KAXE contacted each candidate at least twice to invite them to participate in our Election Guide, using contact information submitted to the Secretary of State's Office.
Candidate responses have not been edited and are published exactly as submitted, including typos and formatting.
As necessary, our news team added contextual information clearly marked with an "editor's note" and in italics. We will make every effort to make note of inaccuracies if they come to our attention.
Please contact our news team at news@kaxe.org with questions or comments or to report any errors.
KAXE's Election Guide includes contested races in communities with at least 100 people. Visit our full list of who's running for office in Northern Minnesota to see who else will be on the ballot in November.
About this race
The Minnesota Legislature passes laws and sets the state budget. It is made up of 67 senators and 134 representatives.
House District 2A includes Lake of the Woods County and most of Beltrami County, as well as a portion of Clearwater County. It includes the cities of Bemidji and Baudette, and the tribal communities of the Red Lake Nation.
Republican state Rep. Bidal Duran is running for reelection. He was first elected in 2024.
The winner of the election will begin their two-year term in January.
Click the tabs below to learn more about the candidates
Incumbent
Website: duranforhouse.com
Party: Republican
KAXE did not receive a response from this candidate.
Website: VoteReedOlson.com
Party: DFL
Age on Election Day: 51
Community: Bemidji
Employment: The Nameless Coalition for the Homeless, Executive Director
Please share any prior experience and education that you believe qualifies you for office.
I am a cook, small business owner, former two-term Beltrami County Commissioner, Bemidji City Councillor, and director of a community nonprofit. As an elected representative I helped bring millions of dollars to Bemidji to build a new veterans home, opened the way to building more homes in Beltrami County, and secured pandemic relief funding for businesses. As a community member I lead the effort to open two emergency shelters–where I now work fulltime to ensure my neighbors have access to basic human needs.
Why are you running?
We deserve nice things in rural Minnesota. We don’t just deserve to survive, we deserve to thrive. Currently my neighbors are facing tough challenges with housing, affordability, healthcare, childcare and low-wage jobs. Right now, Bemidji needs thirteen hundred more homes just to meet our housing need.
Why should voters elect you?
You should vote for me because I will make the government work for us again. From Bemidji to Red Lake to Lake of the Woods, I have earned a reputation as a relentless advocate, problem solver and collaborator who brings people together to get things done. For years, I’ve seen the challenges families face firsthand here in rural Northern Minnesota—whether as an elected representative, a small business owner, or a non-profit director.
What are your top three priorities, if elected? Please describe specific policy goals.
Increase Housing Stock in Rural Minnesota
We need to increase funding to the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency to focus specifically on rural communities.
Childcare for All
We need to make childcare accessible and affordable. We cannot grow our workforce if we don't solve this critical issue. Childcare is an investment in the Minnesota economy as much as it is an investment in working families.
Expand Access to Mental Healthcare in Rural Minnesota
Everyone deserves access to mental healthcare. Too many of our family members needlessly suffer because of a lack of access to mental healthcare, especially in rural Minnesota. We deserve better.
Name a public leader you admire and explain why.
Wellstone. "We all do better when we all do better."
What natural resources policies do you support?
I am proud of our timber policies in Minnesota. We show that there can be harmony between harvesting our natural resources while protecting wild spaces for all Minnesotans to enjoy.
What policies do you support to address concerns of widespread fraud in state-run programs?
I support the DFH House Caucus' efforts to combat fraud.
Withholding Funds
I support legislation allowing state agencies to halt payments to government contractors facing credible allegations of fraud.
Increased Enforcement Resources
I back measures to strengthen the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and increase criminal penalties for stealing public healthcare funds.
Systemic and IT Upgrades
I will push for investments to fix vulnerable, outdated state technology and administrative tracking systems.
What policies would you champion to help alleviate growing property tax burdens on residents at the local government level?
The Minnesota Legislature needs to be a responsible actor and raise the necessary revenues to administer the State. For too long, the legislature has pushed that responsibility to Counties, who are then forced to raise property taxes. Beware of politicians who say they will lower taxes at the state level. This usually means a drop in collecting revenues from Minnesota's wealthiest and an increase in taxes on you and me.
What does representative democracy mean to you?
Democracy is rule by the governed. Every Minnesotan needs to engage in the franchise so that the will of the people is carried out in St Paul!
Still have questions for the candidates? Contact information for all those who've filed to run for office can be found at candidates.sos.state.mn.us.
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Contributed/Book covers—publisher websites; Tracy KampaChildren's librarian Tracy Kampa reviews new books by Sophie Blackall, Chelsea Lin Wallace, Steve Sheinkin and Meaghan McIsaac. -
The retired DNR forester gave a walking tour of his forest property as part of a Cass Soil and Water Conservation District forest management event. -
Plus: Aitkin's 68-year-old water tower is demolished; Demuth, Klobuchar will debate in the Brainerd lakes area; and we're partnered with ICTV to host school board forums.
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Stella Mayerhoff/KAXE / Report for AmericaRetired DNR forester Gary Anderson gave a walking tour of his forest property as part of a Cass Soil and Water Conservation District habitat management event.
