Minnesota statewide caucuses are just a few weeks away on Feb. 3. These meetings are organized and run by major political parties and are the first step for choosing candidates and resolutions on issues.

“Going to a caucus is a great way to show support for a candidate, raise an issue that’s important to you, influence who the party will endorse for many offices, and meet people in your community,” according to the Minnesota Secretary of State website on precinct caucuses.

Because caucuses are run by the local branches of political parties, each will differ slightly in structure and rules, but the overall goal is to choose delegates who can endorse candidates and stances on issues and resolutions at future party conventions.

“Caucus Night is one of the few moments each year when Minnesotans set the direction of our party and organize in community—not behind closed doors, but in classrooms, school gyms, and church basements across the state,” according to the Minnesota DFL website.

Caucuses are a grassroots way to connect with local volunteers within a political party. Minnesota Gubernatorial caucuses are open meetings that anyone from the public can attend.

This year in Hastings, there will be two caucuses for gubernatorial preference: the Republican Party at the Hastings High School and the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party in the Hastings Middle School Cafeteria.

Both major US political parties provide resources for potential attendees.

The Minnesota Republican Party provides regular 90-minute caucus training online before Feb. 3 which can be found at https://mngop.com/caucus-2026/

Trainings occur from 7-8:15 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, and 1-2:15 p.m. on Saturdays. Trainings require a password which can be found at the above link on the Minnesota Republican Party website.

For the Minnesota DFL, a list of resources—including non-attendee forms—can be found at https://dfl.org/caucus

The Minnesota Secretary of State also provides a list of minor parties including the Grassroots-Legalize Cannabis Party, the Forward Independence, the Libertarian Party of Minnesota, and the Minnesota Legal Marijuana Now! Party. These parties can also hold caucuses but often don’t.

The only confirmed caucus for these political parties is the Libertarian Party of Minnesota which is holding a caucus at Fireside Restaurant and Bar in Rosemount from 6:30-8 p.m. Feb. 3.

The term caucus is a distinctly American term for a meeting, usually with a political agenda. That being said, the term’s origins are largely unclear. It has been linked with several origins including the Greek term for drinking cup, “kaukos,” and the Algonquian term for advisor, “caucauasu.”

No concrete proof exists for either of these claims.

“Its meaning is straightforward, but the history of this word remains a mystery. It seems certain that it is an Americanism, and some have suggested a Native American origin or that it comes from “caulker’s meetings” among shipbuilders, but no definitive proof has been found,” according to Merriam-Webster’s definition on the term Caucus.

For those interested in learning more, visit the Minnesota Secretary of State’s website page on Caucuses at www.sos.mn.gov/elections-voting/how-elections-work/precinct-caucuses

By Graham P. Johnson

Minnesota statewide caucuses are just a few weeks away on Feb. 3. These meetings are organized and run by major political parties and are the first step for choosing candidates and resolutions on issues.
“Going to a caucus is a great way to show support for a candidate, raise an issue that’s important to you, influence who the party will endorse for many offices, and meet people in your community,” according to the Minnesota Secretary of State website on precinct caucuses.
Because caucuses are run by the local branches of political parties, each will differ slightly in structure and rules, but the overall goal is to choose delegates who can endorse candidates and stances on issues and resolutions at future party conventions.
“Caucus Night is one of the few moments each year when Minnesotans set the direction of our party and organize in community—not behind closed doors, but in classrooms, school gyms, and church basements across the state,” according to the Minnesota DFL website.
Caucuses are a grassroots way to connect with local volunteers within a political party. Minnesota Gubernatorial caucuses are open meetings that anyone from the public can attend.
This year in Hastings, there will be two caucuses for gubernatorial preference: the Republican Party at the Hastings High School and the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party in the Hastings Middle School Cafeteria.
Both major US political parties provide resources for potential attendees.
The Minnesota Republican Party provides regular 90-minute caucus training online before Feb. 3 which can be found at https://mngop.com/caucus-2026/
Trainings occur from 7-8:15 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, and 1-2:15 p.m. on Saturdays. Trainings require a password which can be found at the above link on the Minnesota Republican Party website.
For the Minnesota DFL, a list of resources—including non-attendee forms—can be found at https://dfl.org/caucus
The Minnesota Secretary of State also provides a list of minor parties including the Grassroots-Legalize Cannabis Party, the Forward Independence, the Libertarian Party of Minnesota, and the Minnesota Legal Marijuana Now! Party. These parties can also hold caucuses but often don’t.
The only confirmed caucus for these political parties is the Libertarian Party of Minnesota which is holding a caucus at Fireside Restaurant and Bar in Rosemount from 6:30-8 p.m. Feb. 3.
The term caucus is a distinctly American term for a meeting, usually with a political agenda. That being said, the term’s origins are largely unclear. It has been linked with several origins including the Greek term for drinking cup, “kaukos,” and the Algonquian term for advisor, “caucauasu.”
No concrete proof exists for either of these claims.
“Its meaning is straightforward, but the history of this word remains a mystery. It seems certain that it is an Americanism, and some have suggested a Native American origin or that it comes from “caulker’s meetings” among shipbuilders, but no definitive proof has been found,” according to Merriam-Webster’s definition on the term Caucus.
For those interested in learning more, visit the Minnesota Secretary of State’s website page on Caucuses at www.sos.mn.gov/elections-voting/how-elections-work/precinct-caucuses