MN District 2A race: DFL candidate accuses opponent of ‘race-baiting’

BEMIDJI, Minn. (FOX 9) – The DFL candidate for a state House race in northern Minnesota has accused his opponent of “racial hatred” and misogyny after a recent debate, according to a report.

Reed Olson made the accusations against his Republican opponent Bidal Duran Jr. during a recent candidates forum in the Red Lake Nation.

Racing background

Both men are running for the House of Representatives seat representing District 2A, which includes Beltrami County, Lake of the Woods County and parts of the Red Lake Nation and Clearwater County.

Olson describes herself as a chef and small business owner, along with a community nonprofit director. Duran is a former Hubbard County sheriff’s deputy and a veteran.

Olson ran for the same seat in 2022, but lost to Republican incumbent Matthew Grossell. Grossell announced he would retired last December. The announcement came on the heels of a video of his DWI arrest is released publicly.

How did it start?

Olson pointed out Duran’s comments at the end of a recent debate hosted by Lakeland PBSas the candidates made their final arguments for why voters should support them.

Duran claimed that Olson supports an “ultra-progressive caucus” along with U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar. It is not clear exactly which caucus Duran was referring to. Olson notes on his website endorsements from the DFL Progressive Caucus and the Stonewall DFL caucus – both of which have also endorsed Omar.

How do they react?

At a community meeting, Olson blasted Duran for the attack, claiming it was steeped in “race-baiting,” racism and misogyny. MPR news items.

“That was outright racial discrimination, it was misogynistic, Islamophobic and racist,” Olson said. “And he did that on purpose at the end of the debate, when I had no chance to rebut.”