DFL endorses Reed Olson, Michael Reyes for House 2A and 2B

Apr. 15—BEMIDJI — The Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party has announced its endorsements for Minnesota House 2A and 2B in the 2024 general election, selecting Reed Olson of Bemidji and Michael Reyes of Cass Lake, respectively.

Both seats are currently held by Republicans, with Matt Grossell holding 2A and Matt Bliss representing 2B. Grossell announced

he would not be seeking reelection in 2024

late last year.

Olson, 48, is a small business owner who has co-owned the Wild Hare Bistro in Bemidji since 2005. He has also been serving as the executive director of the Nameless Coalition for the Homeless which operates two shelters in Bemidji: an overnight emergency shelter and a drop-in day center.

He has previously served on the Bemidji City Council for four years and on the Beltrami County Board of Commissioners for six years. He has a bachelor's degree in history from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Originally from Litchfield, Minnesota, he moved to Bemidji in 1994.

Olson previously ran for House 2A in 2022

but lost to Grossell

who won his fourth term.

Reyes, 40, works for the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe in planning and development. He previously worked in law enforcement for 16 years as a chief dispatcher, drug prevention officer and Bureau of Indian Affairs data clerk. He is also a volunteer firefighter who has served for over 10 years with the Cass Lake Fire Department.

Reyes is married with five children and currently serves as an elected official in Pike Bay Township in Cass County.