Local business owner Jen Fox and civil rights attorney Cole Birkeland joined state senator Judy Seeberger in earning unanimous endorsements from hundreds of active Democrats meeting at Oltman Middle School on Saturday, February 21, for the Senate District (SD) 41 DFL convention. A record number of delegates and alternates reflects a precinct caucus turnout that far exceeded expectations, according to SD 41 Party Chair Mary Nehring. "People are fed up with broken Republican promises of lower costs for necessities like healthcare insurance, housing and groceries," she said. "Instead, their policies, like cutting support for Obamacare coverage and Medical Assistance, are ruining household budgets."

Convention delegates elected local party leaders, voted on items for the state party's policy agenda, endorsed legislative candidates, and elected delegates and alternates who will endorse candidates for state office and for the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives in upcoming conventions this spring. For the two congressional districts that include parts of Senate District (SD) 41, Betty McCollum easily won the delegates, and former Lakeville mayor Matt Little won the majority of SD 41 delegates who will vote to endorse a candidate to fill Representative Angie Craig's seat. Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan won the majority of the district's 19 state convention delegates.

Birkeland described some of his civil rights work representing people with disabilities who have suffered discrimination, and helping retirees whose savings have been wrongfully reduced. "Republicans like to blame Democrats for fraud while doing nothing about it. I can do something about it. I protect employee retirement savings against corporate self-dealing and mismanagement," he said. "I want to bring that experience to the capitol to make sure we responsibly steward taxpayer dollars in our state budgeting."

Spiral Brewery co-owner Jen Fox thanked delegates, saying "I am so grateful to be endorsed and supported by the Minnesota DFL. That is what we have in our district: workers, farmers, and people who believe in lifting up their neighbors. Unfortunately, the world is in a challenging time. The cost of living is astronomical and we are worried for our neighbors. I am committed to serving our community in a way that elevates voices and advocates for solutions that work for all of us."

Seeberger was nominated by her college student son, drawing additional applause from the convention. The senator cited several issues she will work on during the short legislative session, including securing necessary funds for more comprehensive PFAS removal from the district, protecting manufactured home communities in SD 41 from exorbitant land lease increases that threaten to drive owners from their homes, and addressing skyrocketing healthcare coverage costs. She said she expects voters this fall to hold Republicans accountable for the economic damage and unconstitutional violations of human rights brought on by the Trump administration's "Operation Metro Surge."

Senate District 41 includes Cottage Grove, Hastings, Afton, Lake Elmo, Lakeland, Lakeland Shores, Lake St. Croix Beach, St. Mary's Point, the townships of Baytown, Nininger, West Lakeland and Denmark, and a portion of Grant. For more information: info@dflsd41.com.