A reliable source here in Minnesota's Seventh Congressional District tells Bluestem that residents were getting phone calls last week asking who they would favor to represent the district in the U.S. House: Collin Peterson, Lee Byberg, or Gretchen Hoffman.
Seventh District Republicans endorsed Byberg on the first ballot at their convention at the end of March. The Morris Sun reported in Lee Byberg wins GOP endorsement in District 7:
Candidates for endorsement must receive at least 60 percent of the ballot to win. In Alexandria on Saturday, Byberg won on the first ballot, exceeding the requirement by a significant margin, according to party leaders. The precise vote total was not publicly revealed.
“Gretchen Hoffman ran a great race, and I know she has a bright future in politics,” Byberg said.
Both candidates pledged to abide by the endorsement and forego a primary challenge.
It's unclear who is making the calls, since the voters getting them didn't think to ask. Could Gretchen Hoffman be having second thoughts? Or are the calls from frustrated music lovers dismayed by the choice of both male song birds?
Bluestem disclosed yesterday that Hoffman ended March with a tidy sum in her campaign committee's bank account, compared to dueling elephants in Minnesota's First--though tiny compared to Blue Dog Peterson. However, another endorsement battle is probably a nightmare for the beleaguered state party.
Do you live in the Seventh and have you received a call from the mystery pollster? Leave a comment or drop us a line.
Photo: Senator Gretchen Hoffman. Hoffman was placed in the same district as veteran state senator Bill Ingebrigtsen and chose to run for congress instead.
Related post: Kvetchin' Gretchen's congressional war chest; or, a modest proposal for settling scores in So. MN
Comments