The GOP Ticket in 2010

[This story first appeared in the 7 November 2008 issue of the PIM Weekly Report.]

I’ve speculated in the past
about Democrats looking to run for Governor in 2010. Now it’s time to
turn to the gubernatorial speculation among Republicans, who, by the
way, are incredibly eager to move on to the next election, given what
happenedin 2008.

First things first. Will GOP Gov. Tim Pawlenty run for a
third term? I don’t know, and I’m betting the Governor, himself,
doesn’t know. So much will happen between now and 2010, not the least
of which is another biannual budget to be crafted in a big budget
deficit environment. Could be the Governor comes out as big winner or
big loser in the budget debate and process. Could be it’s a wash. Then
there’s the sheer human natural inclination for complete change. That
seemed to be the case in 1990, when two-term DFLer Gov. Rudy Perpich sought a third term and lost to GOPer Arne Carlson (who replaced that year’s GOP-endorsed and beleaguered candidate Jon Grunseth a mere week before the election that year). Perpich lost to Carlson, 47% to 50%.

I’m betting Pawlenty gives himself a year or so to decide what to do.

Meanwhile, quite an interesting list of possible GOP candidates is emerging. Names I hear include Rep. Laura Brod (R-New Prague), Minnesota Chamber of Commerce president David Olson, soon-to-be-former U.S. Rep. Jim Ramstad (R-MN3), Sen. Julie Rosen (R-Fairmount), House Minority Leader Marty Seifert (R-Marshall), former House Speaker and Department of Labor & Industry Commissioner Steve Sviggum and former Rep. and current head of the Minnesota Business Partnership Charlie Weaver.
In the interest of keeping good gossip circulating, I didn’t contact
any of these people to measure their interest in running.

[A bit of history. Perpich is the only Governor to have sought a third
term in "modern" Minnesota political history. I'll define "modern" as
starting in 1958, when voters approved a constitutional amendment
creating four-year terms for all constitutional officers, including the
Governor's, which had previously been two years.]

No Responses to “The GOP Ticket in 2010”

1. jerhanson Says:
   November 11th, 2008 at 9:54 am

   I think you missed two even stronger contenders: Sen. Geoff Michel and Rep. John Kline.

2. Gomez Says:
   November 12th, 2008 at 9:57 pm

   more over i am not interested in the political news . i have read your passage can you explain the what is GOP ticket.?
   ***************
   Gomez

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