Unless Glencoe mayor Randy Wilson makes good on his pre-convention plans to primary the endorsed Republican candidate in Senate District 18, the DFL and Republican field is set to battle over the open seat created by the retirement of popular state senator Steve Dille.
The Hutchinson Leader reports that former state representative and attorney Scott Newman was endorsed yesterday after the third ballot:
Newman won on the third official ballot. On the first ballot, he captured 105 votes, while Dean Mahlstedt received 96, Randy Wilson got 27, and Tim Benoit, 12. Wilson and Benoit dropped out after the first ballot.
To win the endorsement, a candidate needed 60 percent of the votes from the 236 total ballots cast.
On the second ballot, Newman received 131 votes, and Mahlstedt, 105.
On the third ballot, Newman received 139 votes and Mahlsted received 95 votes. Mahlstedt conceded to Newman after the third ballot.
Many observers had thought that Mahlstedt was the "Emmer candidate" in the race since the GOP gubernatorial candidate had appeared at a least one Mahlstedt meet and greets. Mahlstedt posted the following statement on his website:
Scott Newman of Hutchinson won the Republican endorsement on Saturday with enthusiastic support from the SD 18 delegates and alternates. Although the morning agenda stretched well into the afternoon, I believe the time spent and the outcome to be good for McLeod, Meeker and Wright. Newman has very clearly stated his principles and his determination to turn Minnesota back to constitutional government and to cut state spending. These are welcome aims as many of his constituents are suffering from past government actions.
Newman will be our freedom fighter at St Paul. You can count on him to follow through on what he has run on thus far. Congratulations to Mr Newman on his solid campaign and endorsement!
Newman was first elected to the Minnesota House in a December 2003 special election; he retired from the Minnesota House in 2006 to run for judge. He received the Republican endorsement for the judge seat in a sparsely attended convention (27 of 300 delegates) and was defeated in the polls.
SD18 DFLers had earlier endorsed moderate Cokato Democrat Hal Kimball. Kimball issued the following statement about the Newman endorsement:
Hal Kimball, the DFL-endorsed candidate in Senate District 18, released the following statement Saturday evening after the Republican Party endorsed Scott Newman for this fall’s Senate election:
“I congratulate Scott Newman on his victory in the Republican endorsement race and welcome him to this campaign,” Kimball said. “I look forward to a substantive, issues-based conversation about who’s best-suited to carry-on the legacy of constituent-based service Steve Dille provided over the last 24 years.”
I'll post more about this pairing later in the week.
Photos: Former state representative Scott Newman (top); Dori and Hal Kimball (bottom).
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