Kory Kath: Still weighing decision in Senate District 26 special election

Since local DFLers in Senate District 26 are playing their cards close to the chest about candidates in the January 26 special election, political gossip has been the order of the day. One Facebook friend recommended a former legislator from the 1980s; others have suggested Rep. Patti Fritz, who quashed rumors in a Bluestem Prairie interview. She's staying put in serving her district, which encompasses Faribault, and rural areas of southern Rice County and northern Steele County. 

Remarks in local newspapers' comment section have raised the possibility of former Faribault Mayor Chuck Ackman, who did not seek a fourth term in 2008 when he took a job as southern Minnesota regional outreach director for Senator Klobuchar's office in Rochester. However, the remarks are simply speculation.

However, with Fritz out, DFL hopes and Republican fears have focused on first-term Representative Kory Kath, the Owatonna high school social studies teacher who scored an upset victory against Mayor Tom Kuntz (now a hopeful for the Republican endorsement in the special election). Perhaps the best barometer of that surprise is the low spending in the race. Kath raised and spent slightly less than the Kuntz campaign did; both candidates' receipts and spending remained with the range of the 2006 Ruth v. Muellerleile contest, which incumbent Ruth won with 56.37 percent.

Nor were independent expenditures large in the district. The HRCC spent $1,773.82 for Kuntz, while the MCCL dropped $108.13 in the bucket. The MN AFL CIO spent $1,799.99 on Kath's behalf, and Education Minnesota PAC $118.64. It's a wash and a minor one.

Kath is a proven winner in Owatonna, one of the more conservative areas of the district, and his reasonable, energetic style has earned him many admirers. He serves as the vice-chair of the Minnesota House K-12 Education Policy and Oversight committee.

I reached Representative Kath by phone at his home in Owatonna earlier this afternoon.

"I'm still thinking it over," he said, adding that he's "spending time with his family as we sort out my options" and should announce his decision next week. I could hear Kath's two small children in the background as we spoke.

Kath clearly has a good grasp of the electoral dynamics of the senate district. We discussed the strengths and weaknesses of the announced Republicans, regardless of whom they might face in the general election. Of course, Kath was most familiar with the record of Mayor Tom Kuntz, his opponent in 2008, but he was well versed in those from other areas as well.

Perhaps the most interesting part of this discussion was the role Independence Party candidate Roy Srp would play in the election. I suggested that whomever the DFL and GOP candidates were in the general, the IP probably hoped to build on 2008 U.S. Senate contender Dean Barkley's strong showing in some parts of the district, as well as general frustration with both parties.

I came away impressed with Kath's acumen. Readers can learn all about Kath's voting record in the last session via a rather cumbersome process described here;  interest groups' ratings are available via this link as well. Project Vote Smart lists "key votes" here.

Will he or won't he? He promises to let Bluestem and other media outlets know soon.

Whomever the candidates, this special election should probably prove to be fairly pricey for both parties as they work for what will at best be a symbolic victory for any of the three sides. Since Day is a Republican, a DFL loss will no effect the party's veto-proof majority, nor will a Republican win herald a Tea Party New Deal. The IP would gain a feather in its cap, but no real bargaining power. Interesting times.

Comments

[Archer Dem]

I think it would be bad for us to have Kath run for the senate seat. His seat in the house is more valuable than another seat in the Senate and would be very hard to hold in another special election.

[SD26Chick]

I agree with Archer - and I think Kory knows this and will not run as a result.

[Sally Jo Sorensen]

I'm coming to agree with both of you, especially as I look at the records of the possible Republican contenders. Another strong DFLer could win the senate seat, and Kath will continue his moderate course in the House.

But that decision is up to district DFLers and Kath himself.