Today is a hard day. On International Transgender Day of Visibility, a day near and dear to me because of transgender friends and loved ones who daily endure attacks on their existence and yet continue to educate others and pursue justice for all marginalized communities, the Supreme Court struck down a ban on conversion therapy in Colorado.

As a survivor of conversion therapy, that hits deeply. It hurts, and it makes me sad and fearful for today’s youth. To honor that journey and push back against efforts to make people diminish who they are, here is a list of reasons why I’m great and I deserve a seat at the table as your State Senator…

Our community has a history of standing up against people who tell us to be afraid or who try to scare us, whether it's King Cheeto or David Hann. We come together when it matters. We fight back against those who tell us how to live or how to pray or who to love. We take pride in our work, and we believe there is a place for everyone at our table. I’m inspired by you, and I’m going to keep standing up for you.

Winning in November requires a battle-tested leader. Here is why I am the best-positioned candidate to win: 

• I am the only candidate in this Senate race who has led a winning campaign covering the majority of SD49.

• I have a proven track record of helping win elections, even ones that seemed unwinnable.

• I have been a leader in managing one of the most fiscally smart and sustainable public institutions in our area, and in the state broadly when it comes to education.

• Because of my life experience, I have honed how to maximize the impact of the grit and determination that comes from being an underdog without institutional support backing me.

Someone I really respect said that campaigning is like running through the streets naked. I’m not an exhibitionist, but I am laying it all bare for you in this race. You deserve to know who I am and what I stand for, and you deserve for that to be the same whether it’s in public or behind closed doors.

FairVote Minnesota awarded the 2026 badge to candidates who support the current RCV local options legislation, allowing more local jurisdictions to adopt RCV if they choose, as well as to those who support the future adoption of RCV for state and federal elections. 

If you’ve been thinking, gee, that Dirk seems like a nice guy but does he actually have any ideas about anything or policies beyond some core values…well, do I have news for you! There’s now a “Your Questions, Answered.” section on the website under Core Values. These are questions I’ve received and my full responses. Admittedly, I don’t know everything about everything. But where I do have thoughts or opinions, you deserve to know what they are and where I stand.

Peanut butter & jelly. Salt & pepper. Salt-n-Pepa. Macaroni & cheese. Kellie & Dirk. Some things are just better together!

Ramadan Kareem! May the Fire Horse year bring you courage and success! Wishing you a blessed Lent! 

Welp, I’m late to the party, as always…

Dr. Kellie Stecher
drkelliestecher49.com

Kellie is a surgeon, OBGYN, legal advocate and mother. She is running to make sure our community continues to grow, thrive and hope. She wants to make sure we take care of each other regardless of gender or race. She believes every single person deserves to feel respected and valued.

There is a particular kind of exhaustion that comes with parenting — especially when you are raising children with substantial special needs. It’s a world where your focus narrows to the immediate safety of your family, navigating the complexities of specialized support, and trying to keep everything from unraveling.