Update from Wadena, MN
Focus on the Process
Had a great turnout for our meet-n-greet at Bigwood Event Center in Fergus Falls on Friday, April 10.
When we launched this campaign 398 days ago, we started with a Mission, Vision & Values. Part of our Vision was to be: organized, connected, process driven & competitive. I believe it is safe to say we have lived up to that. One of our goals is to EARN the DFL endorsement at Minnesota’s 7th Congressional District convention on April 25th. In order to do that, we needed to advance as many “Team Erik” delegates out of the organizing unit conventions as possible. Once again, I believe it is safe to say we did that thanks in large part to the process we created, modified & executed. Since the first local unit convention on Feb. 14th, our Team strived to be the 1st to arrive & last to leave. We showed up with purpose. We built and/or deepened relationships. We brought new people and new energy to rural politics. We had a strong presence at every single one of the 36 organizing unit conventions.
I am proud to be leading a Team of passionate people who are willing to go the extra mile and find joy in the journey. We fully anticipate this work will be rewarded at the CD7 Convention. That being said, regardless of the outcome, I’m honored & humbled by the outpouring of support we’ve gotten during this phase of our quest to flip Minnesota’s 7th.
The midterm elections are ONLY 204 days away. We will maintain our philosophy that the work is the reward to the finish line.
Convention Recap
Win the day!
That’s a wrap for the 2026 DFL County Convention season. We had a super strong showing in Otter Tail County. There were 134 delegates in attendance. According to some, that is the most ever.
Grateful to our tabling squads for their skill set and enthusiasm. Huge thanks to the organizers and volunteers who make these conventions happen & thanks for all the support throughout Minnesota’s 7th Congressional District.
Pictures from the Otter Tail County Convention where there was a record attendance.
Huge thanks to Bailey S., Ginny B., Al K., Dorothy A., Dan P. & Lori S. for representing Team Osberg at the Lac qui Parle County DFL Convention Saturday in Dawson. We had another strong showing in the southern region of CD7.
Team Osberg at the Lac qui Parle County Convention.
Agriculture Advisory Committee
“For me, I would never run my business the way the current administration runs this country. I would never insult my neighbors. I wouldn’t cheat on them. I wouldn’t lie to them. I wouldn’t go behind their back. When I think about how I run my farm, there’s just no way I would do the things they’re doing.” – MN CD-7 farmer.
We held our first Agriculture Advisory Committee meeting last Tuesday night. Roughly a dozen voters from throughout Minnesota’s 7th Congressional District were on the call. The folks on this committee represent a wide range of the Ag industry and have centuries of knowledge & diversity of thought. The above quote from one of the farmers on the committee is a pretty good summary of our visit.
We had a wide ranging conversation that lasted an hour and a half. We talked about the importance of export markets to our local economies. We talked about creating domestic demand drivers to elevate low prices. We talked about what needs to be restored. We talked about immigration. We talked about land access & good stewardship. We talked about the economic realities farmers face. We talked about the future of our country.
One of our goals is to become a voice for farmers in western Minnesota. Listening is an important part of that. Thanks to those who contributed to the conversation Tuesday night.
Prioritize People
We need to re-evaluate our priorities as a nation.
One of the questions I was asked last month at the AAI forum came from a personal care assistant. She talked about how one of the companies she worked for paid her $10.33 per hour to take care of “my people” – her words. She noted she could make more working at McDonald’s, but she knows without her, the people she cares for wouldn’t have anyone to help them clean, prep & cook food, or help set up and take them to & from their appointments.
Too often we’re told “we can’t afford that” when the reality is closer to “we aren’t going to prioritize that.” We need to re-evaluate our priorities as a nation. As your congressperson, I would prioritize people. Click here to watch the full video of my response.
Click here for the full video.
My experience
I’ve worked in rural economic development for the last 9 years. I lead a team of passionate people who are dedicated to putting Otter Tail County, MN “on the map.” Our job is to write a narrative about rural life that attracts workforce to our region. This work is conducted through public-private partnerships and collaboration of multiple local governments and non-profit organizations. The department I work in handles issues like housing & childcare and we deal with federal funding, state funding, and local funding.
One day, my boss asked me to put together a pilot episode for a TV show we could try to pitch to National Geographic or Netflix. We wanted to show what rural life is like. Something that went beyond typical stereotypes. I’d never sold a show to a streaming service, but got to work. Long story short, we gathered a team of talented professionals and what started out as a goal to put together a single 28 minute pilot episode turned into a 12 part video series over 2 seasons. We call it “Rural by Choice” and it even won a Regional Emmy.
Erik with the Regional Emmy his team won for the series “Rural by Choice,” which you can watch on YouTube here.
The moral of the story is I’m good at messaging. I’m good at communicating. I’m good at innovating & I have a track record of striving for excellence in public service. I know how to lead a team of people & accomplish things others thought couldn’t be done. I’m a problem solver with real-world experience, and I will bring these skills with me to DC.
Upcoming Events
April 19 – CD7 Virtual Candidate Forum, 2:00-3:00pm – registration link here
With 38 counties and 32,000 square miles, the Minnesota DFL wanted everyone to have an equitable opportunity to hear from the CD7 Candidates! This event is prepared and paid for by the 7th Congressional District DFL. If you would like to submit questions for the candidates, click here.
April 25 – CD7 Endorsing Convention – Granite Falls
Actions you can take
Join the Team!
To flip this seat and win in November, we’re going to need the largest field operation this district has ever seen. And to do that, we’re going to need to build a team that stretches from Warroad to Jasper and everywhere in between. That’s where you come in.
We plan to hold both in-person and online volunteer summits in May. It’ll be a chance to learn about ways you can be a part of this team. Whether it’s phonebanking, door knocking, addressing postcards, hosting a house party, supporting the campaign on social media, or something else altogether, there will be plenty of opportunities for all.
To date, we’ve had over 430 people sign up to be a part of this movement. You can sign up by clicking here, and you’ll be among the first to learn about upcoming volunteer opportunities and the May volunteer summits. We’re truly building the kind of team it’ll take to win in November. All that’s missing is you.
Invest in the change you seek
If you have already donated – or even better, set up a recurring donation – THANK YOU! If you haven’t, please help us reach our next target of $300k by making an investment today. If you prefer to send a check, our mailing address is: Erik Osberg for Congress, PO Box 550, Wadena, MN 56482. If you would like to host a private party fundraiser, click here: https://secure.ngpvan.com/SKQtMANaY0W8nGqHcpukXA2.
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