Some of us are here for the first time, the second or third time, or we have lost count. Some of us came here with a candidate in mind, some of us have changed our minds since this morning.  But ​

By FREDERICK MELO | fmelo@pioneerpress.com | Pioneer Press
PUBLISHED: March 10, 2018 at 8:10 pm | UPDATED: 

State Rep. John Lesch handily won the endorsement of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party for re-election on Saturday after a single ballot, and his former legislative aide Jay Xiong earned the party endorsement for the House District 67B seat representing St. Paul’s East Side. Assuming they face no significant opposition during the August primary, both men will appear on the ballot this November.
​
In and around St. Paul, party delegates gathered Saturday to endorse candidates for state legislative seats and 

Thanks to  everyone who came to the  convention and supported Jay!  Even with a portion of our pro-Jay delegates out at a funeral we were able to win the DFL endorsement.  It took 3 votes -- the first being:

• Slade - 12%
• Stevens - 24%
• Xiong - 52%
• Yang - 12%

After the second vote Slade and Yang were out. The third and final vote was:

• Stevens - 35%
• Xiong - 65%

Stevens made a gracious speech and encouraged his voters to support the DFL endorsed candidate -- Jay Xiong.

Now phase two of our campaign begins!  Check back here or on Facebook to find out what's in store!

Dear Neighbor,
Thank you for fulfilling your civic duty to serve as a delegate or an alternate in this year’s local election.

I am a proud lifelong Saint Paulite asking for YOUR support to be the next DFL-endorsed State Representative for the East Side of Saint Paul.

My story is the story of the East Side. It is the story of our great city’s ever-changing face, a city that has welcomed the Germans, Finns, Lutherans, Catholics, Somali, Oromo, Muslims, Karennis, and Hmong. Forty years ago, my parents fled persecution in war-torn Laos because they stood with America in the fight against communism. When they arrived to Saint Paul, they hoped that one day my siblings and I, born of refugee parents, would one day succeed, achieve the American dream, and give back to the community that opened their arms to us.

That journey was not always easy. After graduating high school, I could not afford to go straight to college. Instead, I worked hard in a factory for two years to save up enough money to enroll at Saint ​

As a St. Paul Public Schools alumnus, as I looked out over the crowd I felt so proud of today's generation of SPPS students -- being bold, loud and clear that we need to act now for safer and stronger schools. The only arming needed is for our teachers, students and families to have the best educational tools to give our children who are our future a world class education. We all know education is the bedrock of our democracy.

Friends and Neighbors,
As most of you heard, our movement is stronger every day. We have been out sharing with neighbors our story and listening to their concerns. We have held community events inviting Eastsiders to have a meal and talk about building a stronger community. We have earned support from delegates and endorsements from our labor union brothers and sisters.

Join us for live music and meet like-minded progressives this Sunday. Free food! Come to our rally with our supporters and hear why we need your help!.

See you then!
Jay Xiong
​

Jay was endorsed by the North Central States Regional Council of Carpenters over the weekend. This hard earned endorsement is a fitting milestone, since Jay's official 2018 campaign launch took place at the Carpenters Hall in Saint Paul. This endorsement builds on his earlier endorsement from the Sheet Metal Workers Local 10.
 
Of these two great endorsements, Jay had this to say "I am a lifelong Saint Paulite, whose refugee parents worked hard to ensure I could succeed in this great country. My father worked as a janitor and a machine operator until he retired. My mother worked in an assembly plant for 20 years. I have worked in the public sector for over a decade. I have seen first-hand how unions are often the driving force for progress. I stand with our working-class families and individuals on the East Side. I have supported past efforts to prevent wage theft,  and I am honored to have the support of our strong friends in organized labor. I will continue to fight for all of you. Wage theft costs our state millions and the country countless billions each year, as well as setting up unfair competition and is just plain wrong. Thank you for your support."
 

To all Minnesotans who came out to caucus last night, we made history in our outreach, engagement and turnout. Our turnout from yesterday has already surpassed the last midterm cycle. The Jay Xiong for House campaign is proud to be a part of this epic grassroots effort to take this country back to true progressive values.

Our campaign has enthusiastically turned out many first-time voters of all backgrounds, races and classes. We engaged many new and returning voters and helped educate many on the daunting and often confusing, complex system of the precinct caucus system. We are most proud of engaging immigrant communities as well as youth.

On the east side, I applaud the work of organizers such as Pa Chua Vang who held down the fort in SD67 so that we had an effective caucus. Thanks so much to the many volunteers, campaign staff, advisers and especially all voters and delegates who took time out of their busy lives to make the next step possible for all of us.

I hope to see everyone at the Senate District Convention on March 10.

I need to say thank you to all who came out to their precinct caucuses last night. All over the east side, individuals and families came out in droves to vote with their feet for a new vision in House District 67B. We all went out in the cold and dark because we believe in a shared vision.

I owe a big thanks to my delegates and those who came out to make this integral part of our grassroots democracy possible. I love the east side. This great city is all I've ever called home and I will never stop giving back. As you do the hard and necessary work of working to become delegates in your precincts, your pledge to support me reminds me of my promise back to you, to consider every member of our community when I make policy decisions that affect all of us.

The work we started last night is only the start. I will never stop fighting for a more just and equitable community where we all feel safe and welcome. I will never stop advocating for better systems, metrics policies which will further elevate our children's learning in the schools. I will never stop asking for more resources to fix our crumbling infrastructure and maintain our public transit so we can have reliable means to get to and from work safely. I will never stop being a steward of the beautiful green spaces and natural resources we have and to which we must entrust to future generations.

For all the work you did last night, I am humbled, proud and excited beyond words to know that you are willing to stand with me. I look forward to continue to walk this journey together with you.
Thank you to all my delegates. And thanks to everyone who came out to caucus regardless of candidate or issue. You are what makes this democratic republic what it is.
​