Winona set up for unique DFL primary race in which neither candidate got endorsement

CATHY WURZER: There are two DFLers vying to replace one of Minnesota's longest-serving DFL lawmakers in District 26-A, which is in southeastern Minnesota, which includes Winona. The area has long had a DFL stronghold, with Gene Pelowski serving a whopping 38 years in the House. But Republicans believe they can flip the district on their way to winning a state house majority. The GOP endorsed Aaron Repinski, who is favored to win the primary over S. James Doerr.

But DFLers in the region, well, they've struggled to choose their candidate. That's what's so unusual about the primary in Winona tomorrow. Despite multiple rounds of voting from delegates in the Winona area, neither of the DFL candidates, Sarah Kruger or Dwayne Voegeli, received 60% of the vote that's required for the DFL endorsement. So both join me now to talk about this unique race to replace a seat that was occupied for almost 40 years by a fellow Democrat. Dwayne and Sarah, thanks for taking the time. How are you both?

DWAYNE VOEGELI: Good morning, Cathy. Glad to be here.

SARAH KRUGER: Thanks so much for having us on.

CATHY WURZER: Thank you. Thank you, Sarah, and thank you, Dwayne. Say, what does it say about this race that neither of you got enough votes for the endorsement? Sarah, what do you think?

SARAH KRUGER: Well, I think that this is a very important seat. After 38 years of leadership by Representative Gene Pelowski, as you mentioned, people are looking for hope in the future and I believe a new face in politics.

CATHY WURZER: And Dwayne, what do you think?

DWAYNE VOEGELI: Like Sarah said, it's been 38 years since the seat has been contested. I think people have-- and rightly so-- the more voices, the better-- a lot of interest in this race.

CATHY WURZER: Now, is there daylight between the two of you when it comes to issues here? I wonder why it's so difficult for DFL delegates in your area to choose one of you. DFL leaders say that, Sarah, you received the majority of delegates' votes over four rounds of voting, I understand. It reached about 54%. So how would you handicap this race?

SARAH KRUGER: Well, I think that it's important to recognize that we have not had a woman in this seat since 1965, Virginia Torgerson. And she was a conservative candidate. We have never had a DFL woman represent the Winona area in the Minnesota House. I think diversity and representation is important, and it's important to people in our community.

CATHY WURZER: Now, I understand Representative Pelowski has endorsed you, Sarah, and I believe this is his first time ever endorsing someone for an election. Winona County is no longer solidly blue. How important is it to get that endorsement, and how has it maybe presented some challenges for your campaign, if at all?

SARAH KRUGER: Yeah, I'm extremely proud to have Gene Pelowski's backing and endorsement. The reason that he backed me in this race is that he truly believes I will put people above politics. As you mentioned, this district is somewhat purple, and so making sure that everyone feels included in the process and that we're really placing the needs of the district first. And Gene knows that I will do that.

CATHY WURZER: Dwayne, how do you view the former chairman's endorsement of your opponent?

DWAYNE VOEGELI: First of all, I want to thank Mr. Pelowski for his many years of service, the great work he did on higher education issues. We also have some important differences between us. I've been endorsed by the last two DFL state senators, Senator Steve Morse and Senator Sharon Erickson Ropes.

One key difference between Mr. Pelowski and myself is Mr. Pelowski was one of only two DFL legislators who voted against the ERA, and Mr. Pelowski is a pro-life candidate. I am going to be a champion on pro-choice issues.

CATHY WURZER: Now, Gene Pelowski, of course, you both know, is the chair of the House Higher Ed Finance and Policy Committee. I believe you're a social studies teacher, right, Dwayne, and were endorsed by the State Teachers Union?

DWAYNE VOEGELI: Yes, I'm a dad. I'm a former coach. I'm a high school social studies teacher. I'm a county board commissioner, and I'm a very active volunteer in the community. So this is what I teach and preach at school, and this is how I live my life as well, outside of school.

CATHY WURZER: So if you were to win ultimately in November, what kinds of education policy initiatives would you champion at the legislature?

DWAYNE VOEGELI: First of all, we need to expand the North Star Promise Program. That's a fantastic addition. We need to look at funding for public education.

Two years ago, the state legislature passed a record investment. What that meant for me was the largest class sizes ever. It was good, but it wasn't good enough. We must increase funding for K-12 and not have so many mandates added to it. We need to give local school districts and school boards the opportunity to help our kids and our families succeed.

CATHY WURZER: And Sarah, same question to you.

SARAH KRUGER: My number one priority is representing the needs of our communities here. And a lot of people think that maybe being a representative is just about making laws, but it's also about having a voice in how people are treated by government agencies and a chance to advocate for your constituents.

I think there's a myriad of ways that that can be done-- fully funding pre-K through higher ed, making sure that we have clean drinking water, that everyone in the district has access to that, affordable housing and health care. And something I feel very passionate about is care for our disabled community and making sure that we're taking care of the most vulnerable members in our community.

CATHY WURZER: Say, getting back to the demographics in your area there-- and of course, Sarah, you mentioned it's kind of a purpley area. It was one of just, I believe, 25 counties in the whole country to vote for Barack Obama in 2012 and then Donald Trump in 2016, then Joe Biden in 2020. So how do you both navigate going back and forth between red and blue? Sarah, I'm going to start with you.

SARAH KRUGER: Yeah, as you mentioned, we're a very interesting space in that we're a pivot county. And so we only flipped back to voting for Biden in 2020 after Trump in 2016 by 108 votes. So that just shows you it's less than 1 percentage point.

But something that I'm hearing at the doors every single day is that people have been feeling that we've been in this really dark funk of division as a nation, and they're really aching for a positive vision that moves us all forward. And I truly believe that hope for a better future for everyone is important to all of us, regardless of political affiliation, and that people are striving for safe, healthy, happy, equitable communities. And that's beyond political parties.

CATHY WURZER: Say, I wonder, then, Dwayne, since Kamala Harris became the presidential nominee, are you seeing more energy in your area when it comes to Democrats?

DWAYNE VOEGELI: Definitely. I think everyone is very appreciative of the decision that President Biden did. He put country over himself. People are very excited to see the next generation of political leaders step forward. Vice President Harris is 59 years old. I'm 57 years old. People are also really excited by the former social studies teacher and coach. In Minnesota, it's amazing to see how much energy-- and from a wide spectrum of people and not just liberals or not just Democrats.

I want to go back to what you were saying earlier, Cathy. It's important for people in Winona County to be aware of the fact that we are now a purple district. There is a political storm coming. It's been estimated that the Republicans and the billionaire groups that support them are going to spend between a half a million and $1 million to flip just this one seat. It's very important, when people look at candidates, to look at what they've said and what they've actually done.

And if you count my primaries, as well as my county board elections, in six elections, I've never lost a ward or precinct. I can't promise that in the general election. But one of the key differences is that I have public office experience, and I'm a proven winner.

CATHY WURZER: Sounds like, Dwayne, you're saying that you have the background necessary to win. And Sarah, I'm wondering about you. What's your pitch, then, for when it comes to your public service background?

SARAH KRUGER: Yeah, so regarding winnability, I ran for state senate in 2020 against Jeremy Miller, who was then the president of the Minnesota Senate. And I won the city of Winona by 9%. And Jeremy, up until that point, had never lost the city of Winona. And so, I did that by bringing everyone to the table-- Never Trumpers, conservatives who felt that they no longer had a political home, people who had felt disengaged from the political process. And so I think that's really important.

And in terms of other areas of background and expertise that I bring, I've done a lot of rural organizing over the years and most recently helped to run the American Rescue Plan Act on how rural counties and townships across the Upper Midwest could access that program, and so understanding how our rural communities are truly benefiting from programs.

CATHY WURZER: All right. It sounds as if it's going to be an interesting race tomorrow. We'll be certainly keeping track of what's happening. Thank you so much for your time.

DWAYNE VOEGELI: Thank you, Cathy.

SARAH KRUGER: Thank you so much.

CATHY WURZER: We've been talking to two DFL candidates for Minnesota's House District 26-A, Dwayne Voegeli and Sarah Kruger.