MN-HD2A: Politics run hot in Bemidji area Minnesota House race

It’s clear the two candidates for the District 2A Minnesota House race don’t really like each other much.

At a recent Red Lake Nation candidate fair at the community center – Oshkiimaajitahdah in Redby — DFLer Reed Olson talked about allegations Republican newcomer Bidal Duran made during closing remarks of a televised debate a few days earlier.

Just before it wrapped up Duran accused Olson of being a member of an ultra-progressive caucus led by Minnesota U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar. Olson said it enraged him. He likened the comment not to a dog whistle but a dog siren.

“That was straight up race baiting, it was misogynistic, it was Islamophobic and it was racist,” Olson said. “And he did that on purpose at the end of the debate, when I didn’t have a chance to be able to rebut.”


https://www.mprnews.org/story/2024/10/30/politics-run-hot-in-bemidji-area-minnesota-house-race