News | Erik Osberg for Congress

Updates

Update from Wadena, MN (11/10/25)

Nov 10

we've come a long way

by Erik Osberg on 11/10/25

We’ve come a long way since March. And when I say WE, I mean all of us. If you are reading this email, you have taken an action to make things better. You’ve probably taken other actions over the past 8 months. Celebrate that, be proud of that. Our goal is to improve, day by day, until we reach the finish line. With no regrets. There will be setbacks. There will be bad news. There will be another thing that makes you shake your head and pause. Our job is to fight that pause & press on. With an EVEN IF mindset rather than a WHAT IF mindset.

Kandiyohi County DFL Chili Feed was a success.

It was right about this time in 2024 when I started to think about running for office. The elections were over & I was worried. I’ve always tried to be a person of action, not words. I knew it would be a tough sell to my family & friends. I knew I would be starting from scratch. I knew it wouldn’t be easy. I looked at the political landscape and decided my biggest concerns were at the federal level. I asked a couple people if they thought Minnesota’s 7th District was winnable. “It’s too big.” was a common response. “It’s too red.” others replied. Yes, MN-07 does cover a large area & yes, the margin of victory was 40 points. None of that mattered. Someone needed to run and someone needed to announce soon. We got systems up & launched. I like to think we haven’t slowed down since. My pledge to you is we will do our best, to continue to meet people face-to-face and break bread when possible.

Chris Radel ran a great event in New London, MN.

On Monday evening, we had perhaps the most significant event to date. While each stop we’ve made matters, this one felt different. There seemed to be less skepticism in the air, there seemed to be more conviction. We know that we are NOT alone. The dots are connecting, a different path to a different outcome is in sight.

140 people filled Goat Ridge Brewing in New London, MN with a vibe that had to be felt to truly be appreciated. The Kandiyhi County DFL Chili Feed ran out of chili, one year out, that's how busy it was.

Huge thanks to Fernando & Deb for their work. Huge thanks to Chris Radel for proving once again he is the best hype man in CD7 and huge thanks to Wayne for the moving story he shared. Humbling to say the least. Huge thanks to the musicians & the staff. When I talk about WE over me, this is what I mean. Every voice in attendance mattered. Every "Hoo Ra", every smile, every nod, every handshake & every conversation, a memory we will ALL carry with us. Thank you for your support. Keep up the good work.

Click here to see a portion of my speech: https://youtu.be/yvEGDm6FHyE?si=LXItyt3MlCDAgb3V

Demonstrators along HWY 10 in Wadena, MN.

Speaking of taking action, for the 30th Friday in a row, folks peaceably assembled in Wadena, MN to demonstrate their 1st Amendment rights. Minnesota DFL 7th Congressional District Chair Jennifer Cronin stopped to say "hi". Once again, the honks of support outnumbered the middle fingers. Kudos to this crew for their dedication & stamina. If you would like to join them. They plan on being there from 3:30pm-4:30pm on Fridays moving forward.

spent some time in the woods this weekend

I made time for outdoor recreation for the 2nd weekend in a row. This time I joined hundreds of thousands of Minnesotans for the regular firearms deer season opener. I met up with some old buddies near Long Prairie, MN and spent time in a cold forest. While none of us harvested a deer, we had some laughs as we told old stories and made jokes. Reminder, as your Congressman I would fight to keep public land PUBLIC.

we will be in Roseau County on Tuesday, Nov. 11th

Tuesday is Veterans Day. We plan on being in Roseau County to honor those who served. We will be attending the Warroad & Roseau Veterans Day programs. We will also be hosting a lunch-n-learn at The Phoenix in Warroad from 11:30am-1pm. Stop by, say “hi” and we can chat. This is a chance for me to learn what matters to you and for you to ask me questions.

Next week, we will be in Barnesvlile, MN for the Senate District 4 & 9 Fundraiser.

Nov 11th - Veterans Day - Warroad & Roseau

Nov 17th - Senate District 4 & 9 DFL Fundraiser - Barnesville, MN

Nov 27th - Thanksgiving

Thank you for all the support & keep up the good work!

Thanks to our generous donors, we are closing in on $123,000 raised. Our campaign relies on donations from folks like you. If you have already donated, THANK YOU! If you have set up a recurring donation, even better. If you would like to host a private party fundraiser, click here: https://secure.ngpvan.com/SKQtMANaY0W8nGqHcpukXA2

Please share our announcement video .

Help fuel our campaign

Update from Wadena, MN (11/03/25)

Nov 4

1 year out

by Erik Osberg on 11/3/25

When we launched this campaign on March 11th, there was still ice on the lakes and snow in the forecast. Today marks our 99th campaign stop, celebrating "1 year out," and we've had the privilege of meeting thousands of people along the way. Hard work is a core value for us, and we remain committed to the effort, focusing on the process and controlling what we can. We are incredibly grateful for the support we've received over the past 7.5 months. It's a big tent & all are welcome. You can join us tonight in New London, MN at the Kandiyohi DFL Chili Feed & Fundraiser.

a gathering of the minds at a house party in Otter Tail County

Had a great gathering of the minds in Otter Tail County. Once again, tons of wisdom in the room. We were able to meet lots of new folks while spending time with a few familiar faces. When I say "victory lies within the work", this is what I mean. Minnesota's 7th Congressional is unique and it will take a unique approach to win. We believe in connecting people, face-to-face, with a sense of urgency & purpose. We are creating a different path to a different outcome. Huge thanks to everyone for all the support along the way on this quest for change. We talked a lot about principles, we talked about values, we talked about compassion/kindness/empathy, we talked about science, we talked about a future where these concepts aren't scoffed at. We talked about decency and taking extreme ownership.

I was able to make time for some recreation this weekend. Even got to get in a little grouse hunting Sunday morning. As your Congressman I would fight to keep public land PUBLIC. While I didn't bag any birds, it felt good to be in the woods. In the spirit of leaving a place better than you found it, I picked up a little litter too. This coming weekend marks the opening weekend for the regular firearms deer hunting season here in Minnesota. If you partake in this annual tradition, please be safe.

the McLeod County Chronicle reported on our visit to Glencoe, MN

Got more ink. This time in The McLeod County Chronicle. This article is about our friend Diane & her demonstrations on the pedestrian bridge in Glenco, MN.

Read the article here.

Here is a look at more upcoming events.

Nov 3rd - Kandiyohi County DFL Fundraiser - New London, MN

Nov 8th - MN Firearms Deer Season

Nov 11th - Veterans Day

Nov 17th - Senate District 4 & 9 DFL Fundraiser - Barnesville, MN

Nov 27th - Thanksgiving

Thank you for all the support & keep up the good work!

Thanks to our generous donors, we are closing in on $121,000 raised. Our campaign relies on donations from folks like you. If you have already donated, THANK YOU! If you have set up a recurring donation, even better. If you would like to host a private party fundraiser, click here: https://secure.ngpvan.com/SKQtMANaY0W8nGqHcpukXA2

Please share our announcement video .

Help fuel our campaign

Update from Wadena, MN (10/27/25)

Oct 27

371 days till the midterms

by Erik Osberg on 10/27/25

Hard to believe we are closing in on 1 year out from the 2026 midterm elections. For nearly 8 months, we have been doing our best to meet people where they are at. 97 campaign stops as of this weekend. Every single one has mattered. On Saturday, we visited McLeod County & Meeker County.

Our first event was in Glencoe, MN where we got to see our good friend Diane. We first met her back in August at the Corn Feed in Redwood Falls. A private conversation that day led to emails down the road. Turns out, that since June, Diane has been demonstrating on the HWY 212 pedestrian bridge for 2 hours every Saturday. She said she was inspired by the story of a woman in the country of Georgia who stood alone in a park in response to aggression. After our encounter, she asked if she could add an Erik Osberg for Congress banner to her weekly displays. “We’d be honored.” was our response. Since starting her solo stance, others have joined her over the past few months.

our time with the “Bridge Brigade” in Glencoe, MN on 10/25/25

There were 85 people (not including kids) with Diane last Saturday as part of the No Kings Demonstrations. An informal census suggests attendees averaged 56 (22-78) years old. Retirees were about a quarter of demonstrators, the rest were employed in healthcare, education, farming or businesses. They came from Glencoe (almost half), Hutchinson, Arlington, New Auburn, Lester Prairie, Gaylord, Brownton, Cokato, NYA, Dassel, Belle Plaine and a couple visitors from St Paul.

Roughly 15 people showed up during our visit . Our main reason for being there was to let Diane know she isn't alone & we appreciate her efforts. According to my math, 30% of the vehicles gave a positive response. And yes, we did see a few middle fingers. If you want to join, you don't need to dedicate a ton of time. While Diane and other regulars are typically there for 2 hours, folks are encouraged to stop by even if just for 15 minutes. Food shelf donations were collected as well. Keep up the good work.

Our next conversation was with a farmer. We met him at one of his fields. We were immediately impressed with him. He offered insight, perspective and wisdom on a number of ag related topics. When I asked what he thought we farmers need he said; “stable, predictable, maybe even boring” policy. I agree. Farmers deal with enough uncertainty in their business. They don’t need market disruption added to the mix.

Speaking of disruption, I met with 8 rural health care professionals on Saturday. We had a casual, yet serious conversation about the state of their industry here in western Minnesota. "The business model is not sustainable" was one provider's take.

For 2 hours I asked questions and they shared their experiences. We talked about Medicaid reimbursement rates, pharmaceutical reimbursements, nursing ratios, primary care vs. specialists, inhaler prescriptions being filled in Canada, Affordable Care Act Tax Credits, pre-existing conditions, lifetime caps, preventative care, single payer insurance models and much, much more.

When I asked about morale within their workplaces, they talked about how fear based campaigns have created a new level of distrust from their patients. We talked about the increase in mental health cases, the lack of EMS availability and the large radius of obstetrics care. The list of issues goes on.

The good news is despite the challenges, these professionals still find purpose in their work. One attendee said "Family medicine has been a glue that has held rural communities together." I believe we need to fight for rural health care systems before the unsustainable business models leave us without access to the care we need & depend on.

I was in Detroit Lakes, MN for a meet-n-greet Tuesday night. 25ish people were on hand. They asked a ton of great questions and offered perspectives & wisdom. One of our goals is to have transformative rather than transactional experiences. I left feeling energized, optimistic & hopeful. Huge thanks to everyone who came to this private party, huge thanks to the folks who organized the event and huge thanks for the stimulating conversations. I am forever grateful for the support.

Here is a look at more upcoming events.

Oct. 29th - Private Party - (click here if you would like to host a private party)

Nov 3rd - Kandiyohi County DFL Fundraiser - New London, MN

Nov 17th - Senate District 4 & 9 DFL Fundraiser - Barnesville, MN

Thank you for all the support & keep up the good work!

Thanks to our generous donors, we are closing in on $118,000 raised. Our campaign relies on donations from folks like you. If you have already donated, THANK YOU! If you have set up a recurring donation, even better. If you would like to host a private party fundraiser, click here: https://secure.ngpvan.com/SKQtMANaY0W8nGqHcpukXA2

Please share our announcement video .

Help fuel our campaign