Senate District 26

Chair: Jen Verhagen

Jen Verhagen was born and raised in Holland, Michigan. (If you ask her where she is from, she’ll show you on her hand.) She graduated from Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Master of Liberal Studies in Organizational Leadership. She was previously the Communications Officer and President of the Young Democrats of Olmsted County.

Her goals for being chair this term are to continue to modernize the party through outreach, increase the visibility of the party in the community, create a more inclusive environment, and foster communication that conveys the DFL Values. If you would like to connect, please email her at chair.sd26.dfl@gmail.com.

Vice-Chair: Tyler Bussian
Tyler Bussian is from Lena, Illinois, a little town in the northern part of the state. He graduated cum laude from DePauw University in Green Castle, Indiana with a major in Biology and minor in Political Science. Currently, he’s a PhD Candidate for a degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology here in Rochester. Over the next two years, he hopes to increase the communication within SD26 and establish a more modernized system of organization and outreach. If you would like to contact Tyler, feel free to email him at vicechair.sd26.dfl@gmail.com.

Treasurer: Margaret Akinhanmi

Margaret Akinhanmi has always had a passion for organization and joyfully lends her passion to this position. She graduated from University of Georgia with a bachelors in Biological Science in 2013, and is currently a PhD student at Mayo Clinic Graduate School.

Secretary: Karen MacLaughlin
Karen was born in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, but moved all around central Wisconsin before landing in rural Clayton, Wisconsin when she started middle school. She came to Minnesota to get her B.S. in business at the University of Minnesota. She earned her J.D. from William Mitchell (now Mitchell Hamline) college of law in St. Paul. She came to Rochester to clerk for a District Court judge twenty years ago and has lived her ever since. She went on to become a Senior Assistant Olmsted County Attorney, specializing in juvenile delinquency prosecution. Two years ago, she made a career change, becoming a Wealth Management Trust Advisor at a local regional bank where she manages trust accounts, builds and enhances client relationships, and engages clients through financial planning.

She hopes to provide continuity as we are led by mostly new officers and to support the officers with good quality meeting minutes. She believes the secretary can also serve as a “de facto” director and represent the DFL mission and values through local events and the other organizations she is involved in. Officers can lead by example by showing up and getting involved, both in the party and with
campaigns.

Outreach and Inclusion Officer: Mary Anderson
Communications Officer: Dawn Johnson