Nearly a decade ago, a small Minnesota town ventured into uncharted territory when it held its first mayoral election, sparking a delightful tradition.

“This is our first experience with a mayor,” said Tammy Odegaard, who chairs Cormorant Daze, an annual summer celebration, in a recent interview with YSL News. “In 2015, we thought it would be fun to have a mayor.”

The town’s governing body devised a plan where anyone could vote for just $1, generating funds for the Cormorant Daze festival.

“Out of nowhere, they elected a beloved local dog,” Odegaard recalled, noting that this event marked the birth of a quirky local tradition.

Duke, a charming Great Pyrenees, took the role of Mayor in 2015 and was re-elected each time until he retired in June 2018, passing away the following February.

His passing led to a lull in the tradition, further complicated by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Odegaard remarked.

Then came the year 2024, a significant election year.

Political Engagement Soars

<p”This year, with all the buzz around the national election, everyone is thinking about politics,” Odegaard shared. “So, we thought, why not bring it back?”

Nominations for the Cormorant Animal Mayor Election 2024 were accepted from Memorial Day to July Fourth, with the final three candidates revealed by the Cormorant Daze Committee on July 8, as mentioned in a notice on the township’s website. The candidates included:

• Khaleesi Sherbrooke, a Great Pyrenees
• Ollie Einerson, an 8-month-old mix of Golden Retriever and English Cream Golden Retriever
• Theodore H. Rosten, a 3-year-old Basset Hound
• Ken Mathees, a 29-year-old entrepreneur known for his involvement with the YouTube channel “CboysTV.”

Voting took place from July 15 to August 5.

Khaleesi, whose human family campaigned vigorously on her behalf, won decisively with 103,000 votes.

The “election” occurred on social media, allowing anyone to vote, which explained the large turnout, given that Cormorant Township, in Becker County, has a population of just 1,407, according to World Population Review.

Khaleesi, her name inspired by a pivotal character from the Emmy-winning “Game of Thrones,” is approximately three years old and moved to the township in the spring, arriving from a wind farm in Idaho with her owners, David and Julie Sherbrooke.

Odegaard noted that Khaleesi’s friendly demeanor and social nature, derived from her experiences with construction workers in Idaho, played a key role in her electoral success.

Khaleesi is set to become the second mayor of Cormorant and the first female to hold the position, with her formal swearing-in scheduled for Saturday during the 13th Annual Cormorant Daze Festival.

Her responsibilities will include representing the town at various events and participating in occasions like parades.

Similar to her predecessor Duke, Khaleesi will also engage in numerous fundraising efforts for the local humane society.