DON'T DIE, " PERFECT FOREGIFT-GIVING.

>> GREAT TO BE ON.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> Cathy: HANK YOU.

WELL, WE OF COURSE WILL TALK ABOUT PRESIDENTIAL POLITICS HERE, INCLUDING THE RACES DOWNABALLOT.

THAT'S TRUE IN THIS NEXT RACE TO WATCH IN THE ST. PETER AREA WHERE MARY LAHAMMER SHOWS US IT'S A QUINTESSENTIAL SWING DISTRICT.

>> >> WELL, NICE TO MEET YOU.

THANK YOU.

>> FL REPRESENTATIVE JEFF BRAND KNOWS AND LOVES St. PETER IN DISTRICT 18A, HE'S WON BIG, THEN LOST AND WON CLOSE RACES HERE BEFORE.

>> I ENJOY THE PERSUASION OF POLITICS AROUND HERE.

I ENJOY HAVING TO SELL THE IDEAS TO PEOPLE, RIGHT?

AND SO I ENJOY ENGAGING WITH PEOPLE, AS WELL.

IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE A GOOD LEGISLATOR, YOU HAVE TO BE A GOOD LISTENER.

>> I'M ERICA SCHWARTZ, THE NO, MA'AM FEE FOR THE REPUBLICAN -- >> I'M ALL IN ON REPUBLICANS.

GO GET 'EM.

BE A TYKE GEAR OUT THERE.

>> REPUBLICAN BE IS A FIRST-TIME CANDIDATE COUNTING ON VOTERS IN THE RED RURAL PART OF THE DISTRICTS WHO WANT CHANGE.

>> NICOLLET IS A PARTICULARLY REPUBLICAN AREA, A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE VOICED THEIR CONCERNS AND WE'RE HOPEFUL THAT WE CAN FLIP THE SEAT TO BRING SOME ACCOUNTABILITIES AND BALANCE BACK TO THE DISTRICT.

>> Mary: A HIP FARM TO TABLE CAFÉ IN St. PETER HAS PLENTY OF DFL SUPPORTERS.

>> THIS PLACE MEANS A LOT TO ME.

THIS IS THE FIRST PLACE WHERE SOMEBODY ASKED ME TO RUN FOR OFFICE OVER COFFEE.

THIS COMITTEE IS WONDERFUL, ECLECTIC, ARTSY, WE HAVE A FOCUS ON THE DOWNTOWN BUILDINGS.

WE HAVE A WONDERFUL COLLEGE, DUE STAVE US ADOLPHUS UP THE HILL.

>> Mary: A GAS STATION IN NICOLLET IS A HOT SPOT FOR THE REPUBLICANS.

>> THIS IS THE BUSINESS I ELP MY HUSBAND RUN.

WE HAVE A LARGE GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT COME IN FOR COFFEE IN THE MORNINGS AND ON WEDNESDAY MORNINGS, WE HAVE ANOTHER GROUP OF CHURCH LADIES THAT COME IN.

>> Mary: LAST TIME THE DEMOCRAT FROM St. PETER WON BY JUST OVER 400 VOTES, THE ELECTION BEFORE THE REPUBLICAN PREVAILED BY ABOUT 100 VOTES.

SO NEEDLESS TO SAY, THIS IS A SWING DISTRICT.

WHY IS IT SO CLOSE?

>> THAT'S A VERY GOOD QUESTION.

I THINK NOT EVERYBODY VOTES, YOU KNOW, NOT EVERYBODY IN A POPULATION WILL VOTE, RIGHT, SO IT COMES DOWN TO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE THE MOST ENGAGED.

SO MY TRICK IS THAT I HAVE TO GO OUT AND ENGAGE WITH AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE.

>> HOPE IT'S NOT THAT CLOSE, I HOPE I WIN WITH A LARGER MARGIN BUT WE WON'T KNOW UNTIL NOVEMBER.

ALL I CAN DO IS PUT IN THE WORK AND CAMPAIGN, CAMPAIGN AND CAMPAIGN, DOOR-KNOCK, MEET AND GREET PEOPLE AND FIND OUT WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO PEOPLE.

>> MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

>> MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS REALLY IMPORTANT, YEP.

THIS LAST BIENNIUM, WE WERE TO MAKE A BILLION DOLLAR INVESTMENT IN HOUSING.

>> AFFORDABLE?

>> YEP, ABSOLUTELY.

BRAND HAS RECORD TO RUN ON FROM ALL DFL CONTROL AT THE CAPITOL.

>> I'VE SEEN SPLIT LEGISLATORS AND THE TRIFECTA, THE OPPORTUNITIES ARE THERE FOR TWO DIFFERENT WAYS OF GOVERNING BUT I THINK AT THE ENDS OF THE DAY WE WERE ABLE TO DO SOME THINGS WE WEREN'T ABLE TO DO IN THE LAST TEN YEARS BECAUSE WE HAD THAT OPPORTUNITY.

THINGS THAT ARE REALLY GOING TO HELP, ESPECIALLY THINGS IN GREATER MINNESOTA, SICK AND SAFER TIME, PAID FAMILY LEAVE.

>> SCHOOLING, THE KIDS ARE OUR FEW DID YOUR SO THERE'S NOT ENOUGH ATTENTION ON THAT CURRENTLY.

>> WHO YOU'RE GOING TO VOTE FOR.

>> THAT'S A TOUGH ONE.

>> JUST BECAUSE I FEEL IKE IT'S SUCH -- KIND OF AT A CROSSROADS POLITICALLY.

>> Mary: SWARTZ HAS HER LIFE EXPERIENCE TO CALL ON.

>> I WAS A SINGLE PARENT FOR OVER 17 YEARS, AND I LOST MY FIANCÉE IN A CAR ACCIDENTS AND THAT'S HOW I BECAME A SINGLE PARENT SO I KNOW THE STRUGGLES OF A ONE-PARENT INCOME ND WITH THIS ECONOMY, THEY'VE BEEN HIT HARD.

I'VE SEEN WHAT THE ECONOMY HAS DONE TO OUR SENIORS.

I THINK IT'S TIME FOR A CHANGE AND I WANT TO BE THAT PERSON THAT MAKES THAT CHANGE AT THE CAPITOL FOR THE PEOPLE OF MINNESOTA HERE ESPECIALLY IN SOUTHERN MINNESOTA.

>> Mary: STUDENTS AND YOUNG VOTERS ARE IMPORTANT IN THE COLLEGE TOWN.

>> A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER, YOU LIVE IN St. PETER?

>> YEAH.

>> WELL, I HOPE I CAN COUNT ON YOUR VOTE IN NOVEMBER.

>> ARE YOU PLANNING ON VOTING?

>> MOST LIKELY, YEAH, BECAUSE YOU'LL BE MY FIRST BIG, LIKE... [ Indiscernible ] >> Mary: THEY BOTH KNOW ULTIMATELY CHANGES IN A VOLATILE PRESIDENTIAL RACE COULD HAVE A BIG IMPACT HERE.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON, WISCONSIN!!

>> I THINK THIS IS GOING TO BRING A NEW ENERGY TO THE DISCUSSION.

WE'VE GOT AN OPPORTUNITY HERE TO REALLY ENGAGE PEOPLE.

>> Mary: COULD IT HELP YOUR RACE KNOWING HOW CLOSE IT'S BEEN?

>> I THINK IT COULD BECAUSE THAT ENERGY, THAT OPPORTUNITY, WE'RE ALREADY ENGAGED IN GREATER MINNESOTA, THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, RIGHT, BUT IT'S REALLY INTERESTING TO NOTE THAT THERE AREN'T MANY INCUMBENTS THAT SUPPORT FARMERS, FARM FAMILIES, I REPRESENTS 2,000 FARM FAMILIES IN MY DISTRICT.

>> YOU FEEL THAT TENDENCY, THE NATIONAL PRESIDENTIAL RACE MIGHT AFFECT THIS?

>> IT COULD.

I'VE BEEN NOTICING MORE OF THAT IN THE PARADES WE'VE BEEN IN THE SUMMER, TALKING TO PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF NICOLLET.

I'VE SEEN A LOT MORE TRUMP FLAGS, REPUBLICANS ARE MORE PROUD, NOT AFRAID SO MUCH TO BE A TRUMP SUPPORTER