Our History:

The Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) Party was created on April 15, 1944, after the Minnesota Democrats merged with the Farmer-Labor Party. Hubert H. Humphrey was instrumental in the merger and is considered by many to be the founder of the Minnesota DFL Party.

Map of Minnesota displaying its congressional districts, labeled with numbers and colored in distinct sections. The state borders are outlined, with significant bodies of water and neighboring regions depicted.

First District DFL Executive Committee

  • Chair: Lori Sellner (Brown County)

    Vice Chair: John Swanson (SD 25)

    Secretary: Jacob Grippen (Winona County)
    Deputy Secretary: Theresa Keaveny (Brown County)

    Treasurer: Greg Graif (Martin County)

    Outreach and Inclusion: Eugenio Lopez (Nobles County)

    Communications: Julie Fryer (Fillmore County)

    Data and Technology: Mindy Kimmel (Blue Earth County)

  • 2024-2028: Leah Midgarden

  • Deb Hogenson (Waseca), Deb Meyer (Nobles), Lynn Joann Carlson, Shelly Sykes (SD25), Ana Folpe, Eugenio Lopez (Nobles), Jon DeVries (Fillmore), Edgar Daniel Hernandez Ulloa (Nicollet), Roger Steinkamp (Rice/Scott 58), Fred Knutson (Steele), Bruce Huber (Dodge), Sue Rasmussen (Goodhue), Karin Sweson (SD25), Cecilio Palacios (Rice), Anthony Bruguier (Winona)

  • Platform and Issues Committee: Steve Monk (SD25), Theresa Keaveny (Brown)

    Outreach and Inclusion Committee: Jessica Velasco (Nobles), David Mesta (Blue Earth)

    Constitution, Bylaws and Rules Committee: Becky Helfritz (Mower), Jacob Grippen (Winona)

    Party Affairs Committee: Peter Haug (SD25), Lori Sellner (Brown)

    Budget Committee: Sue Rasmussen (Goodhue)

    Code of Conduct Committee: Caitlin Nicholson (Winona)

    History Committee: Christine DeVries, Ceri Everett (Goodhue), Jacob Grippen (Winona)

    Nominations and Search Committee: Lori Sellner (Brown), John Swanson (SD25), William Harvey (Olmsted), Caitlin Nicholson (Winona)

  • Mindy Kimmel (Blue Earth)
    William Harvey (Olmsted 20/24)

  • Sue Rasmussen (Goodhue), Julie Fryer (Filmore,) Bruce Huber (Dodge), Deb Meyer (Nobles), Lynn Joann Carlson, Les Tlougan, David Mesta (Blue Earth)

The Minnesota DFL has a rich history of electing strong, Democratic leaders to public office. We work every day to build a better Minnesota for all Minnesotans.

Bar chart illustrating the 2022 population of CD1 by county in Minnesota, showing population levels for counties like Blue Earth, Olmsted, and Winona. Olmsted County has the highest population, with others varying significantly.
Map showing counties in southern Minnesota with red circles indicating data points or density distributions. Counties are divided into congressional districts labeled C.D.1, C.D.2, and C.D.7. Key areas with larger circles include Olmsted, Blue Earth, and Nicollet.

2022 Population Density by CD1 County

Population by County (2022)
Blue Earth: 71,053
Brown: 25,756
Dodge: 21,342
Faribault: 13,681
Fillmore: 21,605
Freeborn: 30,904
Goodhue: 48,910
Houston: 19,253
Jackson: 10,067
Martin: 20,153
Mower: 40,605
Nicollet: 35,826
Nobles: 22.473
Olmsted: 168,055
Rice: 68,525
Rock: 9,853
Steele: 38,775
Wabasha: 21,895
Waseca: 19,236
Watonwan: 11,253
Winona: 49,764

*Note: County population includes population of the entire county. Counties split between congressional districts are not reduced by the remaining population outside CD1.*

Blue Earth

Blue Earth County

A group of people outdoors holding political campaign signs for candidates.

Brown County

Group of people posing in a field with campaign signs for various political candidates in Minnesota. Some people are wearing matching blue or yellow shirts, and American flags are present in the background.

Dodge County

Collage of ten individuals with a Faribault County DFL logo in the center, featuring a blue background and outline of Minnesota. The bottom has the quote "We all do better when we all do better."

Fairbault County

Street scene with a hanging flower basket featuring red, white, and purple flowers next to a "Welcome" sign for Preston, established in 1855. A Minnesota DFL Fillmore County sign is visible on a building's window in the background.

Fillmore County

Collage of people at a parade holding "Freeborn County DFL" and political signs, marching and standing with vehicles, wearing blue shirts.

Freeborn County

Group of people supporting political candidates with signage

Goodhue County

Group of diverse people holding campaign signs for Jeff Ettinger for Congress and other political causes, standing in front of a campaign van with a blue sky.

Houston County

Booth setup for political campaign with signs for various Democratic candidates including Dan Feehan and Amy Klobuchar, featuring "vote blue" messaging. Includes a table and chairs under a banner for Jackson County DFL.

Jackson County

Political booth at an event with signs for Democratic candidates, including Tina Smith and Amy Klobuchar. The booth displays promotional materials, American flags, and star decorations, with a focus on Martin County DFL. Adjacent booths and attendees are visible.

Martin County

Mower County

Group of people wearing campaign shirts and holding political signs outdoors.

Nicollet County

Group of people holding campaign signs for Democratic candidates, including "Defending Democracy" in front of a blue Minnesota DFL van.

Nobles County

Group of people holding political signs and a "DFL" banner outdoors.

Olmsted County

Group of smiling young adults posing indoors, some wearing name tags, in a casual setting.

Rice County

Group of people wearing safety vests holding yellow trash bags during outdoor cleanup event.

Rock County

Political booth with patriotic decorations including American flags, banners for the Democratic Party, and a "Liberty and Justice for All" banner. The booth is set up at an event, featuring tables and informational material.

Steele County

Group of people holding political campaign signs for various Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor candidates outside during the day.

Wabasha County

Four adults posing together indoors at a social or community event.

Waseca County

Minnesota DFL Watonwan County logo with stylized map and farm field background.

Watonwan County

Collage of Winona County Democratic Party political events, featuring speakers, gathering of supporters, campaign signs for candidates like Dan Feehan, Tina Smith, Amy Klobuchar, and Walz Flanagan. Includes indoor meetings and group photo.

Winona County

Minnesota DFL First Congressional District logo featuring the state outline

Elected Officials