Update from Wadena, MN (10/27/25)
- knyreen
- Oct 27
- 4 min read
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.
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)
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
