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Minnesota: District Parties Back Preferred Candidates

Graves announced he will see a rematch against Bachmann, above. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)
Graves announced he will see a rematch against Bachmann, above. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)
By Abby Livingston
Posted April 17, 2012 at 12:04am

Minnesota’s Democrats and Republicans endorsed candidates for the fall over the weekend at district-level party conventions.

GOP Reps. Michele Bachmann and Erik Paulsen easily picked up their party’s endorsements for their re-elections.

Democrats endorsed their prospective challengers against those incumbents, as well. A Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party endorsement does not mean one gets the nomination. A primary will be held Aug. 14. What the endorsement does mean is that a candidate benefits from the prestige and resources of the state party.

The state party endorsed hotel chain CEO Jim Graves to challenge Bachmann (R) in the 6th district race. Though Bachmann sweated out a close race in 2008, redistricting boosted the Republican vote in her district.

The other challenger Democrats endorsed was businessman and veteran Brian Barnes. He is running against Paulsen in the 3rd district.

In the 5th district, the GOP nominated retired Marine Corps officer Chris Fields to challenge Rep. Keith Ellison (D) in the fall. It is widely assumed this seat will stay in Democratic hands.

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