Kelliher, Rybak and Thissen receive ReNew Minnesota support

Democratic gubernatorial candidates R.T. Rybak, Margaret Anderson Kelliher and Paul Thissen received the backing of the ReNew Minnesota campaign today. The trio of candidates garnered the most votes from members of TakeAction Minnesota, which is spearheading the organizing effort.

Minneapolis Mayor Rybak was the top pick of those who participated in the process with 336 votes. State Rep. Thissen finished second with 264 votes, followed closely by House Speaker Kelliher with 261 votes.

“I’m looking forward to having you come into our campaign,” said Kelliher, after the results were announced. “We are running a people-powered campaign.”

State Sen. John Marty narrowly missed the cut with 250 votes. The other candidates polled well behind.

All 10 of the serious contenders for the DFL nomination participated in the ReNew Minnesota campaign. The timing of the vote was not accidental: it occurred just two days before DFL caucuses will take place across the state. TakeAction Minnesota hopes that many of the people who have taken part in the organizing campaign will ultimately become state delegates.

The expectation is that participants in the ReNew Minnesota campaign will eventually coalesce around one candidate at the state DFL convention in April, depending on which of the trio of challengers has the broadest support. The end goal: electing a DFL governor for the first time in more than two decades.

TakeAction Minnesota’s members also voted to endorse state Sen. Tarryl Clark in the 6th Congressional District . Democrats Clark and Maureen Reed screened before the liberal advocacy group, but the contest was not close. Clark received nearly 90 percent of the votes.