The Emmer-Seifert fight is over. Except in Cambridge, Minnesota.
Tuesday night the Republican endorsing convention for House seat 17a in Isanti County will feature the battle of the two former gubernatorial contenders' surrogates, each with the backing of the candidate for whom they once stumped.
Kurt Daudt, Rep. Marty Seifert's former gubernatorial campaign manager, is vying for party-backing as is Chris Grams, the wife of ex-U.S. Sen. Rod Grams and an early support of Rep. Tom Emmer's gubernatorial campaign. Last month, Seifert lost the GOP endorsement to Emmer and dropped out of the race.
Emmer's backing Grams; Seifert's stumping for Daudt.
(Update: While Seifert lost GOP endorsement, his surrogate won his fight. Tuesday night, Seifert tweeted: "Congrats to my best friend Kurt Daudt for getting endorsed for the House of Representatives, District 17A!")
In a letter written to delegates on Emmer for Governor stationary, Emmer said:"In my six years serving in the Minnesota House I was often frustrated with my colleagues. Not because they disagreed with me, but because many of them failed to truly understand the struggles faced by ordinary Minnesotans.Chris and her husband Rod have learned first-hand what it is like to own and run a small business."
The letter does not mention that Rod Grams is a former U.S. Senator.
Meanwhile, Seifert has made several calls to activists in the district and plans to show up himself at the Isanti County endorsing convention Tuesday night on behalf of his former campaign manager. Seifert said many of the local delegates supported his ill-fated gubernatorial campaign.
