Several state officers and staff of the Minnesota DemocraticFarmerLabor (DFL) Party joined Democratic nominees Judy Seeberger, Pat Driscoll, and Tina Folch, along with dozens of local party activists at the grand opening of the first DFL office in Senate District 41 in Hastings on Aug. 14.

'All across the state, from Fergus Falls to Mankato, and especially here in the southeast metro, DFLers are fired up to elect our candidates,' said Minnesota DFL Vice Chair Marge Hoffa, who was joined by state party secretary, Ceri Everett, and treasurer Leah Midgarden. Office assistant manager Mary Nehring agreed, noting that 'voters are motivated behind leaders with positive messages, not the same old themes.'

State Senate candidate Judy Seeberger shared examples of positive responses she hears from voters while going door to door. One involved a woman who said that while she initially supported Tony Jurgens in the Aug. 9 Republican primary election, she will vote for Seeberger due to her authenticity and the extremism in the current GOP, including its support for a complete ban on abortion without exceptions for victims of rape or incest.

Hastings City Council Member Tina Folch, is running for the state House of Representatives from District 41B, which is predominantly Hastings and much of Cottage Grove. If elected, Folch would be the first woman to represent the area, and the first Democrat in 40 years, since Harry 'Tex' Sieben won and eventually became Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives.

'We are greater than fear, and that message is getting out, thanks to all the wonderful volunteers talking to voters,” Folch said.

Pat Driscoll, DFL candidate for the Minnesota House in District 41A, and current member of the South Washington County School Board, said voters have shared their challenges getting necessary medication even with insurance including a mother who has to pay $3,800 each month for her children's prescriptions.

'This is the worst healthcare story I've heard yet,' Driscoll said, also noting the current teacher shortage made worse by chronically low compensation.

This is the first election cycle in the newly created Senate District 41, which extends from Grant in the north to Hastings and Nininger Township in the south.

The Senate District 41 DFL office is entirely staffed by volunteers. It is located at 1260A South Frontage Road in Hastings, in the space formerly occupied by Spiral Natural Foods CoOp, which recently moved to a larger space in the same building at the intersection of Highway 55 and Westview Road.

Those interested in volunteering can contact one of the candidates through their websites or by emailing [email protected] gmail.com

State DFL officers, staff and local activists join Democratic legislative nominees Tina Folch (front row, 2nd from left), Judy Seeberger (front row, 3rd from right), and Pat Driscoll (between Folch and Seeberger) at Sunday's grand opening of the Senate District 41 DFL office in Hastings. Photo submitted