Lt. governor candidate Schierer meets Bemidji business leaders on campaign swing

Ben Schierer spent Monday in Bemidji talking with economic leaders about the issues that shape where people can live, build, hire and invest in Beltrami County. The Democratic lieutenant governor candidate and former Fergus Falls mayor used the stop as part of his first major campaign swing across Minnesota, a visit that looked less like a rally than a listening session with the people who sit closest to local growth decisions.

Schierer was introduced as Amy Klobuchar’s running mate on May 29, after campaigning for state auditor. His résumé is built around local government and regional development: he was first elected Fergus Falls mayor in 2016, served two terms, and later worked as director of civic partnerships at West Central Initiative. That background gives him a practical pitch in places like Bemidji, where city halls, business owners and development staff often want direct answers on budgets, permits and workforce pressure before they want partisan speeches.

Bemidji is a useful test for that message. The city lists its population at 14,574, while Greater Bemidji describes the broader market area as more than 100,000 people. City officials say they can connect commercial, residential and industrial developers with sites, permitting, building regulations and development agreements, and the city’s planning calendar shows ongoing zoning and planning work tied to growth. Bemidji’s planning director also previewed 15 active development projects for the 2026 construction season, underscoring how much is already in motion.

Infrastructure was another obvious pressure point. The city’s 2026 street renewal work includes 11th Street NW, 10th Street NW and Jeannette Avenue, while MnDOT’s Hwy. 197 project in Bemidji brings a 2026 city phase with roundabouts and sidewalks and a 2027 state phase with additional roadway improvements. For local employers and builders, those projects are not abstract campaign talking points. They affect access, traffic, timing and the cost of doing business.

Housing remains the most immediate constraint. A Beltrami County housing needs analysis says available and affordable homes fall far short for extremely low-income renters, and another county housing report estimates about 900 extremely low-income renter households do not have access to a home they can afford. Against that backdrop, Schierer’s pitch as a former mayor and small business owner fit the concerns Bemidji leaders have been raising for years: growth is coming, but the region still has to make room for workers, keep projects moving and hold down costs.

Klobuchar’s campaign has said Schierer would be the first person elected to statewide office from Minnesota’s Congressional District 7 in more than 50 years, a detail that makes his rural background central to the ticket’s appeal in Greater Minnesota. In Bemidji, that claim met a city where development, transportation and housing are already on the agenda.