Mike Mullen//June 3, 2014
1) State Sen. Julianne Ortman left the GOP field for US Senate on Monday after handily losing the party endorsement over the weekend to businessman Mike McFadden.
Ortman exited the endorsing contest after the fifth ballot on Friday despite predictions that she was the frontrunner in the race. What looked like a non-endorsement that drew out the process over the course of two days fueled speculation that Ortman would have another shot at a primary, but she conceded on Monday.
“I encourage the Republican Party of Minnesota and its members to engage and assist women candidates and diverse candidates to run for office,” Ortman said in a statement. “Our campaign efforts in the next few months should stretch the Republican Tent as far and wide as possible.”
2) Lawmakers from both major parties attempted to keep the momentum from their conventions over the weekend going with campaign events on Monday, the Pioneer Press reports.
The four-way Republican primary for governor, the first serious contest in two decades, is the most competitive race after state Sen. Julianne Ortman’s exit from the US Senate contest. While Republicans took aim at Democrats, the DFL on Monday hit highlights of their two years in control of state government including investments in education and a more progressive tax system.
3) By early Tuesday, with just a few hours left before the deadline for candidate filings, four incumbent lawmakers hadn’t registered for re-election.
Those lawmakers were tabulated by Gary Carlson and include: Reps. Roger Erickson (DFL-Baudette), Joe Schomacker (R-Luverne), Rod Hamilton (R-Mountain Lake) and Sarah Anderson (R-Plymouth).
COMINGS & GOINGS