Minnesota Lawyer
Rep. Carolyn McElfatrick
Democratic La Prairie City Council member Joe Gould plans to challenge first-term Republican Rep. Carolyn McElfatrick for her Iron Range House seat next fall.
Gould announced his intentions to run for the House District 3B seat via press release on Wednesday, according to Range blogger Aaron Brown. In the announcement, Gould said northern Minnesota needs a lawmaker who understands the “art of compromise” and does not encourage “polarized” partisan politics.
“We need a representative that shares our values as people. We need a representative who will listen to the people, and we need a representative who can bring a fresh perspective to the state Capitol with relevant experience,” Gould said in a news release. “That representative will be me, with your help.”
Gould, who graduated with a bachelor of arts from Bemidji State University, has worked as a field organizer with the state DFL Party and held communication positions at Bemidji State University and the Blandin Foundation.
McElfatrick is in her freshman year at the Legislature, after her surprise victory in the Democratic stronghold last fall against 13-term DFL Rep. Loren Solberg. McElfatrick bucked the House GOP caucus this session by voting against a budget bill that took dollars from an Iron Range fund set up to spur economic development in lieu of property tax dollars.
