On April 25th, area DFLers gathered in Rushford for the Senate District 26 Convention, where they chose their candidates for the Minnesota Senate race and  for races in House District 26A, which comprises most of Winona, and House District 26B, which includes Houston, Fillmore, and a section of Mower County. 

The only contested race was that for the Minnesota Senate. Jack Hedin won the convention’s endorsement on the second round of voting.  Jack owns Featherstone Farm and serves on the Winona Area Public Schools Board. In his candidate speech, Jack said he has lived in the area most of his adult life and has grown to love the community.  He recalled the 2007 flood, which brought devastation to so many in the Rushford area.  He said that the way people came together was an example of the neighborliness and determination of the people who live in southeast Minnesota.  Jack said his campaign is focused on making life more affordable for the region and on supporting local small businesses.  “I’m really a huge advocate for local business ownership and all the benefits that brings to the community,” he asserted.  He said his 30 years of experience with his farm had allowed him to build relationships with tradespeople, farmers, and people in local government who would help him understand the needs of the district.  Jack mentioned immigration as a “tipping point issue.” His own farm depends on immigrant labor, as do all the farms in the area, so it has been tough to have the federal government injecting itself into local affairs so negatively.  “Immigrants feed Americans, whether you are operating a vegetable farm like mine, a dairy farm like we have around here, or orchards along the river, or meat packers,” he said; “Rural America needs better visa programs.”   Jack also mentioned the importance of supporting health care, including mental health care, as well as protecting a woman’s right to choose what to do with her own body.  

Dan Wilson was endorsed for the House District 26A seat currently held by Republican Aaron Repinski.  Wilson said this year’s election could be historic, as the DFL has a chance to flip all of Southeast Minnesota to blue. He said with rising housing, child care, health care, and food costs, people he’s talked to are tired of the status quo. Wilson is focused on affordability, adding that he is committed to championing funding to create 100 affordable housing units in downtown Winona and a child care center in Winona’s school district. “Housing and child care, these are the things that drive up costs for Winonans. These are the things that prevent people from moving to Winona County or staying in Winona County,” Wilson said. “I think that housing and child care are an existential issue for Winona County, and because they are, I am committing to doing very concrete things. I want people to hold me accountable to that. I’m committing to doing hard things if I’m fortunate enough to get elected.”

The convention also endorsed Allie Wolf for House District 26B.  Wolf said she grew up in the district, and she wants her kids to see a future for themselves here; she promised to address the unique problems of the working class, including affordable child care.  Her campaign is also focused on universal health care and ranked choice voting.  She also pledged to oppose AI data centers and mining in the Boundary Waters.