Huge thanks to the Lyon Co. DFL for hosting such a wonderful HQ Opening Social in Marshall
1,505 miles in 6 days
I put on over 1,500 miles since Tuesday bringing our total to over 35,000 since launching in March of 2025. All in an effort to build relationships at scale in all 38 counties. The best way I know of to do that is face-to-face & open to the public. This campaign believes in transformational relationships rather than transactional ones. That starts to happen the 2nd, 3rd & 4th time you interact with people. Being accessible & responsive creates accountability, something we need to get back to. I believe it is safe to say there is a movement in western Minnesota. Furthermore, that movement has momentum. Shook a lot of hands this week and looked a lot of people in the eye. I know we are Rocky in this story, but we have a puncher’s chance.
Our current congressperson is a career politician. She is the status quo. She isn’t accessible or responsive the way this campaign is. I was talking with someone who mentioned how amazed they were at the pace with which norms & institutions are being broken down. My response was that demolition is always faster than building.
Hard to say what stood out the most from last week, but I’d have to say the importance of mental health is towards the top. I too know what it is like to feel hopeless. I too know what it feels like to be burdened with pain & uncertainty. To have felt alone or hopeless I have good news… we aren’t alone. You aren’t alone. I’m not alone. Every time I, or you, meet someone new, the collective WE becomes bigger. The Rural Rival keeps growing.
Keep scrolling to see what lies ahead. That is how we endure, by looking forward, onward, together. Dare I say, UNITED.
With Gratitude,
Erik
The Road Ahead
There are plenty of festivals, county fairs, fish frys, and parades coming up over the next couple months. Keep an eye on this space each week for more info or visit our website. Events with links are to sign up via Mobilize:
Tonight! July 13 – Door Knock with Team Erik in Hawley
Tuesday, July 14 – Turnout Tuesday with Team Erik (Online Event)
Thursday, July 16 –Door Knock with Erik in Fergus Falls
Thursday, July 16 – Meet Erik at the Otter Tail County Fair (Fergus Falls)
Friday, July 17 – Meet Erik at the Pennington County Fair (Thief River Falls)
Friday, July 17 – Door Knock with Team Erik in Granite Falls
Saturday, July 18 – Door Knock with Erik in Herman
Saturday, July 18 – Meet Erik at the Grant County Fair (Herman)
Saturday, July 18 – Join Team Erik at the Grant County Fair Parade(Herman)
Saturday, July 18 – Join Team Erik at the Water Days Parade (New London)
Saturday, July 18 – Join Team Erik at the Ashby Appreciation Days Parade
Saturday, July 18 – Join Erik at the Sinclair Lewis Days Parade (Sauk Centre)
Saturday, July 18 – Join Team Erik at the Lester Prairie Days Parade
Sunday, July 19 – Join Team Erik at the Tornado Days Parade (Miltona)
Sunday, July 19 – Join Erik at the Parade of Northwest (Detroit Lakes)
Sunday, July 19 – Working Families Breakfast Picnic (Detroit Lakes)
Tuesday, July 21 – Doorknock with Team Erik in Morris
Tuesday, July 21 – Turnout Tuesday with Team Erik (Online Event)
Wednesday, July 22 – Meet Erik at the Marshall County Fair (Warren)
A Look Back
Marshall shows up big. Lyon County came out in force for the DFL Headquarters opening this week. MN State Senate candidate Andrea Boettger, MN House 15A candidate Nathan Schmig, and MN House 21A candidate Rusty Nelson all joined to share their vision for a better future. It was our best-attended event of the week, and the energy in the room said a lot about where this district is headed.
(L-R) Nathan Schmig, Rusty Nelson, Andrea Boettger, and Erik at the Lyon county DFL HQ
“They are bargaining with people’s lives.” That’s a line heard from a local leader during a day of meetings in Crookston with providers working in housing, childcare, transportation, food security, and elder care — the folks doing the work while federal cuts pile pressure on their programs.
We talked about whom society deems worthy and unworthy. We also talked about hope. During one conversation i heard someone say “they are bargaining with people’s lives.” They were referring to the cut & gut approach of the current administration.
What gives me hope for the future is the people doing the work. The dedicated professionals who have committed so much passion to helping improve the lives of those around them while withholding judgement. “We can label people and never know the story.” is how one of them put it.
One goal I have as a Congressperson is to super fund Head Start. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure and the earlier we can get people the resources needed, the better off they will be.
I believe we should fully fund Head Start. “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, the earlier we can get people the resources needed, the better off they’ll be.” ~ Erik
New Hope Food Shelf
We Can’t Do It All Alone
This week showed what’s possible when people show up: Lyon County packing a headquarters opening, providers in Crookston fighting every day for the folks they serve, parade crowds from Spicer to Starbuck cheering us on. But miles and handshakes alone don’t win a campaign. They get us in the room. What gets our message into inboxes and in front of voters across Western Minnesota is the support of people like you.
Whatever you’re able to give: a contribution, a share of our social posts, or an hour knocking doors — it moves us closer to a Congress that actually shows up for rural Minnesota. We’re grateful for every bit of it.
One way you can help is by committing to a recurring donation over the next 4 months. To learn more about recurring contributions, check out the video link below.
Yard Sign?
YARD SIGNS are available in our Swag Store. Help us fund our grassroots campaign and spread the word that there is a candidate who can do better by purchasing a yard sign.
Our swag store is now open. All products are union-made right here in the U.S.A.!
Go to store.erikosberg4congress.com to place your order today. You can also find the link on our website erikosberg.com
Please note, this isn’t Amazon. Orders will ship in 7-10 days. You should get a receipt when your order is placed & a tracking number once your order is shipped. Orders are considered a campaign donation, so be mindful of the $3,500 limit per individual. ✌
Our swag store is open: store.erikosberg4congress.com
Actions you can take
We’re committed to investing our campaign dollars into people power. We have four full-time staffers now and would like to add two more to give us the capacity to reach as many voters across the district as possible. Your financial support can help us secure more boots on the ground. Please give what you can today: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/erik-osberg060126
We’re closing in on 600 volunteers already signed up, and we are gonna need more. Join the movement to help us Do Better: https://www.erikosberg4congress.com/get-involved
Host a House Party
House parties are a great way to organize in your local community and help to raise funds and recruit volunteers in a comfortable setting. You can either invite neighbors, family, and friends or ask us to invite local supporters and friends-to-be. To get more information on hosting a house party, contact Gary Osberg: gary@erikosberg4congress.com or (320)293-6771.
Spread the word
Forward this email to a friend. Invite a friend, relative, or otherwise to be a part of this movement.
