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Three-way tie on first ballot in GOP governor's endorsement

Republican gubernatorial candidates Dave Thompson, Jeff Johnson and Marty Seifert split delegates votes in the first round of balloting.

May 31, 2014 at 11:15PM

Republican Governor's candidate Jeff Johnson addressed delegates at the Minnesota Republican Party Convention at the Rochester Civic Center Saturday, May 30, 2014, in Rochester, MN (Tom Wallace — Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

In an early vote that could mean another long night for delegates, Republican delegates split their early vote in the race to win endorsement for governor.

Hennepin County Commissioner Jeff Johnson with a slight edge and 2010 gubernatorial candidate Marty Seifert and state Sen. Dave Thompson just behind him.

The results caused one delegate to tweet:

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Here are the numbers:

Ballots cast – 1933

Needed for endorsement – 1160 - 60 percent

Farnsworth – 161 – 8.3 percent

Seifert - 568 – 29.38 percent

Johnson – 620 – 32.07 percent

Thompson – 577 – 29.85 percent

Blank -- 291 ballots

Corrected