WINONA, Minn. — A Wiscoy Township farmer who grazes cattle announced a new candidacy for the state Legislature. This time Dan Wilson, a Democrat is intent on flipping Winona’s House District 26A by defeating first-term incumbent Aaron Repinski. Wilson, age 37, has been around the block. In 2022 he tried to unseat State Senate Jeremy Miller of Winona but lost 58% to 39%. Wilson announced his new candidacy from the bed of a white pickup truck at a parking lot at Second and Huff streets. Wison said he chose the site because of its potential for desperately needed senior housing in Winona. Had he been in the Legislature this year, he would have pushed hard for funds in the state bonding bill to build 100 units of senior housing in Winona, Wilson said. Wilson has a record helping run a homeless shelter and has worked on city housing policy with the outreach group Engage Winona. In announcing, Wilson pledged also to support a new Winona Schools daycare center. He called for municipal zoning reform. He said he has ideas to deal with federal funding cuts. He said he would protect Winona County taxpayers and Medicaid and food stamp recipients from federal cuts: “Winona gets to decide in 2026 what direction our state takes. Do we choose to kick thousands off of Medicaid and SNAP to benefit Musk, Bezos, and Zuckerberg? Or do we choose to grow Winona together.”
Shape of political campaign
Wilson is first Democrat to announce for the Huse 26A seat. If he doesn’t receive the local Democratic party endorsement, Wilson said he would support whoever does. Fellow Democrat Sara Kruger, who lost to Repinski in 2022, has said she doesn’t plan on running again. County Board member Dwayne Voegeli, who once sought the seat, says he instead will file for re-election to the County Board. On the Republican side so far, only Repinski has announced his candidacy and did so without fanfare. Repinski won the seat in 2024 by 52% to 47%.
In his trademark white pickup. At vacant lot at Huff and Second streets. He sees the lot as a place for 100 units of senior housing to alleviate Winona shortage.
Verbatim
Wilson: “I looked across the landscape of elected folks in Winona and didn’t really see any elected official banging that drum and talking about how we need to make housing available and affordable for people who live here and how housing is the key thing to grow Winona’s economy and make Winona a place that has businesses that can grow, schools that can grow.” He said that state funding and zoning reforms are needed for Winona’s schools, businesses and for the tax base to grow.
A flipper? Wilson’s hat in ring
District 26A recent history
The 26A seat had been held 38 years by Democrat Gene Pelowski, who retired in 2024. The seat is considered in play by state Democrats and Republicans. Both parties are desperate to control the House. With a 67-66 split, neither party has a quorum. Both parties are expected to channel major financial resources into the 26A Winona race.