Pouring Magic into Flipping Congress

This story was written as told to by Melody Hoffmann

For almost a decade, Terre Thomas was known in Minneapolis as the Fairy Godmother.  

She owned the Fairy Godmother gift shops in Southwest Minneapolis (one in Kingfield, the other in South Uptown), and had a practice of wearing a ballgown to work each day. Thomas was a quirky fixture in the Twin Cities running the gift stores and making magic in the community.  

Thomas is doing a different kind of magic sixteen years later, crossing the Minnesota border to Wisconsin each week to help a congressional race that's considered one of the most flippable House seats in the country.  

Thomas also volunteered in 2024 three days a week in River Falls, Wisconsin. Democratic U.S. House representative candidate, Rebecca Cooke, came very close to winning back the seat from then second-term incumbent MAGA-affiliated congressperson, Derrick Van Orden.

Thomas went back over to Wisconsin in 2025 to help with the Elon Musk money-fueled Wisconsin Supreme Court race.  

"It was February and Elon Musk was pouring millions of dollars into the Wisconsin Supreme Court race and simultaneously starting the DOGE assault on federal government programs,” Thomas said. “I remember I was out doorknocking and standing on an icy step of a duplex in River Falls and thinking, I have to do something more to fight back. Then and there, I decided I would commit to returning in 2026 to help flip this congressional seat.”

Thomas had a fairy godmother-feeling that all the congressional seats in Minnesota were unlikely to flip, so she looked to Iowa and Wisconsin to help. She found a familiar face in a congressional seat with a great candidate just across the border. 

Rebecca Cooke was running again in Wisconsin's third Congressional District.

She approached the Pierce County Democrats in River Falls, Wisconsin with a proposal.  Starting in 2026, she would come over to River Falls four days a week and work to help with the election.

River Falls Mayor Alison Page was an early supporter of Thomas working in Pierce County this year. 

“Supporting democracy in America knows no boundaries,” River Falls Mayor Alison Page said. “Terre is an inspiration to us all to use our talent and skills wherever we can to support the democratic process.” 

Thomas has been commuting from Southwest Minneapolis for her four-day work week since January.

"River Falls is a beautiful and charming place filled with generous and lovely people,” Thomas said.

“For my four days, I stay with a wonderful local couple, so I don't have to make the 45 minute drive back to Minneapolis every day. Then I come home on Saturday night and honestly, I love pulling into my messy alley on Pillsbury. I'm living in the best of two worlds."

Thomas has worked on political campaigns since she was 14 years old and is continuing to utilize her unique skill set at age 67. 

"Like so many people last year, I couldn't have guessed how bad things were going to get, Thomas said. "So I'm glad that over the last nine months, by simply driving 40 miles to Wisconsin, I've been able to pour my energy and skills into doing something that I think will help turn things around.

“I would love it if anyone in South Minneapolis would volunteer to make phone calls from home or come over to River Falls to help with doorknocking on a Saturday or the four days before election day. It's an easy trip and River Falls is really pretty. And, you'd really be helping to flip Congress.”

You can reach Thomas at yfgodmother@gmail.com