If you arrived at my blog and are looking for posts about responding to the current occupation of Minnesota by ICE, you can find my How To Help If You’re In Minnesota essay HERE, and my How To Help If You’re Outside Minnesota essay HERE. If you subscribed to my blog because of those posts, SURPRISE, an awful lot of what I post here is a guide to the local elections in Minneapolis and Saint Paul with occasional shilling for my books (like Obstetrix, which comes out in June and you can pre-order. Cory Doctorow described it as “a perfect thriller with a razor at the core.”)

There are two special elections in Minnesota tomorrow. Both State House races, both blue districts. I know it is hard to think right now about going to the polls. It’s hard to think right now about much of anything. Adrenaline will do that to you. (I am hoping I managed to spell everyone’s name right in this post.) If you’re in 64A or 47A, please go vote. Among other things we need to send the message that distraction and intimidation and terror will not keep us from the polls — not on Tuesday, January 27th, and not on Tuesday, November 3rd.

If you’re not sure what district you’re in, or where to vote if you’re in 64A or 47A, you can look that up at https://pollfinder.sos.mn.gov/ (just plug in your address.)

Running in 64A:

Meg Luger-Nikolai (DFL)
Dan Walsh (Republican)

Meg Luger-Nikolai (DFL)

Meg is a labor lawyer who works for Education Minnesota. I wrote about her in some detail during the primary. The thing that really strikes me now is that she’s a lawyer who fights. (A local labor guy had commented, “Labor organizer’s greatest ire is reserved for timid labor lawyers who are too scared to support action. Meg Luger-Nikolai is THE exception to that rule, the best labor lawyer I know.”) What I want in the DFL right now is fighters. You can read her response to the most recent horrors on her Facebook.

I would vote for literally any Democrat running for this seat but I would enthusiastically vote for Meg.

Dan Walsh (Republican)

I wrote about Dan in 2024. He did not reply to my e-mail asking who he thought won the Presidential election in 2020. At the time he had a Twitter but he now seems to have been banned, I’m not sure why (or for that matter how) and if he’s set up a new Twitter I couldn’t find it. Which was disappointing because I really wanted to see his take on the current horrors. (I can’t find him on Facebook, either.) I did find a questionnaire (probably from 2024) where he advocates for the abolition of minimum wage, though, on the grounds that it creates obstacles for business owners who want to hire minorities. (!)

Obviously if you live in 64A you should vote for Meg. Go vote for Meg. Make a plan, pick a time, go vote for Meg.

If you live in 47A: the DFLer on the ballot is Shelley Buck. She is running unopposed (although there’s a write-in option.) Even though there is no Republican on the ballot, if you live in 47A I think you should be sure to go cast a ballot purely for the symbolism of being able to say, “we Minnesotans will go vote out of PURE SPITE.”

ETA: apparently Shelley has a write-in opponent who’s running a thoroughly disorganized campaign that includes a handwritten list of who she voted for in each presidential race. (Reagan, Mondale, GHWB, GHWB, possibly Clinton but she doesn’t remember for sure, GWB, GWB, Obama, Romney, Clinton, Biden, Harris, but if you click you’ll get to see all her extensive notes.) The Shelley supporter who replied to me added, “Why Shelley is a great candidate: -former President of the board for the Prairie Island Indian Community, so she has experience making policy and working with the legislature. -She runs Owámniyomni Okhódayapi, which works to restore important Dakota sites. -is protecting neighbors in Woodbury from ICE.” Anyway: go vote for Shelley, either because you are concerned about this write-in weirdo winning, or out of spite, either works.

But it’s more critical if you live in 64A. Election Day for you is Tuesday, January 27th. (I’m posting this on Monday.) If you’re in 64A, go vote. Go vote. GO VOTE.