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Minnesota
Governor
| MINNESOTA |
Nov. 2,
2010 Governor |
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Plurality: 8,770 votes (0.42 percentage points).
MN
Secretary of State -Elections
DEMOCRATIC PICK UP Notes: On June 2, 2009 Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R), who was subject of some speculation about his national ambitions, ruled out seeking a third term (>), creating an open seat. Former U.S. Sen. Mark Dayton (DFL) eked out a narrow 8,770-vote (0.42 percentage point) win over state Rep. Tom Emmer (R) and PR consultant Tom Horner (IP). The race went to a recount and was not settled until Dec. 8 when the results were certified and Emmer conceded. Dayton, a member of the family that founded the Dayton's department stores, brought a lengthy political resume to the campaign including service as an aide to Sen. Walter Mondale and to Gov. Rudy Perpich, an unsuccessful campaign for U.S. Senate in 1982, a term as Auditor of Minnesota from 1991-95, an unsuccessful campaign for governor in 1998, and finally election to the U.S. Senate in 2000. However, he opted not to seek re-election in 2006. In Jan. 2009 Dayton launched his gubernatorial campaign. He opted to skip the caucus/convention process and go to the Aug. 10 primary. On May 24, 2010 he announced state Sen. Yvonne Prettner Solon as his running mate. Meawhile, on Apr. 24 the DFL State Convention in Duluth endorsed State House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher after Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak withdrew. Kelliher then went into the primary contest with Dayton and former State House Minority Leader Matt Entenza. Dayton won the Aug. 10 primary by 41.3% to 39.8% for Kelliher and 18.2% for Entenza. Emmer, an attorney from Delano, was elected to the Minnesota House in 2004, and re-elected in 2006 and 2008. He announced his candidacy for governor in July 2009. On Apr. 27, 2010 Emmer announced Metropolitan Council member Annette Meeks as his running mate (>), and on Apr. 29 he won the party's endorsement at the state Convention in Minneapolis, defeating state Rep. Marty Seifert. Horner, the Independence Party standard-bearer, worked as principal and chairman of Himle Horner Inc, a public relations and public affairs firm, after four years as a vice president at Hill & Knowlton. He served as chief of staff and communications director to U.S. Sen. Dave Durenberger from 1978-1985. Horner, introduced by Durenberger, announced his candidacy on May 4, 2010 (>), and received the Independence Party's endorsement on May 8. On May 31 he announced Jim Mulder, former executive director of the Association of Minnesota Counties, as his running mate. Following the Aug. 10 primary, the three major candidates engaged in more than 20 debates (>)! Horner received many newspaper endorsements, including the backing of the Star Tribune, the state's largest paper. Other endorsements included former Gov. Arne Carlson (R, 1991-99) on Sept. 13 and former Gov. Jesse Ventura (Ref., 1999-2003) on Oct. 22. Support from prominent DFLers was sparse, the most prominent being attorney Mike Ceresi, a former U.S. Senate candidate, on Oct. 19. In a post-election article, Horner observed that "2010 was a year in which the stars seemed aligned in favor of the IP," but he was only able to obtain just shy of 12-percent of the vote. He pointed to lack of resources (money), and a solid base of support for and effective campaign by Dayton as reasons for falling short. Rounding out the field, candidates from the Grassroots, Green, Ecology Democracy, and Resource Party tallied 1.14-percent of the vote. The 0.46-percent margin was the second closest result in a governor's race in Minnesota history. Campaign Managers: Mark Dayton: Dana Anderson (Aug. 2009) Experience includes state scheduler to Sen. Dayton 2000-06. B.S. in English literature/mass communications from Minnesota State University, Mankato, 2000. Tom Emmer: Cullen Sheehan (announced Aug. 8, 2010) Leave of absence from position as chief of staff of the Minnesota Senate Republican Caucus, started there Jan. 2010. Regional political director at the RNC, May 2009-Jan. 2010. Campaign manager on Sen. Norm Coleman's 2008 re-election and recount, Jan. 2007-Apr. 2009. Executive director of the Iowa Republican Party, Feb. 2005-Jan. 2007. Campaign manager on Michels for US Senate (WI), July 2003-Dec. 2004. Political director on Coleman for U.S. Senate, Mar. 2001-Dec. 2002. Project manager at Arena Communications, Jan.-Dec. 2000. Studied political science, public administration at St. Mary's University of Minnesota. Tom Horner: Stephen Imholte (source: Minnesota Lawyer) Most recently had been out of politics working for a Catholic charity and earlier for a landscaping business. Worked for two year for Gov. Arne Carlson. Political director for the Republican Party of Wisconsin. Ran for state Senate in 1980. Grew up in Detroit Lakes in a Republican family. . See also: Tom Sheck and Elizabeth Dunbar. "Mark Dayton declared winner, finally." MPR, Dec. 8, 2010. Tom Horner. "In the end, voters feared other candidacies more than they favored mine." MPR, Nov. 15, 2010. Jay Weiner. "The Independence Party: After Horner, what's next?" MinnPost, Nov. 3, 2010. Doug Grow. "Can Horner capitalize on spate of newspaper endorsements?" MinnPost, Oct. 18, 2010. Devin Dwyer. "Third Party Candidate Surges in Minnesota Governor's Race." ABC News, Oct. 4, 2010. Paul Demko. "Horner's campaign has gained momentum, but can he keep it going?" Minnesota Lawyer, Sept. 22, 2010. Steve Perry. "Horner picks former Minnesota counties exec Mulder as running mate." Minnesota Lawyer, June 1, 2010. Tim Pugmire. "Dayton picks state Sen Prettner Solon as running mate." MPR, May 24, 2010. Bill Salisbury. "Emmer wins GOP endorsement for governor." Pioneer Press, Apr. 29, 2010. Tom Scheck. "Emmer picks Annette Meeks as running mate." MPR, Apr. 27, 2010. Doug Grow. "With primary battle ahead, DFL-endorsed candidate Margaret Anderson Kelliher has no time to celebrate." MinnPost, Apr. 26, 2010. Minnesota Historical Election Archive - published by the University of Minnesota Libraries Publishing and curated by Dr. Eric J. Ostermeier. |
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