If you missed the news, the Minnesota Vikings selected UCLA linebacker Anthony Barr in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft last evening. I'll wait for future posts to offer commentary on the ups and downs of being a die-hard Vikings fan.

But the NFL draft isn't the only selection process getting attention right now.

The process I'm referring to isn't televised, with potential picks sitting in a room with their family, as they wait for a phone call from their agent or team owner with the good news.

This post is about the selection of a lieutenant governor candidate to run with a candidate for governor in Minnesota. I'll add that if the process of selecting a lieutenant governor was televised, a political geek like me wouldn't miss a second of coverage.

Since 1974, candidates for governor and lieutenant in Minnesota run on the same ticket. A candidate for governor is legally required to list their candidate for lieutenant governor on their Affidavit of Candidacy, which is filed with the Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State. The filling period to run for office this year begins on May 20 and closes at 5:00 PM on June 3.

Below are the candidates for lieutenant governor, in order of being announced by their campaigns:

I contacted the campaigns who have selected candidates for lieutenant governor and asked for a comment about the selection process and the campaign's philosophy about role of lieutenant governor.

Jon Seaton, Dave Thompson for Governor

Katharine Tinucci, Mark Dayton for Governor

Andy Post, Marty Seifert for Governor

The following Republican campaigns for governor have not announced their candidates for lieutenant governor, but offered comments on their individual selection process.

Rob Farnsworth, Rob Farnsworth for Governor

Pat Shortridge, Scott Honour for Governor

David Gaither, Jeff Johnson for Governor (campaign has search committee for lieutenant governor)

Zander Abrams, Kurt Zellers for Governor

The Republican Party of Minnesota is scheduled to endorse a candidate for governor at their state convention in Rochester at the end of May. With the filing period closing just three days later, the campaigns that have yet to announce their candidate for lieutenant governor have just a few weeks to decide.

It may not have the excitement of the NFL draft, but Minnesota politicos certainly pay attention to who gets the call to join the team for the upcoming season.