Minnesota Lawyer
Sen. Julianne Ortman announced her candidacy for U.S. Senate at City Square Park in Waconia. (Staff photo Peter Bartz-Gallagher)
State Sen. Julianne Ortman, R-Chanhassen, announced her campaign for U.S. Senate Saturday morning at an event in Waconia. Surrounded by supporters, Ortman said she would be “a stronger advocate for Minnesota and a guardian of the public’s trust, with a stronger connection to real Minnesotans.”
Ortman joins Mike McFadden and State Rep. Jim Abeler in vying for the GOP nomination to run against DFL first-term U.S. Sen. Al Franken. None of the candidates have ruled out running in a primary if they don’t win the Republican Party’s endorsement.
Ortman, an attorney, is serving her fourth term in the Minnesota Senate. She chaired the Taxes committee when Republicans held legislative majorities in 2011 and 2012.
Ortman’s announcement was met with immediate response from the Minnesota DFL. Chair Ken Martin criticized Ortman’s candidacy in a written statement, saying “Minnesotans won’t forget that it was Ortman who led the charge to cut property taxes for big corporations while raising property taxes for middle-class families.”
