Sue Hakes
This past week candidate for Congress Leah Phifer announced she had hired Sue Hakes, a powerhouse leader from northern Minnesota, to take the reins of managing her campaign to win the DFL endorsement to represent the 8th Congressional District.
Hakes is a former Cook County commissioner and mayor of Grand Marais. She was first elected to office in 2008, serving six years in public office. Although she grew up in Austin, Minnesota, her family has had deep ties to Aitkin County for four generations.
Hakes and Phifer were almost rivals for Congressman Rick Nolan’s seat.
When candidates first stated their intentions to run for Minnesota’s 8th congressional district seat held by Rick Nolan, who last January announced he was eyeing a candidacy for the governor seat that will open next year upon Gov. Mark Dayton’s retirement, Grand Marais resident Sue Hake said she was open to throwing her hat in the ring for what looked to be an open primary race.
However, when Congressman Nolan dropped his bid for the governor seat, and announced he would once again run to keep his congressional seat, Hakes withdrew from entering the DFL primary race.
Meanwhile, newcomer Leah Phifer had quit her job with the FBI to make a run for Nolan’s seat, and after conducting a 90-day tour of District 8 on a motorcycle, she decided she was all in.
Today Hakes and Phifer are friends, and together should present Nolan with some stiff competition for the DFL endorsement.
In 2014, Hakes was awarded a two-year Bush Foundation Fellowship to build leadership in rural, northeastern Minnesota. A graduate of Augsburg College, Hakes used her Bush Fellowship to study at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs and Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government.
In 2016, she worked as a field organizer with the Ohio Together Campaign to campaign to elect Hillary Clinton for president. Currently, she serves on the board of directors for Rural American Indigenous Leadership (RAIL) and serves on both the Duluth and Cook County YMCA Advisory Councils. Hakes is also an advisor to the first-ever Grand Marais Youth in Government delegation.
“Sue’s dedication to fostering community engagement, especially in our rural communities, is unparalleled,” said Phifer. “Her experience organizing and mobilizing diverse populations is an incredible asset to our campaign.”
“Leah Phifer’s promise to uphold the United States
Constitution and her courage to stand up against the current administration’s threats to the federal government’s balance of power and due process is why I believe in her. Since leaving her job at the FBI, she has continued to work tirelessly to protect the fundamental principles that impact our daily lives. I trust her with the future of Minnesota’s Eighth Congressional District. That’s why I am excited to get to work convincing the 8th District to put their trust in her too,” said Hakes.
Hakes is married to John Gorski, a native of Eveleth. Both have worked in real estate in northern Minnesota for over 15 years.
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