Sue Hakes to lead Phifer's bid for Congress

Candidate for Congress Leah Phifer announced today that she has hired Sue Hakes, of Grand Marais, to take the reins of managing her campaign to win the DFL endorsement to represent Minnesota’s 8th Congressional District.

Sue Hakes is a familiar face to most northlanders – she 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.

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 elect Hillary Clinton for president.

Currently, Hakes serves on the board of 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.

Phifer says, "Sue's dedication to fostering community engagement, especially in our rural communities, is unparalleled. Her experience organizing and mobilizing diverse populations is an incredible asset to our campaign."

Hakes says, “Leah's 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.

Hakes says Phifer’s background with the FBI and her ties to the community are why she has joined the campaign. Hakes says, “That’s why I am excited to get to work convincing the 8th District to put their trust in her too.”