Flanagan drops out of state House race

In March Peggy Flanagan battled six-term Rep. Joe Mullery for the Democratic party’s endorsement, successfully preventing the incumbent from receiving the party’s blessing.  The convention stalemate set up an intriguing primary-election showdown in the North Minneapolis district. But Flanagan, a Minneapolis school board member and Wellstone Action organizer, is now dropping out of the race owing to personal concerns, specifically her mother’s health problems. 

"My mom, who I have spoken of often during the campaign, suffers from Fibromyalgia, a disorder defined by widespread, chronic pain," Flanagan wrote to residents in the district recently. "She has recently undergone multiple surgeries as the pain has increasesed, and it has become obvious that her comfort and security will be my priority in the coming year as we search for long-term care options."

Expect to see Flanagan’s name on the ballot down the road, however. "I am fully committed to building a lasting movement for social change, and if the right opportunity presents itself, would welcome the opportunity to run for elected office in the future," she stated in the letter.