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Kay Hendrikson
August 2025 |
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First let me say, many thanks for re-electing me for another 2 years! It has been an honor and a pleasure to work with the Senior Caucus members as Chair for the past 4 years! Thank you!
As you all know, we have a few legislative Special Elections in MN right now: Senate District 47, Senate District 29, and House District 34B. I was asked recently if these special elections are important. The person said “can’t we just wait until November to work on these replacements?” Well, no. We have to start organizing right now. Our endorsing conventions are happening now. Republicans are lining up right now to replace these seats — we can’t let that happen. The MN legislature is too closely tied right now. Contact your local Senior Caucus Chapter to help out your local candidates and donate to campaigns of the candidate who is officially endorsed by the DFL endorsement. This is critical right now.
The Democratic National Committee (DNC) meets twice a year, and it will hold its summer meeting in Minneapolis on August 25-27. The DNC will address fighting Trump and offering alternatives, consider resolutions, vote to elect at-large DNC members, and approve the Chair’s appointments to DNC committees, including Rules and Bylaws. If you want to attend, here is the link to register: register for DNC
DNC Chair Ken Martin released the following statement on the 60th Anniversary of the creation of Medicare and Medicaid: “For sixty years, Medicare and Medicaid have helped expand access to affordable health care for Americans, including seniors, families, children, and people with disabilities. When President Johnson signed Medicare and Medicaid into law in 1965, our leaders knew — as we know today — that all Americans should have access to basic health care.” He is announcing the Democrats’ work on saving Medicaid and Medicare. Here is a link to his statement: Medicaid & Medicare statement
Senior Caucus Committees! The Senior Caucus has about 10 committees. You as a member can be on any committee. Please join your friends in the fight against fascism and continue to make the Minnesota Senior Caucus a state wide force to be reckoned with. Sign up for a committee here: sign up for committees
Most of these committees can or will meet virtually on Zoom. No matter where you live in the state, you can be part of the action!
Membership and New Chapters
Chapters are an important part of the Senior Caucus.
Our state-wide Caucus is a large community of like-minded folks, and our Chapters are our local grassroots community. You get to know your local community and talk about issues in a safe environment (as well as who to call to fix your furnace!).
We have 3 new Senior Caucus Chapters now!
- North East Metro Chapter, meeting in White Bear Lake
- West Metro Chapter, meeting in Ridgedale
- St Paul, not strictly new but certainly revitalized, meeting in St Paul
Senior Caucus membership continues to grow. Four years ago our membership was about 150 members state wide and now we have about 1,400 members. Our 2-year goal is to create greater MN chapters. It is critical to expand our voting bloc state-wide to stand up against the threats of fascism that we now see. A large voting bloc will make a difference.
A lot more is going on, but that’s it for today.
Remember to get out the vote for the special elections!
Thank you for all you do.
Be safe, have fun, be healthy!
Always yours,
Kay C Hendrikson, PhD
Chair, DFL Senior Caucus
“If you want to be successful in this world, you have to develop your own idiot detection system … The best way to spot an idiot, is to look for the person who is cruel …. Over my many years in politics and business, I have found one thing to be universally true, the kindest person in the room is often the smartest.”
JB Pritzker, Governor of Illinois
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