Buried at the bottom of an Update on summer legislative issues by state senator Scott Newman, R-Hutchinson, we paused at this item:
Rumor mill: There is a rumor floating around out there which I’ve heard a couple of times now that I am considering a run at Collin Peterson’s Congressional District 7 seat. I have no idea how it got started, so I would like to end it. I am not interested in running for Congress and have no intention of doing so. I am very interested in representing you in the Minnesota Senate and have every intention of running for reelection in 2016.
It's not hard to guess why people might speculate about Newman seeking a higher office. Not only is Peterson's 2014 opponent not raising any money for next year, Newman has twice run for positions beyond the state legislature. (As has happened for the past few cycles, the National Republican Congressional Committee is targeting Peterson, since the district voters favor Republican Presidential candidates).
The first during Newman's first rodeo at the state capital. Newman won a special election for the area's House seat, then retired after his first full term to run as an endorsed Republican judicial candidate challenging a Pawlenty appointee. The Star Tribune reported:
Also Tuesday, McLeod County District Judge Michael Savre held a commanding lead over former state legislator Scott Newman in a race that could prove a test of voter reaction to party endorsements of judicial candidates.
Savre, of Glencoe, is a former city attorney for Norwood Young America who was appointed by Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty in 2004. Nonetheless, Newman sought and received the Republican Party's backing for his campaign against Savre.
Later, Newman returned to the capitol as a state senator, then jumped into the race for Attorney General, one day before the Republican state endorsing convention. He lost the state race to incumbent attorney general Lori Swanson, narrowly losing in MN07 (45.90% to Swanson's 46.04%).
At least no one's floating his name as a candidate for John Kline's seat in MN02.
Photo: Scott Newman.
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