The Futures Market: Minnesota
What's the Hotline Futures Market? It's our exclusive look at the up-and-comers in every party in every state. You won't a list like this anywhere else. If you've missed a state, check out our archives.
Two of our stars, both of whom got unanimous praise inside their parties, are on a collision course over the AG's office. The Dem House Min Leader made some big strides in his caucus in '04, while the GOP candidate is already being touted as a possible Gov candidate of the future. Dems also have two strong mayors, both of whom are seen as future candidates, while the GOP seems to have the stronger bench in the legislature. [REID WILSON]
The stars we've been watching since '03:
- State House Maj. Leader Erik Paulsen (R): Still in the state house, "I think he's going places," though he has no immediate plans to run.
- State Sen. Chris Gerlach (R): A State Rep when we first met him, he's got "a really good political mind" and "may take a shot" at fed office sometime.
- State Sen. Brian LeClair (R): LeClair "ruffled some feathers" in '05 by criticizing Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R) over the Health Impact Fee. He's seen as "kind of a contrarian" in GOP circles.
- State Rep. Duke Powell (R): Still a member of the House, he's "off the radar" for higher office.
- State Rep. Kurt Zellers (R): Has "a lot of potential," he's "conservative but not scary."
- DFL Chair Mike Erlandson: CoS for Rep. Martin Sabo, an "often-rumored statewide candidate."
- State House Min Leader Matt Entenza (D): Running for AG in '06, picked up 13 seats in '04. "Has a very good shot" at winning after positioning himself "very well."
- State Sen. Mee Moua (D): DNC member, one of the first Hmong electeds in the country, a "tremendous fresh face." "Represents the changing face of" MN, but has "a ways to go before stepping into a more important role."
- State Rep. Katie Sieben (D): Running for State Sen in '06. Comes from an influential political family in MN
- Ex-MN Dean Coordinator Ted Mondale (D): "Obviously a rising star," but has taken a break for a while. After working on transportation issues in the Ventura admin, "my guess is he's not done with politics yet."
And the stars to watch in the future:
- State Rep. Jeff Johnson (R): Running for AG in '06, he's "very likable." If he wins this year, "he could be" Gov "one day."
- State Rep. Laura Brod (R): In only her 2nd term and already in leadership, "has a bright future."
- State Rep. Chris DeLaForest (R): Some think he "could make some noise" statewide.
- St. Cloud Mayor Dave Kleis (R): A former State Sen., he won tough races in MN 06 and could be a future candidate for the Congressional seat. He's "one to keep your eye on."
- Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Ryback (D): After winning a second term in '05, some Dems say he would make an "outstanding" statewide candidate.
- St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman: Despite the fact that his opponent, Mayor Randy Kelly (D), endorsed Pres. Bush in '04, Kelly spent $1M and should have kept the race close. But Coleman's 38-point margin of victory surprised everyone. Sources say that he's definitely got a future.
- State Rep. Maria Ruud (D): A surprise winner in a GOP district, she's "an example of a new breed of elected leaders" and "not a typical political person."
- State Rep. Andy Welty (D): A surprise winner because he just outworked everybody, Welty won his first term in '04 and is now just 23 years old. A possible candidate for Rep. Gil Gutknecht's MN 01 seat in the future. "He's great."
- Minneapolis Councilman Ralph Remington (D): One of the first African Americans elected in the city, he won his first bid for office. "I think he's going places."
Great list, but one potential addition. Sen. Geoff Michel (R-Edina) is a young buck with an eye on the GOP Senate Minority post should current leader Dick Day not return. Day has suggested his departure if Republicans don't take the Senate in '06.
"Ralph Remington: One of the first African Americans elected in the city"
What? Are you kidding?
I guess that Mayor we had from 1993 to 2001 (Sharon Sayles Belton) was elected in another city to run ours.
On the city council, Ralph is the SIXTH African American elected. The others were/are Van White, Sharon Sayles Belton, Brian Herron, Natalie Johnson Lee and Don Samuels.
African American elected in the city?
Well in the legislature there are currently two- the only two in the 201 member legislature are both from Minneapolis. They are Neva Walker and Keith Ellison. Before them there was Greg Gray, Richard Jefferson, Randy Staten and Mr Pleasent.
In the 50's Nellie Stone Johnson was elected to the librairy board, Harry Davies was the DFL candidate for Mayor in 1971 after serving a decade on the elected school board. Speaking of which there are about a dozen African Americans that have served on the elected school board, and a lesser number on the city wide elected library.
Ralph Remington is hardly the first African American elected by the citizens of Minneapolis or a portion of the citizens (as is his office represents one thirteenth of the city).
It's Andy Welti, not Welty and he's all of 25, but he could well be a rising star
You failed to mention Joe Atkins, suburban democrat with high marks and smarts...
Matt Entenza is a lying, power-hungry dweeb. The only reason he has a shot at being AG is because he has used his position, staff and wife's millions to promote himself and curry favor with other legislators. He has about as many enemies within his own caucus as he does supporters.
Welti or Welty - he's gonna lose! Maybe at his next We are Wellstone meeting, someone can explain to him that his pro-baby-killing, anti-gun, pro-tax attitude won't sell in Greater Minnesota for long. Also, the gentleman he beat was suffering from cancer and was unable to be on every doorstep. Good luck to the Honorable Hasbeen Welti.