DFL Caucus Participants Gather to Make Their Voices Heard

Residents of Olmsted County, Minnesota attend local DFL caucuses to elect delegates, debate resolutions, and participate in a straw poll for governor.

Published on Feb. 3, 2026

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Hundreds of residents in Olmsted County, Minnesota attended their local Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) party caucuses on Tuesday, February 3, 2026 at several high schools and middle schools across the county. The caucuses provided an opportunity for attendees to vote on delegates to the county convention, debate resolutions to add to the party platform, elect local party officials, and participate in a straw poll for governor, which became an "unusual" piece this year when incumbent Governor Tim Walz withdrew from the race in January.

Why it matters

The DFL caucuses represent a grassroots political process where citizens can directly engage with their local party and have a voice in shaping the party's priorities and candidates. In a time of political polarization, the caucuses provide an important platform for Minnesotans to come together, share their concerns, and advocate for the changes they want to see in government.

The details

The caucuses saw a strong turnout, with long lines of participants waiting to check in starting at 6:30 pm until after the 7 pm start time. The caucuses featured debates on various resolutions, including issues related to immigration and ICE enforcement actions in Minnesota. Several political candidates also attended the caucuses, including John Marshall High School teacher Simon Glaser, who is running for Minnesota Senate District 24, and Mayo High School teacher Jake Johnson, who is running against incumbent Rep. Brad Findstad in the 1st Congressional District.

  • The DFL caucuses took place on Tuesday, February 3, 2026.
  • Governor Tim Walz withdrew from the race in January 2026, making the gubernatorial straw poll an "unusual" element of this year's caucuses.

The players

Peggy Higgins

A Rochester resident who attended her first caucus, hoping to see changes happen in government.

Cheryl Anderson

A Rochester resident who attended the caucus with Peggy Higgins, hoping to see "solutions" rather than "finger pointing" and "name calling" from political leaders.

Mark Liebow

The Olmsted County DFL director, who explained the purpose of the caucuses, including voting on delegates, debating resolutions, and participating in a straw poll.

Barbara Andrew

A 25-year Rochester resident who attended the caucus as a "peaceful observer" to help people feel secure and protected.

Simon Glaser

A John Marshall High School teacher running for Minnesota Senate District 24, who spoke at the caucus about the threat of ICE actions in the community.

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What they’re saying

“I just feel that if I want things to be different, I have to make my wants known at this level and go up from there.”

— Peggy Higgins (postbulletin.com)

“Today as ICE continues to threaten our community, our neighbors have never needed us more than now.”

— Simon Glaser, Candidate for Minnesota Senate District 24 (postbulletin.com)

“There's been name calling and picturing of other people being the enemy. I'm sorry, we all live on this planet. We all live in our communities. We have to get along.”

— Cheryl Anderson (postbulletin.com)

What’s next

The results of the gubernatorial straw poll in Olmsted County, which saw 714 votes for Sen. Amy Klobuchar, 221 uncommitted, and 7 for Christopher Seymore, will be closely watched as the DFL party works to select its nominee for the November election.

The takeaway

The strong turnout and engaged participation at the Olmsted County DFL caucuses demonstrate the continued importance of grassroots political processes, where citizens can directly shape the priorities and candidates of their local party. As political divisions deepen, these caucuses provide an opportunity for Minnesotans to come together, voice their concerns, and work towards solutions that address the needs of their communities.