Minnesota woman gets White House invite

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WORTHINGTON, Minn. — For three weeks during the height of the campaign season, Democratic political activist Deb Hogenson of Brewster took time off work to knock on doors and encourage people to get out and vote. She spends countless hours volunteering to promote democratic candidates and has a passion not just for politics, but for history.

So when an invitation arrived in her mailbox in mid-November to attend a Christmas party at the White House, Hogenson was thrilled to have an opportunity to visit such an historic site and again be in the same room as President Barack Obama.

Nominated by a fellow volunteer in the Obama Minnesota campaign, Hogenson and a guest — her husband, Douglas Bauman, accompanied her — were invited to a reception in the East Wing of the White House on Dec. 12. For three hours, they could roam the halls and rooms of the East Wing, share in conversation with other invited guests and catch a glimpse of the president and first lady Michelle Obama as they descended the staircase and entered the Grand Foyer.

“We dramatically increased voter turnout in Worthington, and it was that work that was being recognized,” Hogenson said of her invitation to the White House. “We worked hard at increasing civic involvement with the hope it would lead to Democrat votes.”

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