ACCUSATIONS AIMED to Upend PRIMARY ELECTION

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A St. Cloud daycare owner with a long record of state licensing violations just won the Democratic nomination for a Minnesota House seat Republicans have controlled for years.

Story Snapshot

  • Abdi Daisane won the Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) primary in Minnesota House District 14A with about 62% of the vote.
  • He beat fellow Democrat Paul Schumacher and will face Republican Mike Conway in November.
  • Daisane owns a childcare business and has run for this seat twice before, losing both times.
  • Conservative outlets and social media users are highlighting his daycare’s licensing history ahead of the general election.
  • Results are unofficial until Minnesota’s state canvassing board certifies them.

Daisane Wins District 14A Primary

Voters in Minnesota House District 14A picked Abdi Daisane as their Democratic nominee on August 11. Daisane took 2,262 votes, or about 62% to 63%, beating Paul Schumacher’s 1,356 votes with all precincts reporting. The St. Cloud childcare business owner now moves on to the general election in a district that has leaned Republican in recent years.

On the Republican side, St. Cloud City Council President Mike Conway won his own primary the same night. Conway defeated John Jose, the candidate his party had officially endorsed back in February, taking 1,822 votes to Jose’s 1,105. That sets up a Daisane-versus-Conway matchup this November.

A Third Try for a Tough Seat

This is not Daisane’s first run at District 14A. Republican incumbent Bernie Perryman beat him in 2022 by fewer than 200 votes, then beat him again in 2024 by a wider 13-point margin, taking 56% to his 43%. Perryman is not running again this cycle, giving Daisane a rare open-seat shot after two straight losses in a district Stearns County voters have kept red.

Daisane’s campaign says he earned the DFL’s formal endorsement with support from 92% of delegates ahead of the primary, and he has campaigned on expanding childcare assistance, building affordable housing, and fully funding public schools in central Minnesota. His platform leans heavily on his own experience running a childcare business serving working families in the district.

Daycare Record Draws National Attention

That same childcare business is now the center of attention online. Reports describe Daisane as a daycare operator with a long list of state violations, a detail that conservative commentators and social media accounts have seized on since results came in. The claim has fueled sharp reaction from right-leaning accounts, some framing the race in harsh terms tied to Daisane’s Somali background, while others focus more narrowly on the business record itself.

None of the cited reporting lays out the specific violations in detail, and no state licensing agency statement is included in current coverage. Voters heading into November will likely hear more about the specifics of Daisane’s business history as both campaigns and outside groups look to define him before the general election.

What Happens Next

Tuesday’s tallies remain unofficial. Minnesota’s results typically aren’t final until the state canvassing board formally certifies them, a routine step that follows every primary and general election in the state. Barring any changes after certification, Daisane and Conway will face off in November for a seat that has changed hands by slim margins in each of the past two cycles.

The race adds to a broader pattern this cycle of tight, closely watched contests in Greater Minnesota, where the DFL and Republicans have traded narrow wins in recent years. Whoever wins District 14A in November will do so in a seat that has proven difficult for either party to hold by a comfortable margin.

Sources:

thegatewaypundit.com, elections.mpr.org, nbcnews.com, apps.npr.org, washingtonpost.com

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