Former House Speaker Kurt Zellers, standing in the lobby of the Mayo Civic Center as GOP candidates and harried staffers swirled among delegates, affirmed that he's not seeking the GOP's endorsement for the governor's race.

In the days leading up to a contentious Republican primary contest last year between Connie Doepke and Dave Osmek for a Senate seat in the western suburbs, Americans for Prosperity Minnesota circulated a mailing. Doepke went on to lose the election by just 107 votes.

David Osmek narrowly prevailed in the state’s most contentious legislative contest.

Despite a deadlocked endorsing convention, Jerry Hertaus is the lone GOP candidate for one of the safest Republican House seats in Minnesota.