Bernie Sanders delegate, DFL candidate mixes up race in House District 15B

FOLEY — Jessica Filiaggi is running for office for the first time, but this Legislative campaign is not her first foray into politics.

Two years ago, Filiaggi was a national delegate for Bernie Sanders, she said. Now she's running to represent Minnesota House District 15B.

Filiaggi, 36, lives in Foley and works at a credit union as a financial adviser and soon-to-be compliance officer. Through her work, she said, she sees how similar people are despite different backgrounds and beliefs.

"We have a lot of shared needs and shared values," she said Wednesday.

District 15B is the most contested House race in Central Minnesota. Incumbent Republican Rep. Jim Newberger of Becker is running for U.S. Senate.

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Five Republicans ran for their party's endorsement in 15B, which went to political newcomer Shane Mekeland. One of those candidates, Myron Wilson, is now running as an Independent.

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Democrat Karla Scapanski lost to Newberger in the 2016 election. She received the DFL endorsement this spring and will be up against Filiaggi on an Aug. 14 primary ballot.

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"I'm confident that we'll continue on the other side of (the primary)," Filiaggi said.

She doesn't think her past support of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders will hurt her in the conservative district. Sanders is a progressive Independent who lost the Democratic endorsement for president to Hillary Clinton in 2016.

"I know it's an uphill battle. I know that a lot of moderates and Independents supported Bernie, too," she said. "I'm promising an open ear. I have these difficult conversations every day with people I disagree with politically."

If elected Filiaggi wants to work on health care and rural issues, including broadband access, infrastructure development, transportation and sustainable jobs.

She wants to make MinnesotaCare available to all who want to opt into the program, she said. "Everybody is worried about how to pay for health care."

She too worries about health care premiums and describes herself as a normal person and a mother of three.

"I'm part of my community. I want it to be a better place," Filiaggi said.

RELATED: Republican to Independent: Myron Wilson persists in the 15B race

District 15B wraps around the east side of the St. Cloud-area from Becker and Clearwater to Foley, Rice and Morrill and Lakin townships at the north end.

Nora G. Hertel: 320-255-8746 and on Twitter @nghertel.