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.

First District DFL Executive Committee

Chair: Caitlin Nicholson - cnicholson.dfl@gmail.com (Winona County)
Vice Chair: John Swanson (SD 25)
Secretary: Jacob Grippen (Winona County)
Treasurer: Greg Graif (Martin County)
Outreach and Inclusion: Rita Rassbach (Nicollet County)
Communications: Julie Fryer (Fillmore County)
Data and Technology: Mindy Kimmel (Blue Earth County)
2020-2024: Lori Sellner (Brown County)
Pommella Wegmann (Goodhue 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)

2024 CD1 DFL Convention Positions

Deb Hogenson (Waseca)
Alternate: David Hansen (Rice)
Ceri Everett
Elizabeth Kuhlman
Eugenio Lopez
Joseph Shepherd
Nick Frentz
At large: John Swanson
At large alternate: Christine DeVries

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.

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.*