Dayton snags Iron Range endorsement, solidifies influence in region

"The Emergence of Man Through Steel" in Chisholm. Source: pmarkham

The Mesabi Daily News endorsed Mark Dayton for the DFL nomination for governor this weekend, giving Dayton yet another advantage in an important corner of the state for DFL politics.

The MDN cites Dayton’s commitment to jobs, and service as a member of the administration of Gov. Rudy Perpich, who hails from the Iron Range.

But the editorial also addresses the touchy issue of mining — the region’s historical bread and butter – calling out Margaret Anderson Kelliher and Matt Entenza for “anti-jobs” and “anti-Iron Range” votes that complicated the opening the Mesabi Nugget plant in 2005, which MDN points out was championed by Dayton’s running mate, Sen. Yvonne Prettner Solon.

The endorsement came right before a DFL debate Sunday, where all three candidates were critical of mining; each candidate refused to say whether they support the controversial PolyMet project, a non-ferrous mine currently facing permitting. Instead, they talked about the need to balance environmental concerns with economic development. Only Kelliher tipped a hat to Iron Range complaints that the permitting process takes too long: “I think our laws are strong in the state of Minnesota but I think this permitting process has been bungled by the DNR, been bungled by the administration.”

Dayton has already received the endorsement from the United Steelworkers of America, an organizing powerhouse on the Range. He’s got a long history there and knows how important the region can be to DFL politics (he hired an Iron Range field director). The region is economically liberal and socially conservative, but the union influence has helped maintain it as a DFL stronghold that typically has turnouts higher than any other region of the state, giving Rangers an outsize influence in primaries. In 2006, the Iron Range primary voting rate was three times the state average.

This editorial endorsement helps solidify Dayton’s longtime support in the region (although it’s important to note that many of the region’s legislators are backing Kelliher, including Rep. Tom Rukavina, Rep. Tom Anzelc and likely incoming House Speaker Rep. Tony Sertich).

[Disclosure: I covered the Minnesota legislature for the company that owns MDN, American Consolidated Media, for the last two years].