Legislators are picking sides in the Republican governor's race.
On Wednesday both Republicans Marty Seifert, a former House minority leader from Marshall, and Jeff Johnson, a Hennepin County Commissioner released lists of lawmakers who have their backs.
Former House Speaker Kurt Zellers, who currently represents Maple Grove in the House, announced a list of current and former lawmakers in his corner two weeks ago. The three will face off against each other and businessman Scott Honour, the only one of the quartet who has not served in the Legislature, in an August primary.
Johnson's list of lawmaker-supporters is the longest, which stands to reason because he is the Republican Party's endorsed candidate for governor. Partisans are encouraged to back the candidate the party backs.
Supporters released by the Johnson campaign on Wednesday:
- "Senator Michelle Benson (Ham Lake), Co-Chair, Jeff Johnson for Governor
- Senator Roger Chamberlain (Lino Lakes)
- Senator Paul Gazelka (Nisswa)
- Senator Dan Hall (Burnsville)
- Senator David Hann (Eden Prairie), Senate Republican Leader
- Senator Mary Kiffmeyer (Big Lake)
- Senator Scott Newman (Hutchinson)
- Senator Sean Nienow (Cambridge)
- Senator David Osmek (Mound)
- Senator Branden Petersen (Andover)
- Senator David Senjem (Rochester)
- Senator Dave Thompson (Lakeville)
- Representative Sarah Anderson (Plymouth)
- Representative Mike Benson (Rochester)
- Representative Kurt Daudt (Crown), House Republican Leader
- Representative Steve Drazkowski (Mazeppa)
- Representative Sondra Erickson (Princeton)
- Representative David FitzSimmons (Albertville)
- Representative Glenn Gruenhagen (Glencoe)
- Representative Jerry Hertaus (Greenfield)
- Representative Ron Kresha (Little Falls)
- Representative Jim Newberger (Becker)
- Representative Joyce Peppin (Rogers)
- Representative Cindy Pugh (Chanhassen)
- Representative Duane Quam (Byron)
- Representative Linda Runbeck (Circle Pines)
- Representative Mark Uglem (Champlin)
- Representative Anna Wills (Apple Valley)
Former Republican legislators endorsing Johnson include:
- Senator William Belanger (Bloomington)
- Representative Fran Bradley (Rochester)
- Representative Ray Cox (Northfield)
- Representative Randy Demmer (Hayfield)
- Senator Steve Dille (Dassel)
- Senator David Gaither (Plymouth)
- Representative & U.S. Congressman Gil Gutknecht (Rochester)
- Senator John Howe (Red Wing)
- Senator Gary Laidig (Stillwater)
- Senator Lyle Mehrkens (Red Wing)
- Representative Michelle Rifenberg (La Crescent)
- Representative Connie Ruth (Owatonna)
- Representative Char Samuelson (New Brighton)
- Representative & MN Commissioner of Education Alice Seagren (Bloomington)
- House Speaker Steve Sviggum (Kenyon), Co-Chair, Jeff Johnson for Governor
- Representative John Tuma (Northfield)"
Supporters released by the Seifert campaign on Wednesday:
- "Sen. Julie Rosen (R-Fairmont)
- Rep. Bob Gunther (R-Fairmont)
- Rep. Tony Cornish (R-Good Thunder)
- Rep. Kelby Woodard (R-Belle Plaine)
- Former Rep. Howard Swenson (R-Nicollet)
- Former Rep. Julie Storm (R-St. Peter)
- Former Sen. Mark Piepho (R-Mankato)
Previously Announced
- Sen. Bill Ingebrigtsen (R-Alexandria)
- Sen. Gary Dahms (R-Redwood Falls)
- Rep. Bob Dettmer (R-Forest Lake)
- Rep. Chris Swedzinski (R-Ghent)
- Rep. Paul Torkelson (R-Hanska)
- Rep. Bud Nornes (R-Fergus Falls)
- Former Rep. Dennis Poppenhagen (IR-Detroit Lakes)
- Former Rep. George Cassell (R-Alexandria)
- Former Rep. Bob Westfall (R-Rothsay)
- Former Rep. Greg Blaine (R-Little Falls)
- Former Rep. Mike LeMieur (R-Little Falls)
- Former Rep. Judy Soderstrom (R-Mora)
- Former Rep. Dale Walz (R-Baxter)
- Former Sen. Dan Stevens (R-Mora)"
Seifert's campaign said more lawmaker support is coming.
"Marty Seifert's campaign for governor has locally announced several legislative endorsements from current and former legislators over the last week and will continue to do so for the next 10 days," it said in a news release.
Honour, who has not released a list of his legislative supporters, took a whack at his rivals through his campaign's Twitter account.
Photo: Minnesota Capitol/Source: Rachel E. Stassen-Berger
Updates: The word "pressured" regarding the expectation that partisan support party-backed candidate has been changed to "encouraged."
The HonourHousley tweet has also been added.
