Steve Kelley

U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum is backing former state Sen. Steve Kelley for governor, according to Kelley, who formally announced his candidacy Monday.

“Is the door closed? No it’s not,” State Sen. Terri Bonoff said to Minnesota Public Radio’s Polinaut yesterday, clarifying what the DFLer told the Minnesota Independent last week about another run for Congress in the Third District: “The door is open.” U.S. Rep. Erik Paulsen’s fellow Republicans at Minnesota Democrats Exposed jumped on the news: “Bonoff [...]

With shipments heading to both coasts, it was a good weekend for Minnesota’s leading export: rightwing political rhetoric. In California, a conservative group took delivery of a 36-minute speech from Gov. Tim Pawlenty. (Note to Customer Service: T-Paw’s speech was “too long” but those who heard him said they “still didn’t know a lot about [...]

A Democrat hasn’t been elected governor in Minnesota since 1986. If that trend continues in 2010 it certainly won’t be for a lack of qualified candidates. Currently nine DFLers have announced their intention to seek the state’s top office, with a few others still mulling a run. On Tuesday seven of the challengers showed up [...]

She likes to kayak in Lake Superior. She’s been in a same-sex partnership for 22 years. And now Rev. Bonnie Perry, a Chicago rector, is one of three nominees to be Minnesota’s next Episcopal bishop. If she lands the job, her moving van would cross Wisconsin, which yesterday made domestic partnerships legal for gay couples.
Elsewhere [...]

Late results of a very early straw poll in the race for DFL governor show state Sen. John Marty slightly ahead of former U.S. Sen. Mark Dayton for the lead, with Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak and St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman running neck-and-neck close behind. The number of DFL gubernatorial candidates (and near-candidates) who gathered [...]

Five Democrats running for governor have agreed to abide by the party’s nominating process, reports Eric Black at MinnPost, but several others — including some well-funded presumptive front-runners — won’t make such a promise.

Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s announced plans to axe state refunds for political contributions of $50 or less has set off an email stampede as candidates urge donors to give before the program dies July 1.

Only one thing is certain about the 2010 gubernatorial contest: It will be crowded field. Some three dozen politicians are thinking about climbing into the race. Here’s a look at the crop of DFL contenders.