Candidate filing doesn’t open until May, but several area men have announced plans to run for Minnesota Legislature in this region.
Longtime DFL Rep. Paul Marquart of Dilworth is retiring from office and does not plan to run for reelection this year, but fellow DFLer John Hest of Glyndon hopes to replace him. He announced his candidacy for the District 4B House seat on Jan. 31.
Hest, who works as an academic advisor at Minnesota State Community and Technical College, grew up as the fifth generation on his family’s farm in rural Norman County, where his dad and brother still farm today.
He graduated from the Minnesota Farmers Union's New Leader Academy and has lobbied on behalf of family farmers in Washington, D.C., and St. Paul. Hest and his wife, Natalie, have a 2-year-old daughter.
Ben Anderson, who lives in Maine Township west of Otter Tail Lake, is seeking the Republican endorsement for Minnesota’s new House District 9B, which includes most of Otter Tail County and western Douglas County.
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Anderson has 20 years of public service and political experience at the local, regional, state, and national levels, including a stint leading the Rural Business-Cooperative Service. There, he managed a 90-person staff and a $2 billion portfolio of 10 loan and grant programs for rural business assistance, rural economic and community development, and renewable energy and value-added agricultural projects across the country.
He has served as district director for U.S. Rep. Michelle Fischbach since she took office in 2021, assisting her with constituent and policy issues across western Minnesota.
Anderson lives with his wife and children on a small farm in Otter Tail County where they raise livestock.
State Rep. Matt Bliss, R-Pennington, is running for a seat in the new District 2B, which includes the cities of Bagley, Blackduck, Cass Lake, Deer River, Mahnomen and Walker.
Bliss has served two non-consecutive terms representing District 5A in the House.
Candidate filing for county, state and federal offices opens May 17 and closes at 5 p.m. May 31 this year.
