Bemidji mayoral challenger announces he will quit campaigning for seat

BEMIDJI — The field of Bemidji mayoral candidates is narrowing as challenger Dan Jourdain announced his intention to stop campaigning for the seat.

Jourdain moved on from last month’s primary election after earning about 22% of votes cast.

Incumbent Mayor Jorge Prince was initially elected Bemidji’s mayor in 2020, the same election when Bemidji voters selected “yes” or “no” on a ballot question to change the home-rule charter from a two-year mayoral term to a four-year term.

Jourdain was also elected to the City Council in 2020 during a special election for the at-large seat. Jourdain did not succeed in his 2022 reelection bid, which was against then-Ward 1 Council Member Audrey Thayer.

In a social media announcement, Jourdain said campaigning takes sacrifice and commitment and that he wants to live life peacefully without the stress of city politics.

"As a former elected official of Bemidji, I understood the sacrifice and commitment it took away from your personal life to campaign and be away from family and other things you enjoy doing," Jourdain wrote. "I just want to enjoy my life peacefully and without stress of the city politics. Thanks everybody for their support to this point."

Jourdain's name will still appear on the ballot in November alongside that of Prince.