Minnesota Gubernatorial thread

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

His name is Raymond Thomas Rybak.

[Ban my account ffs!]

Jim Oberstar-DFL from MN CD 8 recently endorsed Tom Rukavina, a fellow 'ranger for governor.  At the moment I'm pulling for Rukavina, but I really doubt he'll take it.

I think the best candidate to win would be R.T Rybak.  Marge is a farm girl.. but she's been plastered as a big city liberal and she's more controversial than Rybak because of her house leadership.

[Kaine for Senate '18]

Why is Entenza disliked?  I don't follow Minnesota politics, and 2006 was before my time, anyway, so could someone fill me in?

[Eraserhead]

Great coverage, Zack.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Why is Entenza disliked?  I don't follow Minnesota politics, and 2006 was before my time, anyway, so could someone fill me in?

http://blogs.citypages.com/blotter/2006/07/entenzahatch_follow_the_money.php

In a nutshell. Later it was revealed that the amount he paid the PI was much higher and he dropped out of the AG race at the last minute. The DFL scrambled to replace him.

Interestingly Mike Hatch probably didn't mind in the end, since it allowed him to serve as the de facto AG for 2 more years by getting one of his proteges nominated and then elected, and then serving on her staff as an "advisor".

[King]

Go Dayton for the Jerry Brown of Minnesota!

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Convention is this weekend.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

So some controversy already: Dayton and Gaertner were denied access to the convention floor.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Rybak just said he'd sign legislation establishing gay marriage at his speech. FF.

[JohnnyLongtorso]

Rybak just said he'd sign legislation establishing gay marriage at his speech. FF.

Could that get through the legislature (and not be subject to a refrendum overturning it or amending the constitution)?

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Rybak just said he'd sign legislation establishing gay marriage at his speech. FF.

Could that get through the legislature

Maybe. It'd be close. Probably could pass the Senate easily though.

(and not be subject to a refrendum overturning it or amending the constitution)?

The only referendums Minnesota has ARE on constitutional amendments which must also be approved by the legislature so...

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

First count:

MAK 365.5 (27.02%)
Rybak 294.5 (21.77%)
Thissen 254.5 (18.82%)
Rukavina 249.5 (18.45%)
Marty 175.5 (12.98%)
Entenza 3.5 (0.26%) (Removed himself from consideration)
Idusogie 3 (0.22%) (Perennial candidate)
No Endorsement 6.5 (0.48%)

[Meeker]

Second ballot:

MAK: 377.5
Rybak: 332
Thissen: 270
Rukavina: 238
Marty: 136

Marty has since dropped out

[Holmes]

How can a candidate get .5 of a vote?

[Хahar 🤔]

How can a candidate get .5 of a vote?

Presumably some delegates have half-votes.

[Meeker]

Third ballot

MAK: 414.5 (30.7%)
Rybak: 370 (27.4%)
Thissen: 295 (21.8%)
Rukavina: 269 (19.9%)

Rukavina technically doesn't have to drop out if my understanding of the rules is correct (the threshold for surviving this ballot was 12%)

[Meeker]

Rukavina drops out, endorses Kelliher, and asks in his concession speech “Wasn’t Jesus a socialist?”

[Meeker]

Fourth ballot (taken before Rukavina dropped)

Kelliher: 437 votes (32.8%)
Rybak: 380.5 (28.6%)
Thissen: 285 (21.4%)
Rukavina: 226 (17%)

Marty's about to speak again. Things are not going in a good direction for Rybak IMO

EDIT: Now Marty isn't speaking. Wonder what happened

[Ban my account ffs!]

Well, the good news for Rybak is that the RenewMN delegates voted to consolidate and there are indications they'll support him.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

How can a candidate get .5 of a vote?

Presumably some delegates have half-votes.

Yah. Basically a way so that some rural counties could send a greater number of actual delegates to have greater proportionality and all but still be accurately represented in the state at large.

Renew.MN voted for Rybak at the top, so that is good news. I'm not giving up hope. Even if MAK wins though, she has my support in the primary certainly.

[Meeker]

He didn't get the 60% required for the reNEW "bloc" vote though. And Marty just endorsed MAK.

Does the convention dispense with the 60% support requirement for endorsement once there are only two candidates left?

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Nope. If it hangs both candidates probably just stick in for the primary.

[Meeker]

I'm hearing MAK 56%, RT 43% for the 6th ballot

I guess now they go to a 7th ballot and see who can retain support?

[Meeker]

This is handy: http://www.isthereadflendorsementyet.com/

There's a motion to hear from both candidates one more time.

[Meeker]

Motion fails; perhaps a sign that MAK's managing to keep her people in line. Now there's some talk about asking the candidates to name their Lt. Governor picks.