Erin Murphy and state Attorney General Lori Swanson was more complicated - and the results suggest nuanced dynamics that could be in play among Democratic voters. Tim Pawlenty by beating him throughout much of the state, with a final margin of victory of 9 percentage points, revealing a likely shift in the Republican party since Pawlenty left office in 2011. In short, Johnson pulled off a convincing upset of former two-term Gov. Gubernatorial candidates Jeff Johnson and Tim Walz (courtesy photos) Here’s how each won, according to the tale told by the voting data, as well as analyses and thoughts from political observers. Tim Walz, a Democrat, and Hennepin County Commissioner Jeff Johnson, a Republican, cruised to victories in Tuesday’s primaries for Minnesota governor. The party endorsement is just the first step to being the party nominee, which will ultimately be decided by voters participating in the Aug. Otto won the endorsement of the DFL progressive caucus, fulfilling a drive to be the party’s liberal alternative. We’re neck-and-neck with Walz and way ahead of. Tim Pawlenty’s frequent attacks on Walz since getting in the race in April.Īfter finishing second in the February precinct caucuses, Otto has failed to garner much labor support, and her campaign manager recently left the campaign.īut Otto was optimistic in an interview Thursday: “We’re in fantastic shape. Walz touted his ticket’s electability: “We feel confident that the DFL understands of uniting Minnesota, bringing a team that has strength in all four corners of the state, a team that has the resources to win and is obviously being noticed by the Pawlenty camp,” he said, referring to former Republican Gov. Peggy Flanagan said they would make it a priority to restore local government aid to cities around the state, though Walz declined to detail how he would pay for it. He held a Thursday news conference to tout the breadth of his support, from Twin Cities legislators to mayors from greater Minnesota. Walz won the support of the state teachers union and the building trades in recent weeks. That’s an oblique shot at Walz, who has touted his ability to attract a broader swath of voters, including moderates in his congressional district and other areas of greater Minnesota. In a memo to the media, the Murphy campaign previewed the candidate’s final pitch to delegates: “Murphy’s closing argument to DFL delegates will be centered around this moment - our moment - to stand up for our values and fight, recognizing that progress isn’t the result of running to the middle.” The Faith in Minnesota delegates will be unified in Rochester, he said. Murphy was the decisive top choice in a vote of the 176 delegates and alternates, Negstad said. “We wanted to explore which candidate would have a co-creative relationship with us around our agenda and values, and which candidate did we believe would do a new kind of politics with us in 2018,” said ISAIAH policy director Lars Negstad, who called the group’s endorsement process rigorous.

Paul in the Legislature since her 2006 election, recently won the support of the American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees and the SEIU State Council, as well as TakeAction Minnesota, another progressive group.įaith in Minnesota is the political arm of ISAIAH, an interdenominational religious coalition of more than 100 congregations that pushes for progressive economic and social policies, including anti-poverty measures, affordable housing, public transportation and racial equity.įaith in Minnesota is a new player in DFL politics but made a strong showing during the spring caucus season when delegates were chosen from around the state to attend the state convention. Tim Walz and State Auditor Rebecca Otto, who both finished ahead of Murphy in the February precinct caucuses.īut Murphy has racked up impressive endorsements heading into Saturday’s convention contest. Murphy is locked in a tight, three-way race for the DFL endorsement with U.S. To receive the party endorsement, a candidate must receive 60 percent of the expected 1,400 delegates, or 840. Erin Murphy got a major lift Thursday in her bid for governor by winning the backing of Faith in Minnesota, a progressive religious group that expects to send 132 delegates and 44 alternates to the DFL convention in Rochester this weekend.

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