urbanMSP

Rebecca Otto may run for Governor. Apparently Dayton and Carlson were also State Auditors turned Governors?

Rebecca Otto may run for Governor. Apparently Dayton and Carlson were also State Auditors turned Governors?

They were, but Dayton also served in the Senate in between.

Granted, he was also named one of America's worst senators.

Walz could potentially be a good governor, but it would involve the Democrats sacrificing that house seat, in all likelihood.

Probably, but idk. If 2018 is enough of a wave election to actually flip the House, the MN-1 will probably go with it. And if it's not... keeping the Governor's mansion in Dem hands through 2022 is more important than one minority seat in the House.

To nobody's surprise...Coleman is in.

http://www.startribune.com/next-governo ... 406292046/

Does anyone else feel like he is exactly the wrong kind of DFL candidate in the current political climate?

Yes. Hope he doesn't make it very far.

When would he be a good candidate? He seems underwhelming on all fronts.

He wouldn't be a good candidate. A bland big city dfler with an easily demagogued record would lose. If Emmer hadn't sought more lenient drunk driving punishment as a legislator or committed a horrible minimum wage gaff, he would have likely beaten Dayton in a more dfl friendly 2010 race. Dayton had eight years of Pawlenty and a horrible fiscal situation to run against. Coleman's appeal and message are...? He could argue the state has let homeowners down though that would be more effectively done by a candidate from rural Minnesota.

When I think of Chris Coleman, I think of disappearing during the biggest event your city has ever seen, so you can't be responsible for the atrocities taking place at the hands of your city employees. Remember "Weaponized Urine" claim during the RNC?

I hope he doesn't crowd out Erin Murphy, causing an early exit for her. Not that she's perfect or even great, but she certainly gives the DFL a better chance than Coleman or Tina Smith. It's absurd that people are announcing for this race already... we are still months away from caucuses for the 2017 municipal races and the 2018 governor's race is already heating up. I'm guessing Daudt will announce after the session is over in May.

https://www.minnpost.com/community-voic ... nor-s-race

Klobuchar's people are getting the word out.

Of the candidates mentioned so far, I think Klobuchar is probably the best. High approval ratings statewide, broad respect from her Senate colleagues, and it dovetails nicely with her quite obvious presidential ambitions.

Would she clear the field? I can't imagine Coleman wanting to be in the Senate.

She'd be up for re-election to the Senate in 2018 too. If she's truly interested in running for President in 2020, I don't think serving as Governor for 2 years helps her that much. I think she'll likely face an easier opponent running for Senate again. For Governor, the GOP candidates are more likely to be well known. Look at the past two GOP Senate candidates...Kurt Bills and Mike McFadden...whoops. Who'd run for Senate? David Hann? Keith Downey? Another wealthy person with zero government experience?

I guess I don't see how running for a different job and then serving two years as Governor helps her run for President. If Klobuchar gets in the Governor's race and wins, I think she keeps the job and puts her Presidential ambitions aside.

It's not about the presidency in 2020, it's the VP slot or 2024.

She wants executive experience and that's what the governor's mansion would give her. Either way, she'll have just gotten (re)elected in 2018 and then need to immediately start campaigning.

But as for our state, I think Klobuchar probably provides us with the best chance of retaining the executive branch. Unless Don Ness decides to run. I think Klobuchar is a lackluster moderate that treats her staff terribly, but at least she'd prevent MN from becoming under unified GOP rule.

I (already) forgot about Don Ness. That would be awesome if he got in the Gov race. Or fellow Duluthian, Roger Reinert.

I'd totally go for Don Ness. If Klobuchar runs a lot of people are going to be holding noses. But they will because they understand what's at stake.

We have to hold the Governor's office for redistricting purposes.

There might be a lot of people at the caucuses who wouldn't be happy voting for Klobuchar, but that's just another reminder that they're not at all representative of the general election voting population.