Southwest Voices: How has campaigning been going? What have voters been talking to you about?

Toya López: Overall, the campaign has been going well. Once we made a successful appeal to the Secretary of State’s office to appear on the ballot, my team and I have been preparing for the post-primary race and connecting with my neighbors of 61A.

Housing and climate action are probably the two largest issues that people have talked to us about, and they seem open to my community-based approaches to addressing both of these issues, but generally, people are looking for a visionary and affirmative message. There is a lot of doom and gloom today, which I do want to grieve alongside my neighbors and validate. And I want to offer the capacity to co-imagine and create a desired political reality that does not start in compromise. People want to look forward to and plan towards a vibrant future.

Southwest Voices: Why did you decide to run as an independent candidate?

Toya López: I decided to run with the Green Party for a few reasons. The first is around policy. Though there are many similarities between the Greens and DFL, there are a few key differences. For example, the Greens want more aggressive climate action and are steadfast in protecting vital ecosystems like the Boundary Waters, while the DFL still debates and tries to find compromise between the pro-extraction and pro-environment groups.

This leads me to my second reason, which is President Joe Biden’s support for Israel’s ongoing genocide and ecocide in Gaza. I could not in good conscience run with a party whose, then-presumptive, nominee for president was enabling such atrocities. And finally, I want to make sure the people of 61A have a choice in November instead of being resigned to the single candidate who made it past the August primary.

Southwest Voices: According to recently released campaign finance documents, your campaign has raised $2,500, whereas Will Stancil’s campaign has raised over $90,000. How does that fundraising difference impact your ability to reach voters?

Toya López: As a third-party candidate, I knew the money wasn’t going to be on my side. In this economy $20 is precious. Although this limits my ability to buy lawn signs and internet ads, it also means I can’t rely on superficial advertisements and must instead go door-to-door and form deep connections with my neighbors who I hope to serve and represent. I also honor the considerable time and labor spent by volunteers and myself, even if it isn’t reflected in dollar amounts. I also showcase my capacity to be planful with my budget, considering those $2,500 have already gotten me a place on the ballot, not requiring the combined salary of a household to accomplish.

Southwest Voices: What is something that you haven’t been asked about yet that you want to talk about?

Toya López: I haven’t been asked much about de-militarization and use of Minnesota tax dollars towards weapons research, manufacturing, technology, and other contracts. For example, in May of 2023, it was announced that the Minnesota government would give nearly 1.5 million Minnesota tax dollars as forgivable loans to a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin, the world’s largest weapons manufacturer, to expand their operations in Minnesota. Then there’s also the historical, and likely still ongoing, promotion by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development to court more defense manufacturing and technology business to Minnesota.

While I have been asked about and discussed the Minnesota statutes that prohibit state contractors, such as those receiving state funding through grants, from political boycotts of Israel, I haven’t been asked much about how we are factoring this and the previously mentioned investments in the military as part of ecocide and Minnesota’s carbon emission reduction goals.

I also haven’t been asked much about how we can improve education and access to resources to support shared ownership models such as worker cooperatives, housing cooperatives, real estate investment cooperatives, and commercial land trusts, as well as alternative banking such as community development financial institutions and credit unions. I have heard a general desire from my neighbors to re-localize economic activity and challenge what has been historically taught surrounding individualized prosperity. We need to take a closer look at who in our communities are still unable to actualize what they want and make it part of our strategy to invest in them.  

Southwest Voices: In a race that has three DFL candidates who would likely have similar voting records in office, how do you stand out? Why should people vote for you?

‍Toya López: I have a lot of respect for all of the DFL candidates, but it’s pretty clear that I am the only one in the race offering not only progressive but also transformational change. My platform is focused on giving economic power to workers, families, and small businesses instead of big corporations and extractionist industries.

I dedicate myself and my campaign to radical transparency and accountability, which I also aim to increase at the legislative level. I am an advocate for not only social equality but liberation. I may be dismissed as a visionary, but I have a record of helping people access resources like healthcare, housing, and affordable clean energy; as well as partnership with system change leaders in those fields. I am the candidate you should vote for if you believe we can make a world that works for everyone together.

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‍The primary election is Aug. 13. Voting information is available online.