A former food company executive has moved one step closer to being a politician.
Hormel Foods Corps. former CEO, Jeffrey Ettinger, won the Democratic primary for Minnesota’s 1st District congressional seat for the House of Representatives.
Ettinger, who announced his campaign in March, won 64.44% of the Democratic vote with 12,130 votes.
“Last night was a special night for our campaign. We are proud to say that not only did we win the primary, but we won every county in the district,” Ettinger said in a statement May 25. “We can only win this seat if we reach voters in every corner of the district and bring people together, which is what I’ve spent my entire career as a business and community leader doing.”
Ettinger’s platform priorities include supporting public education, affordable healthcare and expanding broadband into rural communities.
His opponents will be Brad Finstad who won 38.12% of the Republican vote, Haroun McClellan with the Grassroots – Legalize Cannabis party and Richard B. Reisdorf with the Legal Marijuana Now party. The special election will be held August 9.
Ettinger also addressed the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, which resulted in the deaths of 19 children and two adults.
“Yesterday was obviously a very tragic day, as well. 19 children and two of their teachers went to school and never made it home,” Ettinger said in the statement. “While LeeAnn and I are keeping all of their families in our prayers, this is also a time for us to act. Children should be safe at all times, but especially when they’re in the classroom. We failed them.”
“Congress has been unable and unwilling to act on so many issues like these, from protecting our children to making healthcare more affordable to fighting inflation and reducing the cost of everyday life. Southern Minnesota needs someone with a track record of actually delivering results, not more empty words and inaction. If we want things to change, it’s time to try something different.”
