Wednesday, October 07, 2015

GOP needs more than 2 in 2

To be honest, I have been underwhelmed by the Republican candidates who are vying to replace Congressman John Kline in Minnesota's 2nd Congressional District (Kline announced last month he is not running in 2016). Before Wednesday, said candidates consisted of libertarian Republican David Gerson and former MN state senator John Howe.

Gerson has the makings of a perpetual candidate, having lost the GOP endorsement in 2012 while running in CD5 and in 2014 while vying for the CD2 nod. Upon his 2012 defeat in CD5, he chose to run in the GOP primary in CD2. He was trounced by incumbent Kline.

Howe lost his reelection bid for MN State Senate in 2012 and then was defeated for the GOP endorsement in the 2014 Secretary of State race.

Given the DFL has some well funded candidates in CD2 combined with the fact the Democrat presidential candidate garnered the majority of the votes in that district in 2008 and 2012, the Republicans desperately needed to step up their game.

This is a step in the right direction.

A third Republican candidate entered the race to succeed retiring Rep. John Kline Wednesday.

Pam Myhra, a two-term lawmaker who was Marty Seifert’s pick for lieutenant governor in the 2014 primary, said she’s the most electable Republican in the race to replace retiring Rep. John Kline — a race that’s expected to be one of the most competitive in the country.

“One of the distinctions between me and the other people who have either announced or are strongly considering it, is I won in the last presidential election,” Myhra said, referring to her 2012 state House victory over DFL candidate David Jensen. “Whereas none of the others either were running or won their elections.”

If it remains these three candidates, it's a good bet that Myhra wins the endorsement. I can't imagine Gerson and Howe not abiding, but we'll have to wait and see.

What would really blow this race out of the water would be the entrance of former right-wing radio host Jason Lewis, who is also said to be contemplating a run. As we've seen on the national scale in the GOP presidential race, a big name person with no electoral experience whatsoever is seemingly more attractive as a candidate.

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