In Senate District 18, local Republican extremists forced our popular, moderate Republican state senator, Steve Dille, into retiring after they decided he's too moderate. Four Republican candidates met at a forum on Thursday to compete in the race to the right. A fifth candidate is rumored to be getting into the race.
Kimball hopes to appeal to the DFL base, swing voters, and moderate Republican voters turned off by the increasing radicalization of the party's base. He was endorsed by acclamation by the assembled delegates.
Kimball ran in 2006 against Dille, who swept the race. Not so much because of party label, but because he works hard at serving the district and responds to citizen contact. I know each time I've called his office about a concern, he's always gotten back to me with a call, most recently last week. We disagree on some things, but he's always respectful and civil to people in his district.
The endorsing convention also gave the nod to the sunny-tempered and energetic Darrin Anderson who is seeking the House 18B seat now held by Rep. Dean Urdahl. While there are rumors that some ultra-conservatives in the district are unhappy with Urdahl, no Republican challenger has emerged.
On the A side of the district, 2008 DFL challenger Eric Angvall is strongly considering running again, but was not prepared to ask for the endorsement yesterday.
Because delegates to the CD and state DFL conventions are chosen at the Meeker and McLeod County conventions, and the CU18 (a portion of western Wright County), no additional gubernatorial delegate count came out of this convention.
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