, working tirelessly to defeat him. 

The crowd also got to hear from political newcomer Allie Wolf, who is running for Minnesota House seat 26B.  A Marine veteran and mother of two, Wolf is aiming to unseat long-time incumbent Greg Davids.  “When I heard Davids was being primaried by an even more extreme right-wing candidate, I looked around and asked, “who is going to jump in?”  Then I realized it was me,”  Wolf said. “Southeast Minnesota is my favorite place in the world.  It’s been my home since I was in kindergarten, and I can’t imagine raising my two kids anywhere else.  But there is a lot of work to be done to make sure that it remains a place where all families can thrive.”   

The event raised six thousand dollars.  The money will be shared between seats 26A and 26B.   “Now is the time for action, Now is the time to rally, to give more than you thought you would, to get out and knock doors,” Dan Wilson emphasized.  “This is how we fight for our towns. This is how we push back against these historic forces working against democracy. This is how we show that our rural places matter. We do this together. And together we will get a blue wave in Winona, and we will flip 26 B.”