Democrats in Senate District 38 are set to hold their convention on Saturday, April 13 at North View Middle School in Brooklyn Park.
In addition to conducting the business of nominating candidates and delegates for the state convention, there also will be opportunities to hear from prospective office-holders – most notably party endorsement of candidates for the Minnesota House Representatives for Districts 38A and 38B.
Senate District 38, represented in the Minnesota Senate by Sen. Susan Pha (DFL) includes a part of Brooklyn Park, all of Brooklyn Center and all of Osseo. It has two Minnesota House of Representatives seats – 38A and 38B. District 38A, currently held by Rep. Michael Nelson (DFL,) will be an open seat this November as Rep. Nelson will be retiring. 38A includes a portion of Brooklyn Park and all of Osseo while 38B, which is represented by Rep. Samantha Vang (DFL), includes all of Brooklyn Center and a portion of Brooklyn Park. Rep. Vang is seeking reelection in November.
The Minnesota Senate will not be on the ballot this year, but all seats in the House of Representatives are.
“The convention will start at 9 a.m., and it is open to the public,” SD 38 DFL Chair Nelima Sitati Munene told Mshale. “Only delegates can vote however and the current delegate count is 251 and 52 alternates.”
Eyes on 38A – Two African immigrants to square off for DFL endorsement
Former Brooklyn Park City Council member Mr. Wynfred Russell, a Liberian American, and prominent Kenyan American leader Ms. Huldah Hiltsley are running to succeed Rep. Nelson in 38A with Ms. Hiltsley having launched her campaign months ago while Mr. Russell formally launched his campaign three weeks ago.
In separate interviews with Mshale both Ms. Hiltsley and Mr. Russell confirmed they will seek the DFL endorsement but will move on to the August 13 Primary if they do not get it.
Saturday’s convention is an important milestone in both candidates’ campaigns as the stakes are very high. Whoever is able to receive the party’s endorsement is guaranteed the benefits of the institutional support of the DFL campaign apparatus – which includes voter information and the massive army of volunteers that come with it for activities such as door knocking and phone banking.
Ms. Hiltsley however seemed surprised that Mr. Russell will even think of seeking the DFL endorsement, accusing the former councilman of being a “borderline Republican.”
“The DFL endorsement is meant for individuals who champion DFL values, and will be strong at the legislature, who will not flip or flop. We need somebody who is committed to the DFL party and not someone who is doing it because it’s convenient for them,” Ms. Hiltsley told Mshale shortly after Mr. Russell launched his campaign. “The record shows he has aligned with the GOP party in the past and supported GOP candidates in the past.”
Mr. Russell adamantly denied Ms. Hiltsley’s allegation that he is a Republican, and instead accused her of trying to discredit him before the endorsing convention. He said the only thing he is guilty of is having the ability to work across party lines when needed as an elected official “to move the community’s interests forward”, a skill set he said one will need to be effective at the Legislature.
“I am the only candidate in the race who has received the DFL endorsement before. I was endorsed by DFL when I ran against a Republican and won a seat on the Brooklyn Park City Council. It’s laughable to call me a Republican,” Mr. Russell said in a Thursday evening phone interview with Mshale. “Unlike my opponent who moved to the district less than six months ago, just to run, I have lived in the district for more than 20 years, serving the people and producing results.”
The candidate filing period will start on May 21 through June 4. The state Primary Election will be on August 13 if both Ms. Hiltsley and Mr. Russell file to run. There will be no Democratic Party primary if only one DFLer files to run in 38A.
Key Dates:
June 28: Vote by mail or in person starts and runs through August 12 for the primary.
July 23: The last day to register in advance to be able to vote on Primary Election Day on August 13 and save time at the polls (you can still register on Primary Election Day at the polling site, just plan on extra time).
About Tom Gitaa Gitaa, Editor-in-Chief
Born and raised in Kenya's coastal city of Mombasa, Tom is the Founder, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher of Mshale which has been reporting on the news and culture of African immigrants in the United States since 1995. He has a BA in Business from Metro State University and a Public Leadership Credential from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. He was the original host of Talking Drum, the signature current affairs show on the African Broadcasting Network (ABN-America), which was available nationwide in the United States via the Dish Network satellite service. On the show, he interviewed Nobel laureates such as 2004 Nobel Peace prize winner, Professor Wangari Maathai, the first woman from Africa to win the peace prize and heads of states. Tom has served and chaired various boards including Global Minnesota (formerly Minnesota International Center), the sixth largest World Affairs Council in the United States. He has previously served as the first Black President of the Board of Directors at Books for Africa. He also serves on the boards of New Vision Foundation and the Minnesota Multicultural Media Consortium. He has previously served two terms on the board of the United Nations Association. An avid runner, he retired from running full marathons after turning 50 and now only focuses on training for half marathons.
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