Wide Awake Minnesota: The Otter Tail County Caucuses: What Happened and What Happens Next

 

In this episode, Chairman David Hann and Executive Director Anna Mathews have a discussion centered on internal party issues and updates related to the Otter Tail County precinct caucuses.

They provide background on long-standing tensions within Otter Tail County, particularly allegations of "padding the caucus list" in 2022, where names were allegedly added to delegate lists after caucus night without proper election. They explain the state party's inability to intervene due to a lack of evidence.

For the 2024 caucuses, new procedures were implemented. Still, controversy arose when Otter Tail County's caucus attendees reportedly voted out the official convener, deviated from recommended procedures, and failed to follow proper documentation protocols. They detail how this led to confusion and complaints, forcing state party leadership to review the evidence.

Ultimately, the party concluded that no legitimate election of delegates had occurred, resulting in a decision to maintain the 2022 delegate list as active until valid successors are elected. The episode underscores transparency, procedural integrity, and the challenges of managing local party operations.