During The Current’s live broadcast from Duluth, host Jade welcomed Duluth Mayor Emily Larson for a conversation about Grandma’s Marathon, Larson’s inspiration for entering politics, and the things that make Duluth special — including its music.

You can listen to the complete interview above, and read a transcript below.

Interview Transcript

Jade: Here on The Current, and we are in downtown Duluth! Normally, I'm spending my time hanging out doing this live broadcast from downtown St. Paul, but I hopped in the car, came up j— it's Grandma's weekend, the big marathon — and I wanted to check in with Duluth Mayor Emily Larson.

Emily Larson: Good morning.

Jade: Good morning. Hi!

Emily Larson: Welcome!

Jade: Thank you. I do, I feel very welcome.

Emily Larson: You do? We love that. That's good.

Jade: As I was driving up, it was like the hazy, smoky, unbreathable air in the Twin Cities, and as I drove up, about halfway through, I looked in the rearview mirror and it was smoky, hazy, red, and in front of me, as though I was like Dorothy in Wizard of Oz: blue sky! 

Emily Larson: Absolutely. That is life in Duluth.

Jade: That's how I feel like it is right now. Well, I really want to dive into this weekend because it is so so glorious. You know, it's bright blue skies, people are running around. It's Grandma's Marathon weekend. This is a big deal in Duluth. And I'm curious, I know you're a trail runner.

Emily Larson: Yep.

Jade: Have you ever or are you running this year? Do you run? Have you done it in the past?

Emily Larson: You know what? I don't run — I have done all of these races — and I love marathons, I love half marathons. I never run this race as mayor. I've been married for seven years. It's stressful. It's awesome. Like, it's so great. We have 20,000 runners, and all their friends and spectators. But we also have, you know, hundreds of people working, and I'm at the finish line feeling safe and rested.

Jade: Not being photographed in Lycra!

Emily Larson: Exactly. Exactly. I'm more of a private runner. Trails are my thing.

Jade: I love that. I wanted to kind of go back because I was thinking about this. You and I have spent time in Duluth together on multiple occasions. But I actually don't know what the impetus was, or what got you into politics in the first place. So if you can go back in time, was there a moment or was there a certain topic that really drew you in?

Emily Larson: You know, it's interesting, I grew up in a household that was really active. We talked about things, we boycotted things, we had lawn signs. So when I became an adult, it was very natural to work on campaigns and do different things. And you know, my path actually, into elected politics, is very common for women, because it was kind of sideways; you know, I never once set out to say, "This is my big dream," or "I'm going to be the mayor", "I'm going to be the first female mayor", right? So I just set out to make a difference in my community. And at one point I was seeking — this is actually the story — I was seeking a candidate to run for a council seat, and I wanted to manage their campaign. And I was talking to my husband at home, and he's like, literally stirring and cooking something on the stove. And I'm like, "I can't find anyone to run! And I've asked people." And he said, "Tell me again, what you're looking for." And I started going, "Oh, you know, a woman in her 30s with kids who's paying attention." And he just turns the heat off and sets the spoon down. And he's like, "You're kidding, right? We have to do this." And so that's a super common story. You know, many, many women, many people who are Black, Indigenous, people of color, people who are non-binary, LGBT, it's not unusual to have kind of a sideways path into it. And it's been mostly great.

Jade: I love that. And I'm curious about that, because it is a time in the last several years, more and more people who would take that sideways route have gotten activated and want to run for government, a political position of some way, shape or form. So I'm curious, what advice, as it has been mostly wonderful, what advice would you give to somebody who is considering...?

Emily Larson: Do it. I would just say, do it. What what do you have to lose? It's so beautiful, this era we're living in where there's so much to be committed to and passionate about, and in some cases, maybe you're angry about or thrilled about. I mean, the spectrum of politics covers a lot of different things. But do it. Like, what's the worst that can happen? The worst that can happen is that you'll lose. And that will hurt and probably suck, and maybe be embarrassing or whatever. But that's the worst; you can survive that. But what's the best that could happen is that you get to have the trust of people in your community to make a difference in a way that you feel is really positive, and that's worth it.

Jade: Yeah. Positivity. I think that it's easy to fall into a bit of despair, I think. And you know, it's really hard to find those optimistic moments. And I think that, like, taking charge of your life in some certain way, allows for there to be some purpose and some optimism.

Emily Larson: Yeah, I think that's right. And you know, everything we do has some impact. I believe we vote every day in a ton of different ways. We vote with the dollar and where we spend that at the coffee shop; we vote with what are we going to wear, and what signal is that gonna send. Right? And so to me, electoral politics, it's just an extension. It's just one expression. And there's so many ways people can be powerful, and some of that's being elected, and some of it's doing really amazing work being not elected. And so it's an amazing time. Here in Duluth? For sure. But also just in our world, a lot happening.

Jade: Yeah. Well, speaking of Duluth, what is on the horizon for Duluth? Yes, this is a big weekend, Grandma's Marathon, lots of people coming to town. What are you looking forward to the summer?

Emily Larson: Well, you've been here in the summer, you've been here at peak summer. Like, we hit our stride in July. And so, you know, I love being down at Bayfront, which is this beautiful, award-winning outdoor park, concerts and gatherings. I jump in the lake a lot. You know, we've got 42 creeks; I go creek swimming all the time. Like, to me, the best part of what of the season we're coming up to is the idea that literally millions of people come here for their vacation, or it's maybe the one time they're going to spend together as a family, and they choose here and that's amazing. But, like, I live here; I can't believe it!

Jade: You got your own — The New York Times wrote and said like, "this is the one place you should move."

Emily Larson: You need to be here.

Jade: Apocalypse planning: Move to Duluth.  

Emily Larson: Yeah, that's the fear strategy. Yeah. Although the climate refuge and climate migration is very real. That's absolutely happening. But you know, the thing about Duluth, our ethic as people — we're hardworking, we show up for each other, we take care of each other, like, we know our neighbors — it's kind of that old-school space. But we're also this just, there's so much happening, and we're evolving, and we're changing. We're this newer city in many ways in the last decade, and people feel that and lean into it. And it's just really special. It's really special.

Jade: It was invigorating, driving around and walking around just yesterday, because there are so many things popping up. I walked down a street and there were various little almost festival pop-ups or live music happening on the street. It was really beautiful to see. And since I am kind of always music focused in my brain and for my job, I'm curious if there's a particular song or maybe an artist that you've been listening to lately.

Emily Larson: Well, I love Superior Siren. They're a local band, all women, powerhouse; always know how to show up and deliver. I could listen to Duluth music all day; in fact, often I do. And there's so many layers to it. You know, we do have this Homegrown Music Festival every spring, it's a week long of local bands, and it's literally 175 bands, all different and they're all local. And it's incredible. So there is something I do feel like there is something in our water. And maybe it's just living close to the lake. Maybe it's living with this beautiful fresh air. But we really do tend to have a creative economy. Like, my next door neighbor's an opera singer and down the street is somebody who makes movies. And that's just like, they're just your neighbors. Do you know what I mean?

Jade: Yeah.

Emily Larson: And so it's this really, it's this very visceral creative intersection of — and playful — so like what you're describing, kind of music popping up or you know, a lot of murals are popping up and businesses and small entrepreneurs and pop-ups really anchoring in and going bricks and mortar, and I think there's something in our water, and it's it's only good stuff.

Jade: I have also heard that Duluth has the best water in the United States.

Emily Larson: We do.

Jade: This is something that people have said to me multiple times! So not only is creativity in the water, but the water itself? Delightful.

Emily Larson: Yeah. Thank you, City of Duluth.

Jade: Well, and thank you, Mayor of Duluth, Mayor Emily Larson. Thank you for taking some time this morning. 

Emily Larson: It's so good to see you.

Jade: Oh, so nice to see you too.

Emily Larson: Yeah, happy you're here.

Jade: And we'll continue to celebrate Duluth by playing that Duluth music for you. And in fact, some Superior Siren right now. So you get to hear what Mayor Larson is into. This is "Swamp Creature," and it's on The Current.

External Links

Mayor of Duluth - official site

Grandma’s Marathon - official site