Dan Horoshak, a member of USW Local 6860 and employee at Nelson Williams Linings Inc., has announced his candidacy for the House District 7B seat in Minnesota, currently held by first-term incumbent Cal Warwas. In a statement released on March 15, 2024, Horoshak highlighted the challenges faced by the community, particularly when local mining operations are halted.
“I’ve lived what happens when the mines shut down,” Horoshak stated. “Storefronts close. Families struggle. Young people leave because the opportunities aren’t here anymore.” His campaign aims to address these issues while promoting a vision for a more robust future for the region.
Horoshak, a fifth-generation resident of the Iron Range, laid out key components of his platform. He plans to focus on strengthening the mining industry and local businesses, investing in trade schools and apprenticeships, and enhancing infrastructure. Additionally, he intends to improve access to health care, mental health services, and senior care.
“For more than a century, the Iron Range powered Minnesota, built America, stood up to the biggest corporations, and even helped win World War II,” he mentioned in his campaign announcement. “We did the work. We made sacrifices. But we never got the investment or respect we earned. It’s time that changed.”
His message resonates with constituents who have witnessed the decline of local industries and the subsequent impact on their communities. Horoshak issued a rallying cry to voters: “Let’s bring the Range back — for you, for your kids, and for everything we stand for. Rangers can do anything. Let’s get to work.”
The upcoming election for House District 7B is set against a backdrop of pressing economic challenges, making Horoshak’s proposals particularly timely. As the campaign unfolds, community members will be watching closely to see how candidates articulate their visions for revitalizing the Iron Range.
Horoshak’s deep roots in the area and his firsthand experience with the local economy may give him an edge in appealing to voters who are eager for change. As the election date approaches, debates and discussions will likely center around the future of mining, job creation, and community support services in the Iron Range.
