ROCHESTER, Minn. – Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson will no longer be seeking the DFL endorsement in her re-election campaign.
In the first surprise of the 2018 DFL State Convention, Swanson has withdrawn her name for the DFL endorsement for attorney general.
Swanson made the announcement after failing to win 60 percent of the vote on the first ballot. Swanson won 52.2 percent of the vote and her rival, Matt Pelikan, won 47.2 percent of the vote.
Following Swanson’s withdrawal, Pelikan was endorsed by voice vote. Pelikan has campaigned to the left of Swanson, saying Swanson has been too cautious as attorney general.
In his acceptance speech, Pelikan rallied Democrats to “double down” on creating a “Minnesota that reflects our progressive values.”
GOP-endorsed candidate for attorney general Doug Wardlow was quick to respond to the news of Swanson’s withdrawal. Wardlow, who has criticized Swanson’s handling of the Somali daycare fraud scandal, said Minnesota voters are “tired of politicians who don’t get results.”
MN voters are tired of politicians who don’t get results! Lori Swanson has failed to address the welfare fraud scandal, she constantly sues the President, and she uses the office of AG to advance her own career. Time to Shake Up Saint Paul and #PutMNFirst https://t.co/RDzfJhxwUA
— Doug Wardlow (@doug_wardlow) June 2, 2018
The upset has drawn mixed reactions on Twitter.
One remarkable aspect of Lori Swanson not getting DFL endorsement for attorney general is that not that many months ago many viewed her as viable DFL candidate for governor.
— Tom Hauser (@thauserkstp) June 2, 2018
First big surprise from MN convention weekend. Longtime AG Lori Swanson quickly defeated for #DFL endorsement by a little known candidate. NRA support for Swanson apparently an issue. What does that mean for Walz? https://t.co/5ZXmHS2we0
— Brian McClung (@bmcclung) June 2, 2018
#dfl2018 Incredible. Lori Swanson withdraws giving endorsement to Matt Pelikan. Primary coming?
— mnpact/Dave Mindeman (@newtbuster) June 2, 2018
#DFL2018 Lori Swanson had Mike Hatch do an introductory for her and frankly, that was a mistake. Hatch is the past – Pelikan seized on the DFL future.
— mnpact/Dave Mindeman (@newtbuster) June 2, 2018
Matt Pelikan’s from-the-left challenge to AG Lori Swanson is evidence of #mndfl ‘s post-2016 shift to the left — but also echoes Paul Wellstone.
— Lori Sturdevant (@sturdevant) June 2, 2018
Swanson has not announced whether she will run in a primary against Pelikan.
