This is just THE WORST race. On the ballot:

Dawanna Witt (incumbent, DFL-endorsed)
Joseph Banks (Republican-endorsed)

During Metro Surge, Dawanna Witt’s deputies repeatedly collaborated with ICE to physically abuse protesters and legal observers. I’m not going to link to video because I’d have to watch it again, and I’m just not up for it. I will give her some credit based on the fact that Trump’s administration threatened to arrest her because she was not handing over jail inmates to ICE without a warrant from a judge. But she and her staff failed to protect Minnesotans in a whole range of ways last winner.

However, Joseph Banks sought (and received) endorsement from the Republicans. His Facebook page includes an endorsement of Kendall Qualls as well as re-posts of sentiments like “let’s turn MN red in 2026!” He has largely avoided sharing any actual stances on anything, and did not reply to my e-mail, but his Facebook has a bot set up to give you information if you message them questions:

ME: Do you think the Hennepin County Sheriff’s office should be cooperating more, or less, with ICE and the Border Patrol?

JOSEPH BANKS’S CAMPAIGN BOT: Joseph Banks believes in working closely with federal partners like ICE and Border Patrol to keep everyone safe and informed. He supports transparency, coordination, and ensuring the community receives accurate information, while also respecting human dignity and due process.

(I experimented to see if I could get the bot to say anything really shocking but it’s fairly locked down.)

I’ll note that Joseph Banks ran in 2022 and I did a deep dive into his qualifications at the time. Even if he were not ideologically aligned with the fascists, he’s completely unqualified for the job.

So here’s where we’re at: the alternative to Dawanna Witt is someone who thinks the Sheriff’s office should be cooperating more with ICE, is endorsed by the Republican party, and whose prior relevant experience was overseeing law enforcement in two towns with populations of under 500 people, almost 20 years ago. (It’s really interesting that the experience thing was not remotely a dealbreaker for the Republicans, but I guess I shouldn’t be surprised.)

There’s simply no good option here. If I lived in Hennepin County I would either vote for Witt or leave that line blank.

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This seems like a good year to fundraise for a trans nonprofit, so I’m fundraising this year for TIGERRS. I don’t have a Patreon, and a fundraiser lets me see in a tangible way that people value my work, which is really helpful as a motivator. (This project is a lot of work.) I raised $7,230 during primary season so I’ve raised the goal.

I also have a new book out! Obstetrix is about an obstetrician who gets kidnapped by a cult because they want someone on hand to deliver their babies; it’s a story about enduring, surviving, and not giving up. You can buy it anywhere fine books are sold, and I’ve been doing my best to keep Uncle Hugo’s, Moon Palace, and Dreamhaven Books in signed copies.