# SD14 DFL > SD14 DFL is the Senate District 14 Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party organization serving Stearns, Benton, and Sherburne counties in central Minnesota (St. Cloud, Waite Park, St. Joseph, St. Augusta, Sauk Rapids, and surrounding communities). The site combines nonpartisan civic education — how elections, government, and the party actually work — with information on DFL-endorsed candidates, the party platform, and ways to get involved locally. The civic education blog publishes weekly (April–November 2026) and is written for a mixed audience: people brand-new to politics, occasional voters, and already-active DFLers. Posts explain process and structure in plain language rather than argue a position. Separate pages cover DFL-endorsed candidates on the 2026 ballot, the party platform by issue area, and volunteer/event information. ## Civic education blog - [How candidates get endorsed — and why it matters](https://www.sd14dfl.com/blog/how-candidates-get-endorsed): The convention-to-ballot endorsement process in Minnesota, and what it means when a candidate skips it. - [How a bill becomes a law in Minnesota](https://www.sd14dfl.com/blog/how-a-bill-becomes-a-law-in-minnesota): The real legislative process, including the friction points left out of the simplified version. - [What is a precinct, and why should you care?](https://www.sd14dfl.com/blog/what-is-a-precinct): The smallest unit of political organizing, plus how to find your own. - [What even is a senate district?](https://www.sd14dfl.com/blog/what-is-a-senate-district): What a Minnesota senate district covers and why it matters locally. - [What is the DFL, anyway?](https://www.sd14dfl.com/blog/what-is-the-dfl-learn-about-the-democratic-party-in-minnesota): The DFL's history, structure, and why it's a distinct state party rather than simply "the Democrats." - [Who runs what? Sorting out federal, state, and local offices](https://www.sd14dfl.com/blog/who-runs-what): A plain-language guide to which level of government controls which parts of daily life. - [What is the DFL platform, and who writes it?](https://www.sd14dfl.com/blog/what-is-the-dfl-platform): How the party's platform is drafted and adopted. - [What do volunteers actually do?](https://www.sd14dfl.com/blog/what-do-volunteers-actually-do): A role-by-role breakdown of campaign volunteer work, from data entry to literature drops. - [Platform Plank: Housing & Affordability](https://www.sd14dfl.com/blog/platform-plank-housing-affordability): The DFL platform's housing and affordability positions, explained. - [What is canvassing, and why does it work?](https://www.sd14dfl.com/blog/what-is-canvassing): What door-knocking accomplishes, based on the research on voter contact. - [Platform Plank: Workers & Economy](https://www.sd14dfl.com/blog/platform-plank-workers-economy): The DFL platform's labor and economic positions, explained. - [Your first door-knock: what to expect](https://www.sd14dfl.com/blog/your-first-door-knock): A first-timer's walkthrough of canvassing. - [How phone banking works — and why it's not as painful as you think](https://www.sd14dfl.com/blog/how-phone-banking-works): What a phone bank shift actually involves. - [How primaries work in Minnesota](https://www.sd14dfl.com/blog/how-primaries-work-in-minnesota): Who can vote in Minnesota's primary, how it differs from the general election, and typical turnout. - [Tomorrow is Primary Day](https://www.sd14dfl.com/blog/tomorrow-is-primary-day): A practical, low-pressure guide published ahead of the August 11 primary. - [Primary's over — now what?](https://www.sd14dfl.com/blog/primarys-over-now-what): How to read primary results and what happens next. - [Platform Plank: Families, Jobs & Economy](https://www.sd14dfl.com/blog/platform-plank-families-jobs-economy): The DFL platform's positions on families, jobs, and the economy. - [Why health insurance costs so much, and what Minnesota is doing about it](https://www.sd14dfl.com/blog/why-health-insurance-costs-so-much): A plain-language look at health insurance costs and state-level responses. - [Wage growth vs. cost of living: Minnesota's worker protections](https://www.sd14dfl.com/blog/wage-growth-vs-cost-of-living): How Minnesota wage growth compares to cost of living, and the state's worker-protection laws. - [Platform Plank: Housing](https://www.sd14dfl.com/blog/platform-plank-housing): A focused look at the DFL platform's housing plank. - [Absentee voting opens September 18 — how to request your ballot](https://www.sd14dfl.com/blog/absentee-ballots-2026): How in-person absentee voting works in Minnesota and how to request a ballot. - [How to research candidates before you vote](https://www.sd14dfl.com/blog/how-to-research-candidates): Where to find reliable information on who's on your ballot. - [Minnesota's voting rights: what you're entitled to](https://www.sd14dfl.com/blog/minnesota-voting-rights): A rundown of Minnesota voters' legal rights and protections. - [Early voting is open — here's how to use it](https://www.sd14dfl.com/blog/early-voting-is-open): How Minnesota's in-person Early Voting (opens October 16) differs from absentee voting, and how to use it. - [How to talk to your neighbors about voting](https://www.sd14dfl.com/blog/how-to-talk-to-your-neighbors-about-voting): Practical, low-pressure ways to bring up voting with people you know. - [Tomorrow and Tuesday: your election checklist](https://www.sd14dfl.com/blog/election-checklist): A short, action-focused checklist for the final days before Election Day. - [Today's the day](https://www.sd14dfl.com/blog/todays-the-day): A short Election Day post: go vote. ## Candidates - [Meet the DFL's endorsed candidates](https://www.sd14dfl.com/candidates): Overview of DFL-endorsed candidates on the 2026 ballot in and around SD14. - Aric Putnam — SD14 State Senator (incumbent) - Abdi Daisane — Minnesota House District 14A candidate - Zachary Dorholt — Minnesota House District 14B candidate - Doug Chapin — Congressional District 6 candidate - Zack Filipovich — Minnesota State Auditor candidate - Peggy Flanagan — U.S. Senate nominee - Amy Klobuchar — Gubernatorial nominee - Steve Simon — Secretary of State - Keith Ellison — Attorney General ## Communities - [Community hub](https://www.sd14dfl.com/communities): Local DFL information for each city in SD14. - [St. Cloud](https://www.sd14dfl.com/communities/st-cloud): DFL representation, precincts, and local context for St. Cloud. - [Waite Park](https://www.sd14dfl.com/communities/waite-park): DFL representation, precincts, and local context for Waite Park. - [St. Joseph](https://www.sd14dfl.com/communities/st-joseph): DFL representation, precincts, and local context for St. Joseph. - [St. Augusta](https://www.sd14dfl.com/communities/st-augusta): DFL representation, precincts, and local context for St. Augusta. - [Sauk Rapids](https://www.sd14dfl.com/communities/sauk-rapids): DFL representation, precincts, and local context for Sauk Rapids. ## Party & platform - [What is the DFL vs. the Democratic Party?](https://www.sd14dfl.com/blog/what-is-the-dfl-learn-about-the-democratic-party-in-minnesota): Explains the DFL's relationship to the national Democratic Party. - [Political parties in Minnesota](https://www.sd14dfl.com/political-parties-in-minnesota): A neutral guide to Minnesota's political parties, including the DFL, Republican, and minor parties. - [Full DFL platform](https://www.sd14dfl.com/platform): The party's current platform document by issue area. ## Get involved - [Volunteer sign-up](https://www.sd14dfl.com/volunteer): Sign up to volunteer with SD14 DFL. - [Events calendar](https://www.sd14dfl.com/events): Upcoming door-knocks, phone banks, and DFL events (Mobilize). - [Contact](https://www.sd14dfl.com/contact): Get in touch with SD14 DFL. ## Optional - [FAQ](https://www.sd14dfl.com/faq): Answers to common questions about voting, the DFL, and SD14.