Madia widens lead for 3rd District endorsement

Attorney Ashwin Madia picked up 32 of 49 delegates up for grabs Saturday, to widen his lead over State Sen. Terri Bonoff, DFL-Minnetonka, in the race for the DFL’s Congressional endorsement in Minnesota’s 3rd District.

Madia now holds 82.5 of the 124.5 named delegates to the DFL’s 3rd District convention. Bonoff trails with 63. The remaining delegates are split between uncommitted voters and supporters of Edina Mayor Jim Hovland, who suspended his campaign this week.

“I am humbled and honored by the great trust people across the district have placed in me, but I know ultimately this growing movement for change isn’t about a political candidate,” said Madia in a statement. “It’s about the people who believe America can do better and are willing to work hard to help our nation live up to its ideals again.”

Ken Sanguin, campaign manager for Bonoff, said the race was “far from over,” noting that Madia will have to get the vote of 60 percent of delegates at the district convention.

“This election is too important and we are confident that when the dust settles, and the delegates have a chance to spend more time talking to both candidates, Terri will be their choice,” said Sanguin in a statement.

Madia won the majority of delegates in all but one of today’s six Senate district conventions, splitting Senate District 45 evenly with Bonoff, one delegate apiece.

Madia and Bonoff are competing to run against State Rep. Erik Paulsen, R-Eden Prairie, for the Congressional seat that will be vacated by the retiring Rep. Jim Ramstad, R-Minn.