Before we get to Franken in 2020, we have two big elections in MN in 2018 (well, four, if we include AG and Secretary of State). Senator Amy Klobuchar is up for reelection, and this could be our last chance at beating her before she runs for president. And the gubernatorial election is huge as well, since even if we hold both houses of the MN legislature a Democrat governor could veto a GOP-approved redustricting plan. (MN will lose a U.S. House seat at the 2020 Census, so redistricting will see major changes, and a 5R, 2D congressional map is eminently achievable if we control both houses of the state legislature and the governorship.)
So who will be our candidates for the U.S. Senate and governorship in 2018? Congressman Erik Paulsen would be ideal for either race, but he’s shied away from statewide races before (he would have beaten Frankin in 2014 had he run), and taking on Klobuchar would be riskier than running against Franken in 2014 would have been. Could he be prodded to run?
And what about a Pawlenty comeback? He’s definitely young enough, and a return to the governorship could be attractive.
Any other good candidates? We need our A team for those two races (and B.A. and Face are not available).
Sadly we don’t have much of a bench in MN, NO statewide offices. Ugh. We need people for those lower offices too,
Has T-Paw expressed any interest in a comeback? T-Paw was running for the Senate in 2002 when Cheney convinced him and Coleman to switch races, maybe he’d be more interested in a Senate bid?
I’m not optimistic about Klobuchar but we gots to get that Governorship.
Rat Rep. Nolan might run for Governor, helping us win his seat. But I believe under their convention system he could lose the rat endorsement and withdraw and still run for reelection the House.
Article on potential candidates
https://www.mprnews.org/story/2016/11/21/minnesota-governor-election-2018
Mentions the State House Speaker Kurt Daudt.
And apparently the Sheriff of Hennepin County is a Republican somehow, Rich Stanek.