Won’t Seek DFL Nomination as People-Powered Campaign Builds Momentum
PRESS RELEASE | May 2, 2026
Contact: press@lgulbranson.com
LINDSTROM, Minn. – Today, Luke Gulbranson took the stage at the 8th Congressional District DFL Convention, delivering a powerful message to delegates from across the district about why he’s running for Congress — and why he’s going all the way to the finish line.
Luke shared how his life experiences have driven him to fight for working families and focus his campaign on lowering costs, expanding access to affordable, high-quality healthcare, and making sure the wealthy pay their fair share.
Energized by that mission, Luke announced he is withdrawing from the endorsement process and taking his campaign directly to the voters all the way to the August 11, 2026 primary. Luke said:
“The path to beating Pete Stauber runs through every voter in this district, and that’s exactly where I’m headed. This campaign has the energy, the message, and the people to win on August 11 and take this seat back for the working families who need it most.”
To date, Luke’s campaign has raised $100,000 from 3,500 contributors, more than 1,300 from the state of Minnesota, with an average donation of less than $25 – a clear sign of a people-powered support.
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About Luke
Luke Gulbranson’s roots run deep in the red dirt of the Iron Range, starting with his great grandfather who was a foreman at the Oliver mine. Born and raised in Eveleth, Minnesota, he is the son of Lyle, an Operating Engineers Local 49 union member, and Cindy, a nurse caregiver. In a community defined by hockey and home to the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame, Luke began skating at just two years old.
Growing up, life wasn’t easy for Luke and his family. There were times when they relied on food assistance, Medicaid, and support from their community to get by. The sting of an electricity shut-off notice, the long winters when heat was uncertain, and the resilience it took to push through were recurring challenges his family faced.
Hockey became Luke’s lifeline. He learned discipline, grit, and the value of teamwork. But at 19, a head injury forced him to chart a new course. Luke found a new path in media, and he supported himself through acting and modeling. While the experience broadened his horizons and exposed him to a world far beyond northern Minnesota, he always felt the call of Minnesota to come back home.
During the pandemic, Luke returned to Eveleth to build a new chapter of his life. He constructed his home in the woods, and he lives there today, grounded in the same community that raised him. He is a youth hockey coach, small businessman, outdoorsman, and woodworker who spends his days tapping maple trees, running the trails with his border collie Trapper, riding motorcycles and picking his guitar.
He lives a short drive from his parents, where he sees them face the challenges of so many families in northern Minnesota – balancing their household needs on a fixed income and increasing financial strain. Luke’s family has faced serious health challenges, including cancer and physical disability. They’ve seen firsthand how rising healthcare and, especially, prescription drug costs, put an enormous strain on health and well-being.
In Congress, Luke will fight for what matters to Minnesota families because this is personal for him. He won’t let the rigged system that benefits billionaires and corporate special interests end our way of life. For more information, visit www.lukegulbranson.com.