Gary Judkins For MN House 12B

05/10/2026

Hey everyone,
I wanted to let you all know that I’m officially stepping back from my campaign for Minnesota House District 12B.

My family has a housing opportunity we simply couldn’t pass up, but it means we won’t be living in the district long enough to meet the residency requirements this cycle. This wasn’t an easy call, but it’s the right one for our future.

None of this changes why I ran in the first place. I still believe everyday citizens — not career politicians or party loyalists — should be the ones in office. Long-term incumbents have lost touch, blind party loyalty is tearing us apart, and the dehumanization of people we disagree with has to stop.

To everyone who donated: you’ll be receiving your official receipt for the Minnesota political contribution tax refund. Thank you so much for standing with me — it meant everything.

I also want to sincerely apologize to anyone who feels let down by this. I know many of you invested time and hope, and I’m truly sorry. Please know your voice still matters deeply to me. I’m not disappearing — I’ll keep advocating for the issues we care about and for a politics that puts people over party.

At the end of the day, my one true priority is giving my wife and kids the best life I can. Right now that means focusing on our growing family and building our new home together.

I’m so grateful for every conversation, every story, and every opportunity to connect I was given. You’ll still see me around the community (just not as much in 12B for now), and I may run for the House again someday — just likely from a new district.

Thank you all for your support and trust. Let’s keep putting people over party, ending the dehumanization and fighting against division.
With gratitude,�Gary Judkins

03/25/2026

Today at the Nelson gas station, I had a meaningful encounter that reminded me why grassroots campaigning matters. As I picked up my energy drinks, the woman behind the counter looked at me and asked, “Aren’t you the independent running for the House of Representatives?”

She went on to say she had heard about my campaign, had been following what I’ve been putting out there, and really liked the message I’ve been sharing. She told me I had her vote and thought it was great to see someone new stepping up to challenge the long-time incumbent. What struck me most was that this came from someone I had never interacted with online or seen at any of my events. She spoke warmly about the importance of fresh voices in politics and how refreshing it was to have a real choice (if secured with 500 signatures from individuals) on the ballot.

It was genuinely encouraging to connect with a voter in such an everyday setting and hear that kind of direct, unsolicited support. These personal, face-to-face conversations—happening naturally right here in our community—are the very heart of a true grassroots effort. They prove that when we make the consistent effort to engage with our neighbors, listen, and share our vision honestly, people do notice and respond in meaningful ways.

Too often, voters say they don’t participate in certain elections or won’t support an independent because they feel their single vote “doesn’t count” especially if not for one of the two major parties. Yet this very belief is what sustains the two-party duopoly we see today—one that fuels partisan loyalty, divisive rhetoric, and a focus on scoring political points rather than genuinely serving the people.

I respectfully disagree. My conversation at the Nelson gas station today is living proof that every individual voice matters. When people choose to vote for the candidate they truly believe in—rather than defaulting to party loyalty—real change becomes possible.

Encounters like this fuel my grassroots campaign and reinforce why I’m running as an independent: to break that cycle, give voters a meaningful choice, and put service to our community ahead of party interests.

To the people of House District 12B: I sincerely appreciate those of you who are taking the time to listen, to learn about my positions, and to consider supporting this campaign on an individual level. Especially when facing a long-time incumbent, every conversation and every vote truly counts. I pledge to make myself available to you—both now during the campaign and if elected to office. Please feel free to reach out with your questions, concerns, or ideas. Together, we can make history by building the first successful grassroots independent campaign in over 100 years—starting one conversation, one neighbor, and one vote at a time.

Your vote only fails to count if you choose to believe it doesn’t. Real progress starts when each of us votes for the candidate we believe in, engages in our neighborhoods, and supports those who earn our trust—not just a party label.

03/22/2026

Time for Fresh, Independent Leadership in MN House!

Someone who listens to every voice, ignores none, champions the majority while protecting minorities, builds common-ground solutions, and stands firmly against division and polarization.

An independent voice like mine brings a unique sway to break gridlock and move YOUR priorities forward—for the people we serve.

I truly believe we can build a better Minnesota together: one that puts the will of the people first, ends the hatred, and delivers compassionate, results-driven common ground representation .

Gary Judkins – Independent for MN House District 12B. Lifelong Minnesotan from Alexandria/Osakis area. No party machine. Just service to you.

What matters most to YOU in our district? Comment below—I'm listening! Let's unite and move forward. ❤️🇺🇸

Volunteer, learn more, or donate (up to $75 refundable via MN PCR!): judkinsserves12b.com

03/16/2026

I plan to attend this event, as it will provide an excellent opportunity to gather a broad range of perspectives and concerns from attendees. Even when input is not directed to me personally, being present allows me to listen directly to the issues and priorities that matter most to those in attendance, and to learn about the upcoming projects that will effect them.

03/13/2026

03/11/2026

Today I had the pleasure of meeting with Becky Heinz from the Stearns County Farm Bureau. It was a great conversation—I truly enjoyed discussing the important issues facing Minnesota's farmers and rural communities with her. Becky's insights, grounded in the real experiences of local farmers, were invaluable, and I'm grateful for her time and openness.

The Minnesota Farm Bureau's 2026 Priority Issues—developed through a strong grassroots, member-driven process—highlight key areas that directly impact family farms in Stearns County and across the state:
Family Farm Legacy: Supporting beginning and emerging farmers, estate and capital gains tax policies, and resources for smooth farm transitions to pass land, knowledge, and opportunity to the next generation.
Rural Economic Vitality: Advancing permitting reform (congratulations on recent successes fixing rushed or burdensome changes—folks shouldn't have to play catch-up after policies are imposed without proper input), labor issues like PFML and ESST, and infrastructure/capital investments to grow rural businesses and communities.

Energy and Farmland Preservation: Balancing renewable energy development (not opposed to solar farms, but emphasizing appropriate siting and land use) with prime farmland protection, sustainable aviation fuel, and nuclear energy advancement (high output, small footprint—beneficial for farms and rural energy needs).

Environmental Stewardship: Promoting science-based, voluntary conservation practices for feedlots, manure, and water; avoiding overreach in permitting and rulemaking; and supporting sustainable approaches.
We also touched on additional concerns from farmers: high costs of capital investments (and the role of assistance programs), deer population impacts on crops (ideas for incentives, hunting education, and safety classes), the burden of trucking both ways, and the challenges of shifting from reliance on government assistance toward fair market prices that allow farms to stand on their own—while recognizing the upfront costs, risks, and ripple effects when adopting more sustainable practices.

This meeting reinforced how essential it is to actively seek out and listen to your voices—not just wait for constituents to reach out. Everyday citizens contact me and I value that input immensely, but I commit to also be reaching out to farmers, producers, small business owners, families, and community members, just as much, if not significantly more. Directly engaging with organized groups like the Farm Bureau provides deeper, firsthand perspectives. It's through proactive conversations like this that I can better advocate for policies that strengthen Minnesota’s rural and agricultural future—and benefit everyone in District 12B.

As an independent candidate for MN House 12B, my service focus areas directly tie into these priorities by ensuring your input truly shapes outcomes:

I'm Here to Serve, Not to Stay — My focus is temporary and citizen-led, bringing fresh energy without long incumbency inertia. Because my will is to serve, I commit to limited terms, setting the stage for fresh representation and making it far easier for everyday individuals—who live and work in real district life—to step into the role, as it's always supposed to be.

Empowering Every Voice + Giving You Real Time to Be Heard — Pushing for fair rules like advance notice on bills (e.g., a 5-day minimum to review and respond) and equitable tools for independents—so you get early, meaningful input before decisions are rushed. This gives farmers, small business owners, families, and all constituents more direct access to an independent representative and real time to engage and influence changes that affect your lives, livelihoods, and communities.

Building Bridges for Real Results — Using an independent's position to negotiate common-ground solutions—all grounded in your real input rather than partisan fights.

Returning Power to the People — Ensuring ongoing listening, progress reporting, and lowered barriers so everyday citizens stay central and feel encouraged to participate, speak up, or even run themselves.
These priorities equip me to listen more effectively, give you real time and tools to be heard early, foster common ground on tough issues, and deliver practical solutions that put District 12B families, farms, businesses, and communities first.

I will continue reaching out to organizations, businesses, families, individuals, and community groups across District 12B and beyond. Even if I'm not elected in 2026, I'll keep seeking input, collaborating, and advocating for rural Minnesota—bringing your concerns to those in office. Being an independent in office would help me do that even more—free from strict party lines, focused solely on what serves District 12B best, and in a position to really make that happen.

I hope to earn your trust. My one goal is to advocate just for you—loyalty to the people of this district, a commitment to serve, and putting families, farms, businesses, and communities first.

Thank you again to Becky and the Stearns County Farm Bureau for the warm discussion. Looking forward to staying in touch and continuing this important work together. Your voices drive real change, and I'm committed to amplifying them.

03/11/2026

“It’s time for fresh representation and real change in the House: someone who listens to every voice—ignoring none—champions the majority’s priorities while protecting minority concerns, builds common-ground solutions, and stands firmly against division and dehumanization. An independent voice, free of party loyalty, carries unique sway—enough to break gridlock, force true common ground, and move real priorities forward for the people they serve.”

Gary Judkins
Independent Candidate
for MN House 12B

03/05/2026

Starting Thursday, March 12, 2026, I'll be hitting different coffee shops (and diners!) across MN House District 12B — simply to sit down with you, hear your thoughts, learn your priorities, find out what it'll take to earn your vote, and show that I truly care about representing ALL of us.

Just real conversations. I'll be available for any questions, comments, concerns, or ideas you want to share. Come say hi, grab a cup, and let's talk about what matters in our communities.

I'll focus most on Alexandria (heart of the district and easy drive for many), but if you suggest a spot in your town — Osakis, Sauk Centre, Melrose, Villard, Westport, Carlos, or anywhere else in the district— I'll make it happen and guarantee a stop there.

I'll create public weekly events so you'll always know where I'll be and when. Drop suggestions below or DM me!

Looking forward to meeting you face-to-face and listening first.