Politics & Government

DFL Endorsement for Second Congressional District To Be Decided Saturday

Second Congressional District DFLers will gather at the Rosemount High School on Saturday to select their nominee to challenge Republican incumbent John Kline in the November elections.

Second Congressional District DFLers will gather at  on Saturday to select their nominee to challenge Republican incumbent John Kline in the November elections.

Kline from Republicans at the GOP convention at Shakopee Junior High School last week. But thanks to February's court-panel redistricting of Minnesota, Kline in a second district that now includes DFL-leaning portions of northern Dakota County, as well as southern Washington County, and doesn't include Republican strongholds such as Carver County.

for this Saturday's DFL endorsement include: 

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  • , Dakota County Commissioner and former mayor of South St. Paul;
  • of Eagan, a former legislator;  
  • , a member of the Northfield City Council.

Gaylord, an attorney, is in her third term as Dakota County Commissioner, having been elected in 2002 and re-elected in 2006 and 2010. In 2006 and 2009, she was elected Dakota County Board Chair and is the current Vice Chair.

"It’s time for new representation in the new 2nd Congressional District," Gaylord said in a statement after filing. "Voters of all political persuasions are fed up with elected officials who put partisanship ahead of progress. They want common sense government instead of governance by the lowest common denominator." 

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Patrick Ganey is a second-year Northfield city councilor who dropped out of the Minnesota Senate District 20B House race to seek the DFL's endorsement for Minnesota's 2nd Congressional District.

"I am announcing that I will seek the DFL endorsement to represent Minnesota’s 2nd Congressional district in the United States House of Representatives," Ganey said in a March press release. "Many of the issues that affect our lives are a result of decisions made in Washington, DC, and strong representation will benefit the citizens in this district.  Residents and businesses will benefit from a representative who will listen to local concerns and advocate for policies that strengthen our community, state, and nation."

Obermueller is an attorney in Eagan and a former State Representative.

"We basically lost a decade of prosperity and progress in this district," said Obermueller regarding his intent to seek Kline’s seat.

For years, Kline has been as safe a bet during election season as anyone, churning out double-digit election wins every cycle.

But the new second district now includes DFL-leaning portions of northern Dakota County, as well as southern Washington County, and doesn't include Republican strongholds such as Carver County.

"The district got some better demographics for us (in redistricting)," Obermueller told the Star Tribune. "We have a popular president and a congressman whose voting record doesn't match the district very well, and so there's an opportunity here to take him out."

Patch will be blogging live from the CD2 convention Saturday morning beginning shortly before 10:30 a.m. You can join in the conversation or simply monitor the results as they happen to find out who wins the DFL endorsement in the congressional race.


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