Update from Wadena, MN (7/23/25)

55 campaign stops, 34 counties visited 

Addressing the crowd at a Building Better Communities event in Red Lake, MN.

by Erik Osberg on 7/23/25

We believe actions speak louder than words.  Here are some stats since our launch on March 11th, 2025.

55 campaign stops

34 counties visited. (Only 4 more till we've been to all 38 in Minnesota's 7th Congressional District.)

1,800+ in-person connections, (we haven't met every person in every single room we've been in, but we've listened & introduced ourselves)

$67,500+ in donations (on our way to 100k)

Thank you for showing up & showing out. 

Over the last week and a half, we made 8 campaign stops in 9 days. From Murray County to Red Lake County and points in between. One of my favorite parts about this campaign is the "discovery." I've seen things & been places that are new and familiar at the same time. 

"Of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt." - John Muir

Last week I had the pleasure of meeting with 15 folks who have been gathering once a month to share what is on their hearts & minds. I grew up on a dirt road and felt at home in the hills of southern Otter Tail County. 

Our conversation felt very comfortable too. They had lots of great questions for me. Some even played "devils advocate" to test my answers. One gentleman had written a list of questions. He said he wanted to support this campaign, but wanted to get to know me first. He asked that I keep my answers short. Like 1 sentence or less. We had a rapid fire session where he asked my thoughts on what felt like 15 or more topics (don't quote me on that). I must have passed the test as he gladly took a button and posed with the others for a Team Photo. 

Once again, the sticking point of our discussion landed on "what can we do?" My only answer is, work. Work harder than you've ever worked before. Keep showing up. Keep speaking out. Keep finding seeds of joy & nurturing. Speaking of which you could literally plant a tree. Run to the grocery store, buy some non-perishable food items and bring em to your local food shelf. The point is our ACTIONS will lead us down a different path to a different outcome. Huge thanks to this crew. Your honesty & hospitality are greatly appreciated. Keep up the good work!

Our next Community Fish Fry is Thursday, July 24th.

We are gonna roll the dice and have our next fish fry outdoors. It will be at the BEAUTIFUL setting at Phelps Mill Park in Otter Tail County, MN. All are welcome to attend these free will donation event. Please register so we know how much fish to bring. We’d also like folks to bring a non-perishable food item or toiletries to donate to local food shelves. 

Garage Party in Avon, MN.

On July 16th the Polk County & Red Lake County DFL hosted the 2nd "Building Better Communities" event of the summer. It was another great evening of connections, conversation & community. The event was held at the Landing at the Bend in Red Lake Falls, MN. An incredible venue, we would highly recommend you stop if you are in the area. Food was excellent. Kudos to State Rep. Steve Gander (R) for showing up and fielding questions. It was refreshing to hear civility, a call for humanity & the need for guard rails. I was impressed in the way he handled himself. 

While making new friends is always a joy, one of the really cool parts for me last night was seeing folks for a 2nd time. 4 months in and it feels like we are already deepening relationships. Huge thanks to all those who made this event happen. 

Keep up the good work!

Here is a look at our upcoming schedule.

Upcoming schedule:

July 24th - Community Fish Fry, Otter Tail County - Phelps Mill Park 

July 27th - Murray County Fair

July 28th - Senate District 21 Fundraiser Potluck - Fulda, MN

July 29th - Wadena County Farmers Union - Sebeka, MN

Aug 2nd  - Upper Sioux Traditional Wacipi - south of Granite Falls, MN

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

Thanks to our generous donors, we are closing in on $70,000 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 (7/14/25)

fryin’ fish, feeding unity

We had a fish fry in Todd County, MN

by Erik Osberg on 7/14/25

Wasn't sure what to expect for our 1st campaign hosted fish fry. I like to think it was pretty darn cool. We bought frozen fish locally in Wadena. We had family & friends show up to lend a hand. The Hilltop Regional Kitchen in Eagle Bend was the perfect venue. 

One couple drove all the way from New London, MN. Some folks I knew from my hometown of Upsala were there too. I got to have a lot of individual conversations as well as address the crowd as a whole. Took questions too. 

I was talking with one couple and they were genuinely interested in who I was. Like "why" should they support me? After a few more questions & answers. He said "You don't B.S." only he didn't say B.S., "nope" was my response. He approved.

I am what I am, and I gotta be 100% me. Cuz that's what folks deserve. The truth. Not some made up reality tv-show version. Again, super grateful for all the support.

50 people showed up for our fish fry in Eagle Bend, MN.

We are gonna roll the dice and have our next fish fry outdoors. It will be at the BEAUTIFUL setting at Phelps Mill Park in Otter Tail County, MN. All are welcome to attend these free will donation event. Please register so we know how much fish to bring. We’d also like folks to bring a non-perishable food item or toiletries to donate to local food shelves. 

Garage Party in Avon, MN.

We were in Stearns County last week for a garage party. 68 people came out to connect and chat about what is on their hearts and minds. No scripts, no suits. Just honest and open conversation that creates a shared vision & values. We seek to understand first.  Huge thanks to our hosts and huge thanks to everyone who showed up. We are forever grateful for the support.

If you would like to host a garage party, or any other type of private party fundraiser, let us know. Click here: https://secure.ngpvan.com/SKQtMANaY0W8nGqHcpukXA2

SWAG ALERT🚨

We are doing a limited run of we can do BETTER t-shirts. Go to https://secure.actblue.com/donate/erikosberg4congress-store to place your order. The store will close once we hit 100 shirts ordered or July 17th. Whichever comes 1st.

Upcoming schedule:

July 14th - Grant County DFL Meeting

July 15th - Murray County DFL Meeting

July 16th -  Red Lake/Polk County Picnic 

July 17th -  Private Party Fundraiser Ashby, MN 

July 24th - Community Fish Fry, Otter Tail County - Phelps Mill Park 

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

Thanks to our generous donors, we have raised over $53,000 so far. 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 (7/07/25)

30 counties visited, 8 to go

Our Coffee Talk Tour stop in Chippewa County on July 2nd

by Erik Osberg on 7/07/25

Round 2 of our Coffee Talk Tour brought us to 4 counties last Wednesday. We started the morning in Slayton, MN (Murray Co.) Got to hear which issues were most important to those at the table. We talked about protecting rural health care, true fiscal responsibility, labor shortages & bad actors. We heard a real life story of a federal employee who moved to the area late 2024 and was laid off in May. His wife is still working, but their lives are now in limbo.

Coffee Talk Tour stops in Pipestone County, Murray County & Lincoln County

Next stop was Pipestone, MN (Pipestone Co.). We talked about the anxiety that today's political climate can cause. We talked about appropriate actions we can take. We talked about the need to find seeds of joy and nurture them. I also learned a lot about the historical significance of Pipestone. We were talking about the Native American culture in the area and while a gentleman was explaining the ceremony of the peace pipe, he said "It comes from here." and pointed at his heart. That got me. We stopped by the Pipestone National Monument for a bit. Didn't have much time to explore, but I definitely learned a lot. Next up was Tyler, MN (Lincoln Co.). We talked about greed being blind. We talked about suffering. We talked about the misconception that being poor is somehow a moral failure. 

Our last stop was in Montevideo, MN (Chippewa Co.). I got pretty revved up in this meeting. In a good way. It's hard for me not to get excited about the opportunity we have to unite a Congressional District as large as Minnesota's 7th. I also get energized by the connections we are making. I laid out a few strategic and tactical elements of our campaign and offered our vision for a different path to a different outcome. Once again, THANK YOU for showing up. 

4th of July parade in Warroad, MN

We celebrated Independence Day by participating in the 4th of July parade in Warroad, MN on Friday. It was worth the trip. The theme of this year’s parade was “Wave of Independence".  We believe that fits our brand pretty well. Huge thanks to the crew that came out to be part of our float.  

One of the goals of this campaign is to have a fish fry in every county in Minnesota’s 7th Congressional District by Election Day in 2026. Our 1st official COMMUNITY FISH FRY is this Wednesday, July 9th at Hilltop Regional Kitchen in Eagle Bend, MN. This will be a free will donation event. Our intent is to bring folks together to break bread and create community. This isn't a rally or demonstration. Just neighbors gathering to celebrate who we are. Pretty please, with sugar on top, pre-register so we know how much fish to bring. Menu will be light, fried fish, chips & lemonade. Register here: https://www.mobilize.us/erikosbergforcongress/event/807433/

Upcoming schedule:

July 9th - Community Fish Fry - Todd County Register here

July 10th - Private House Party - Stearns County

July 15th -  Murray County

July 16th - Polk County Picnic in the Park

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

Thanks to our generous donors, we have raised over $53,000 so far. 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