There’s an open seat in the Minnesota legislature for the 7B spot, since Rep. Dave Lislegard is not seeking re-election.

And the two candidates seeking that spot have been hitting the campaign trail hard.

On the DFL side, it’s Lorrie Janatopoulos. The GOP candidate is Cal Warwas.

Warwas has been a steelworker for more than 28 years. He works at Minntac. “I’ve always been a bridge builder and a collaborator. Right now I pretty much work with every department. No matter where I’ve worked, I’ve generally been the guy in the middle,” Warwas said.

Janatopoulos moved to the Range because her husband had gotten a job at Evtac, which is now United Taconite. “I still remember seeing that first paycheck and that good paying union job, and what it meant for us and our family,” she told us.

Both told WDIO they support the new copper nickel mining ventures as well.

Warwas is also a Clinton Township supervisor.

Janatopoulos got her start with government when she was the assistant to St. Louis County Commissioner Liz Prebich. “It’s there where I learned what government can do for people,” she explained.

Both candidates have signs spread across the district.