Sviggum suspends gubernatorial plans

Steve Sviggum, former Republican Speaker of the House and current commissioner of the MN Department of Labor and Industry, will not be running for governor. Mary Lahammer reported this morning that Sviggum received a letter from the Solicitor General stating that Sviggum’s position as commissioner prohibits him from running. Steve Perry reported for PIM a couple weeks ago that Sviggum was not optimistic about his chances of a positive ruling. Sviggum did leave the door open a crack—though he wants to keep his position at DOLI, he hasn’t “ended” his campaign, in case no other GOP candidate makes a splash with voters.