There's a Republican endorsement battle in Minnesota House District 9A between five term incumbent Representative Jeff Backer and Grant County ag aviation business owner (crop duster as we yokels say) and farmer Boone Carlson.
While Backer cruised to victory in 2022 with 63.30 percent of the votes over his DFL opponent, the district he now represents includes Grant, Otter Tail, Traverse, and Wilkin Counties, while in his first four terms, he served constituents in Big Stone, Douglas, Grant, Pope, Stevens, Traverse, and Wilkin Counties.
Is there widespread discontent among Republicans in the district? Could the challenge be related to redistricting, rather than Backer's performance in office?
Backer: It's 'bonkers' at MN capitol, an article in Thursday's Wahpeton Daily News includes some suggestive copy:
Two candidates in the Republican party are up for election this year. They are state Rep. Jeff Backer, R-9A and U.S. Rep. Michelle Fischbach, R-7.
Both candidates will face a challenger. Backer will be running against Boone Carlson and Fischbach will be running against Steve Boyd. . . .
Before leaving, Backer mentioned that he called his opponent, Carlson and asked, “Why are you running against me, what have I done that you don’t like?”
After Carlson replying with nothing, Backer said, “You’re going to run against me, you’re going to want people to fire me, but you don’t have a message on why to fire me?”
When contacted for a response, Carlson said, “In our system, it's good to have change and for people to get involved with change. It makes people uncomfortable, in order for things to get better, things have to change."
Carlson talked about his different personality and being someone that is more connected in the district, as far as being located in Grant County, Minnesota with connections to farmers in northern Wilkin County, Minnesota.
When Carlson had talked to people from the district, he noted they were hungry for change.
“That’s why I’m running too, it’s nothing personal against him (Backer). I'm sure he’s a nice guy,” Carlson said.
The Daily News reported last week in an article about the bid:
. . . “I have always had an aspiration to run for public office,” Carlson said. “It’s time for a change to have someone represent us with more energy and charisma.”
Carlson wants to represent the people of West Central Minnesota with “conviction, gratefulness and enthusiasm,” according to his campaign website. . . .
Bluestem has to wonder how Carlson addresses the charisma of someone a person has never met, but perhaps that's Carlson's superpower.
What's the pairing like?
Bluestem's take on Backer
A small business owner, Backer serves as the Minority Lead in the House Legacy Finance Committee.
Readers can learn more about Backer's legislative record in his member profile at Minnesota Legislators Past and Present, maintained by the Minnesota Legislative Reference Library.
He frequently speaks up in House floor sessions, usually lamenting the oppression of Greater Minnesota by the Evil Metro.
Bluestem can't be said to be a fan of Backer, R-Browns Valley. given that I've published posts like 2014's Jeff Backer hates liberal homosexual money, solicits socially conservative campaign cash and HD12A: Backer thinks depression created by Satan stealing pleasures, making us want stuff then Jeff "Goose Poop" Backer tells constituents video games, porn cause school shootings in 2018
And who can forget Republican guy who voted for Minnesota's buffer bill continues to grandstand against it.
That nickname, which I'd heard some of his constituents use? As noted in Top 6 common sense reasons Goose Poop Backer picked as Stephens' running mate:
#1: As City Pages' Susan Du reported in Rep. Jeff Backer tries to blame Minnesota's ag pollution on... goose shit [dead link]:
Rep. Jeff Backer (R-Browns Valley) introduced a bill that would take away the Department of Agriculture's authority to enforce the rule short of it being ratified into law by the legislature. He argued that farmers would have better rights to due process if their fertilizer battles ended up in front of district court juries instead of administrative law judges.
He also tried to blame the state's water pollution problems on... goose shit.
"All the geese and waterfowl that migrate, rest, nest in Minnesota, poop in the lakes and in the surrounding fields," Backer said during the agriculture committee hearing. . . .
The Department of Agriculture has referenced extensive research by the University of Minnesota on nitrogen fertilizer's role in groundwater contamination, and in 2013 the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency published a detailed study, "Nitrogen in Minnesota Surface Waters," which included a shoutout to bird shit.
According to that study, geese are an example of a "very low [nitrogen] contributor," responsible for "approximately 0.1 percent of the statewide nitrogen load to waters."
How well will that logic play in the suburbs? Six suburban Republicans voted against Backer's anti-drinking water, pro-nitrogen fertilizer bill.
As the post notes, Backer was picked by Republican candidate for governor and Woodbury Mayor Mary Giuliani Stephens to be his running mate in 2018, largely on his rural cred. Wikipedia notes "At the Republican state convention the following year, Giuliani Stephens suspended her campaign, instead throwing her support to the eventual Republican nominee Jeff Johnson."
Regardless of his charisma or lack thereof, Backer has been doing good work for rural emergency services. In 2023, language from his bill for a public safety radio communication system equipment grant program was into the Omnibus Judiciary and Public Safety appropriations and became law.
In November 2023, he was appointed to the legislative Task Force on Emergency Medical Services, As a Backer press release noted in February, the EMS Task Force previews recommendations to improve life-saving services in Greater Minnesota. It's valuable work for rural Minnesotans.
In political giving to other candidates and committees, records at the Federal Election Commission show that Backer gave $450 in two contributions to the Republican Party of Minnesota (federal account) in 2011.
On the state level, Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board records reveal Backer's campaign committee gave $3000 to five BPOUs in 2020, additionally giving the Wilkin County RPM (within his district) $250 in 2021. Since 2019. Backer's campaign committee has given $50,200 to the House Republican Campaign Committee--as active candidates can do, As the name suggests this money helps elect Republicans to the Minnesota House.
As the screenshots from the HRCC webpage at the top of this post illustrate, Cold Spring Republican Majority Leader Lisa Demuth's war machine does seem to be reverent of these monies, since Backer's district is never named in the scroll of "Meet Our Candidates," while his name appears under a photo of 9B Representative Tom Murphy, R-Underwood.
As an individual, Backer gave $250 in two contributions to the Marty Seifert for Governor Committee in 2010.
What about Boone Carlson
Bluestem first learned about challenger Boone Carlson in the February 21 press-release driven Daily News article, Boone Carlson running for MN state rep, which appeared the next day in Ag Aviation Magazine's Ag Air Update as Boone Carlson, MN Ag Operator, Running for State Rep. From the latter:
As the campaign season gains momentum, a fresh contender has stepped into the race for Minnesota House District 09A. Boone Carlson has officially announced his candidacy, vying for the Republican nomination against the incumbent, Minnesota State Rep. Jeff Backer, R-Browns Valley.
Hailing from Grant County, Minnesota, Carlson resides on a farm with his wife and three sons, where he spent his formative years assisting his father’s aerial application business. With ownership of Carlson Ag Aviation near Wendell, Minnesota, Carlson brings a wealth of experience in agriculture and community involvement to the table. His extensive tenure on various local boards reflects his dedication to serving his community, including over two decades on the North Ottawa township board.
Expressing a long-standing aspiration for public service, Carlson emphasizes the need for fresh energy and charisma in representation. His campaign centers on a commitment to West Central Minnesota, advocating for the region with conviction, gratefulness, and enthusiasm.
Drawing from 30 years of diverse work experience, Carlson underscores the importance of collaboration and understanding among individuals with differing perspectives. He aims to counterbalance what he perceives as disproportionate influence from the “Far Left” of the Democratic Party, asserting the necessity of a strong voice for rural interests in the state.
Central to Carlson’s vision is the promotion of economic growth and opportunities in West Central Minnesota, particularly for young families. He advocates for a robust education system that equips youth for success in adulthood and opposes mandates on vehicle electrification and taxation policies like the “Green New Deal.”
Additionally, Carlson prioritizes support for law enforcement, firefighters, and first responders, pledging to ensure adequate funding for community safety initiatives.
For more details on Carlson’s platform and campaign, visit www.boonecarlson.com. The primary is scheduled for Tuesday, August 13, followed by the general election on Tuesday, November 5.
Note that the articles don't mention an endorsing convention or party endorsing, simply the primary. However, another source clearly show Carlson is interested in an endorsement as it had been his intention to attend last week's Republican caucuses and he encouraged Republicans to caucus. On his campaign Facebook page, Carlson encouraged district residents to attend their district caucuses. An example:
Material about his campaign and caucusing was also shared on his business's Facebook page.
Ironically, one of this year's rare blizzards disrupted his plans. From his campaign Facebook page:
That's certainly a moment of Zen. especially this winter.
More biography. Several years earlier, Ag Week's Mikkel Pates profiled Carlson's business in Minnesota's Carlson Ag Aviation flies into spray season. Some excerpts:
. . .Much of the weed spraying is done on the ground. Insect pests are often a job for spray pilots but they’re hard to predict.
“I’ve never figured out ‘bugs’ yet,” Boone said, smiling, referring to how they'll affect the business in a given year. "Some years, they just show up and we get busy with them. I haven’t figured bugs out yet. If someone figured it out, let me know; I can plan for it.”
This year, the company has seen a continuation of a gentle rise in fungicide use on their corn and beans. . . .
Boone grew up at Northfield, Minn., where his parents, Lynn and Robin Carlson, both worked for Malt-O-Meal. Lynn originally was from a farm in Wendell, Minn., where he would start Carlson Ag Aviation in 1985. In 2000, Lynn was president of the National Agricultural Aviation Association.
Boone, the oldest child, helped his father with the business in the summertime. After high school, Boone went on to ag aviation school at Crookston, Minn. After working briefly with his father, he took a management post at Barrett (Minn.) Farm Supply, an ag retail company not far from the Carlson Ag Aviation site in Wendell. He spent 15 years helping farmers with crop protection materials, fertilizer and seed, and ground application.
In 2000, Boone purchased his uncle’s farm, where he continues to raises corn, soybeans, wheat and sugarbeets. In 2009, Boone married Charity, who had grown up on a farm near Carlson Ag Aviation. The Carlsons have three children . . .
In 2016, Boone and Charity purchased Carlson Ag Aviation from his father Lynn. In 2020, they added the Wheaton-Dumont Aerial Spraying business, about 35 miles to the southwest. They operate from both locations.
. . .The business offers aerial spraying of dry and liquid fertilizers, insecticides, herbicides and fungicides, as well as aerial seeding. They also offer ground spraying and full service crop protection chemical sales. . . .
Bluestem suspects that pollinator fans may not jump in to make Carlson a boon companion.
Looking over Carlson's persona and business social media, Bluestem discovered that Carlson and his spouse are opponents of wind farms. On January 15, Carlson Ag Aviation's Facebook page created an event .Sponsored by Carlson Ag Aviation, WindBreak Holdings LLC and West Central Ag-Air Inc,, The event description on Facebook told visitors:
ATTENTION Stevens County Residents and Landowners. You don't want to miss this informational meeting about wind turbines going up in your neighborhood. Please come to the meeting and educate yourself on the cons of wind turbines and how putting them up will effect everyone for years to come. If nothing else, please do not sign any lease agreements with big wind companies until you've attended this meeting and have visited with your attorney. Everyone welcome! Please share this post.
WindBreakLLC? Here's a post from the Carlson Ag Avaition Facebook page:
Bluestem obtained a copy of the Windbreak LLC's business filing at the Minnesota Secretary of State's office; Charity Carlson's role in establishing the LLC is clear. Another post on the business page notes the involvement of the metro-based Center of the American Experiment in opposing wind farms in west central Minnesota:
Will this organizing help overcoming the years of experience by the Backer Backers?
Finally, Brooke Carlson's political contribution history of political contributions contrasts with those of Representative Backer.
Carlson has yet to have a registered committee to appear in the Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure database for House District 9A.
Nor has he made an itemized individual political contribution to a committee for statewide or legislative office, according to the CFB database. It's possible he's made contributions of less than $200 to candidates, as these don't need to be itemized on campaign finance reports.
It's a much different story on the federal level. The Federal Election Commission (FEC) database of contributors lists 80 entries for Carlson, Brooke, beginning with a $500 contribution to Bush-Cheney 2004. After three small contributions to the Republican National Committee in 2005, Carlson gave $250 to the McCain-Palin campaign and $250 to the Republican National Committee in 2008.
Carlson's political giving began to blossom a bit in 2016. Carlson donated $564 in five contributions to Donald Trump for President and the Trump Make America Great Again Committee. Carlson also added the Minn Dak Farmers Cooperative Sugar PAC (MDSPAC) received two 2016 contributions that totalled $235.20.
2017 saw two contributions to MDSRAC for a total of $463.75, while he sent a total of $443.69 in three contributions to the Trump campaign and PAC, with an additional $69.44 to the RNC.
The National Rifle Association took in $250 of Carlson cash in 2018, with $500 going to Trump's campaign, with three donation totaling $275 going to the PNC. Two donations totaling $510 went to the sugar beet coop PAC.
Contributions to Trump declined in 2019--with the largest of any single contribution being $50 while giving to MDSRAC was $468.60.
A similar pattern of giving persisted from 2020-2023, with funds heading to the sugar beet coop PAC and to Trump or Trump-related PACs. See how it adds up here.
Bluestem doubts Republican voters in the district would object to the Trump bucks, though some might be puzzled by the real politik of redistribution of contributions by MDSRAC. Sure, it sends money to Lauren Boebert, Tom Emmer (especially Emmer), Brad Finstad, Michelle Fischbach, and Pete Stauber, but its dollarsd also flow to Angie Craig, Amy Klobuchar and Nancy Pelosi.
How sweet it is.
Screenshots: From the HRCC "Meet Our Candidates" webpage scroll. Somehow the design staff skipped District 9A, and a picture of Jeff Backer. Both 9B candidate photos are of MNHouse 9B representative Tom Murphy, though the second iteration oft he image is labeled "Jeff Becker." Screenshots from the HRCC webpage.
Related posts
- Jeff Backer gets a little factchecking after Coalition of Greater MN Cities sponsored forum
- Jeff Backer hates liberal homosexual money, solicits socially conservative campaign cash
- HD12A: Backer thinks depression created by Satan stealing pleasures, making us want stuff
- Jeff "Goose Poop" Backer tells constituents video games, porn cause school shootings
- Republican guy who voted for Minnesota's buffer bill continues to grandstand against
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