The Duluth Central Body screened several candidates before its June meeting, and voted on the following endorsements.

House District 3B
Mark Munger, a retired judge, is running for House 3B, currently held by Natalie Zeleznikar. This is longterm Rep. Mary Murphy’s seat.
“When Mary Murphy lost her seat, I knew someone had to run against Natalie Zeleznikar,” Munger said. He reached out to her, Proctor Mayor John Ward and former CLB President George Sundstrom.
“I was endorsed in this hall in 1998 as a judge,” Munger said. “It was a contested election and unique experience for me. I can bring a unique set of tools to the toolbox of the legislature. I can’t smooth over everything, but with my experience, I know how to compromise and I think I can make a difference.
Munger said health care is one of the biggest issues facing working people and cited the importance of unions for building a middle class. “I never want Minnesota to be a Right To Work state; it would make my uncle roll over in his grave.”

The Central Labor Body voted to endorse Munger.

House District 8A
In the race for House District 8A, Jordan Johnson and Pete Johnson are facing off in the DFL primary to face other candidates vying to succeed retiring legislator Liz Olson.
Jordan Johnson was the co-executive director of Life House Duluth for several years before stepping down earlier this year. “I believe in unions and caring for the workforce,” he said during the screening. “The power is with the people and unions provide that collective power.”
Pete Johnson has been a longtime firefighter and member of the IAFF, serving as an officer for 16 of them, including eight years as local president. He cited experiences as a firefighter as inspiration for running. “While dealing with people who are having some of the worst days of their lives, I realized that so much of what they need can be dealt with on the front end, and that’s the work I’d like to do.”
Pete Johnson said some “really exciting things” are happening in the Labor movement right now. “You’ll find me on the front lines with workers; it’s part of who I’ve been for a long time. Being a union member is core to who I am.”
The CLB voted to endorse Pete Johnson in his DFL primary race.

House District 8B
Incumbent Liish Kozlowski (Ozaawaa Anakwad, Migizi Clan) served on the House Labor and Industry Committee during the last session and touted their 100% AFL-CIO rating. “I see how systems work against working people, and we need to continue to tackle those policies and get transparency,” they said.
Kozlowski screened with the CLB during their first campaign, and the CLB ultimately did not endorse in the general election in that race. This time around, there was agreement that Kozlowski was a valuable partner in the Legislature. The CLB voted to endorse Kozlowski in this race.

St. Louis County Commissioner District 3
Incumbent Ashley Grimm, who got the DFL endorsement earlier this year, touted her experience during her time as commissioner. “We’ve had some big movement [for workers]. The county approved a 3% wage increase each year for next three years, as well as 3% across the board,” she said, adding that insurance copays and medical costs weren’t increased. She
Challenger Janet Kennedy, currently a Duluth city councilor, said it was time to make a change. She said that constituency work, “the best thing I’ve ever done,” is the strength she would rely on as a commissioner. “The county makes a difference in our lives and affects more every day than the city does.” She added that “I’m more than Labor friendly, I’m Labor family.” Kennedy has received the Labor endorsement in her campaigns for city council.
The CLB voted to endorse Kennedy in this race.

St. Louis County Commissioner District 2
Incumbent Patrick Boyle screened via speaker phone and thanked Labor for its 15 years of support, 10 of those on the county board. “Your endorsement means the world to me,” he said. “You were there for me from Day 1 when I ran for county council, and I’m asking again for your support.”
He described the frustration of seeing union power stripped from local municipalities, citing Cloquet’s decision to walk back PLAs on certain projects. “It’s a constant struggle,” he said, while acknowledging that new energy is coming into the movement.
The CLB voted to endorse Boyle in this race.

St. Louis County Commissioner District 5
Incumbent Keith Musolf, an Ironworker, was unable to be at the screening and sent a letter instead. In it, he thanked the wider body for its earlier support. He mentioned the work he has done during his term, including walking the picket line when the Teamsters went on strike, protecting jobs during the pandemic, ensuring Labor had a voice during negotiations and helping tighten up county PLA language. “This is…a story of Union labor at the table for what we believe in, a story of all of you pushing and promoting me to make sure we leave no worker left behind, and I thank you for that.”
The CLB voted to endorse Musolf in this race.

Other endorsements sent to the state AFL-CIO by other Labor bodies for ratification approval include:
Harley Droba, House District 3A
Lorrie Janatopoulos, House District 6B
Pete Radosevich, House District 11A
Eric Olson, House District 11