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:
- Senator Michelle Benson - Dave Thompson, Republican candidate for governor.
- Tina Smith - Governor Mark Dayton (DFL), who is seeking re-election as governor.
- Representative Pam Myhra - Marty Seifert, Republican candidate for governor.
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
