With another blizzard and polar vortex bearing down on West Central Minnesota, the Twin Cities-based Minnesota Tea Party Alliance has wisely postponed the rally planned for Monday night, although the Tea Party candidates it favors among the ranks of Republican candidates in local house districts continue to break into the news.
The West Central Tribune reports in Willmar businessman Baker announces House bid:
Calling himself a “moderate,” Willmar businessman Dave Baker said Friday he intends to challenge Rep. Mary Sawatzky, DFL-Willmar, this fall in the House District 17B race. . . .
. . . He may have some competition winning the GOP endorsement at the March 8 Kandiyohi County Republican convention in Willmar.
The Minnesota Tea Party Alliance announced this month that Linda Kacher, of Willmar, was a candidate for the District 17B race and would be speaking at a Tea Party rally here. A rescheduled date has yet to be set for that rally after organizers cancelled due to weather.
When reached at her home Friday night, Kacher would only say that she was not ready to make a statement regarding her potential run in the race.
Sources tell Bluestem that the Republican House Caucus campaign recruited retired Clara City teacher and basketball coach Gary Nelson to challenge farmer Andrew Falk (DFL-Murdock) in HD17A, the more rural House district in Senate District, as it has been seeking electable candidates.
The Draz, however, supports Miller, sources tell us. Miller lost to Falk in 2012.
The Electables vs. the Tea Party?
What our sources tell us about this district close to home mirrors internal quarrels within the Republican party that have been made public across the state.
On Tuesday, House Minority Leader Kurt Daudt was threatened with a "No Confidence" vote by Republican Senate District 31; Minnesota Tea Party Alliance leader and GOP BPOU part officer Jack Rogers and other local Republicans planned a vote of 'no confidence' in MN House Minority Leader.
By the time the meeting convened, the vote was off the table, Rachel Stassen-Berger reported in GOP House leader Daudt faced down a planned 'no confidence' vote.
In the Alexandria area, two-term incumbent legislator Mary Franson is being challenged by Tea Party organizer and Republican activist Sue Nelson over Franson's support for legalizing industrial hemp and willingness last spring to entertain supporting civil unions for LGBT couples. Franson voted against the freedom to marry.
Will other Republican incumbents and candidates recruited by the caucus face challenges from the Tea Party on the right? Can the Tea Party formula that brought North StarTea Party co-founder Cindy Pugh (R-Chanhassen) to the state capitol return the Minnesota House of Representatives to Republican control?
Image: The banner for Monday's cancelled Tea Party rally in Willmar.
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