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Serving Northern St. Louis County, Minnesota

Organizer hired for planned Nolan gubernatorial bid

Marshall Helmberger
Posted 4/12/17

REGIONAL—It looks increasingly likely that Rep. Rick Nolan is planning a run for governor in 2018.

The Coalition to Draft Rick Nolan announced it has hired Emily Jensen to lead the …

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Organizer hired for planned Nolan gubernatorial bid

Posted

REGIONAL—It looks increasingly likely that Rep. Rick Nolan is planning a run for governor in 2018.

The Coalition to Draft Rick Nolan announced it has hired Emily Jensen to lead the coalition’s efforts to lay the groundwork for a successful gubernatorial bid. In a statement, the group said the hiring is a sign the coalition is transitioning from a volunteer organization to a “bona fide campaign operation.”

“Emily Jensen is a seasoned political professional familiar with Minnesota’s progressive and moderate wings of the DFL party,” said Justin Perpich, chair of the Coalition to Draft Rick Nolan. “Jensen’s experience leading the Minnesota caucus operations for Sen. Sanders in the 2016 presidential election is a testament to her deep knowledge of DFL activists and the DFL nominating process. Jensen is the perfect candidate to unite DFL activists behind Congressman Rick Nolan for Governor.”

If Nolan decides to run, he’ll face competition from another U.S. Representative. DFLer Tim Walz, now in his fifth term representing Minnesota’s First District, threw his hat in the ring two weeks ago and has already picked up the endorsement of David Wellstone, one of the surviving sons of the late Senator and progressive icon Paul Wellstone.

The 2018 contest is shaping up to be a defining election in Minnesota and will feature a strong effort by DFL candidates to win back rural voters who largely abandoned the party this past November.

“Either we continue our great progress of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party or we become Wisconsin,” said Jensen. “Congressman Rick Nolan is the right person, with the right voice, at the right time to win,” she added.