Lt. Gov. Flanagan Visits Bemidji Ahead of Precinct Caucuses

Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan visited Bemidji on Jan. 13 as part of her "Loud and Clear Voices: Roadmap to the Caucus" tour, speaking to roughly 30 people at the Wild Hare Bistro. The stop was one of several in Greater Minnesota designed to collect local concerns ahead of upcoming precinct caucuses and to lay groundwork for her U.S. Senate candidacy.

Flanagan framed the gatherings as listening sessions, emphasizing outreach to residents outside the Twin Cities. Her Bemidji appearance followed an earlier stop in Red Lake the same day, signaling an effort to include tribal and rural communities in conversations about political engagement and policy priorities.

A central topic in Bemidji was community concern about activity by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the region. Flanagan addressed those worries directly, placing them in the context of broader immigration policy and federal enforcement practices that can have immediate impacts on families, workplaces, and local services in Beltrami County. For local leaders and residents, the opportunity to raise those concerns in a small setting underscored the tangible link between federal agency actions and everyday community life.

The event also doubled as an early campaign touchpoint for Flanagan's U.S. Senate bid. By touring small venues like the Wild Hare Bistro and visiting communities such as Red Lake, her campaign is relying on in-person listening to shape messaging and priorities ahead of precinct caucuses. For Bemidji residents, that means an increased chance to influence local and statewide platforms on issues ranging from rural healthcare and economic development to immigration enforcement and tribal relations.

Precinct caucuses remain the first formal step in Minnesota’s candidate endorsement and grassroots organizing process. Flanagan’s tour aims to boost participation in those caucuses by reminding Greater Minnesota voters that their local concerns can affect statewide policy debates and candidate choices. The intimate scale of the Bemidji meeting — about 30 attendees — reflects the localized, face-to-face approach her campaign is using to reach voters who often feel overlooked by metro-centered campaigns.

For readers in Beltrami County, Flanagan’s visit is a prompt to engage with the caucus process and to bring specific community priorities to the fore. Local officials and residents who want their voices heard should consider attending precinct caucuses and continuing conversations with state and federal representatives about how enforcement actions and policy decisions affect daily life. The coming weeks will show whether this roadshow strategy translates into broader engagement across Greater Minnesota.