Minnesota Rep. Phyllis Kahn, the progressive feminist who has represented her Minneapolis district in the House since 1973, said Friday she would not run in a primary if any of her opponents win the DFL endorsement.
Kahn faces two other challengers for the DFL endorsement Saturday, Ilhan Omar, a Somali woman and local activist, who is amassing broad support in her race for the House seat.
Kahn also faces a past opponent, Mohamud Noor, who challenged her in 2014.
"At this point, I do not intend to run against an endorsed candidate," Kahn said in a phone interview. Kahn added that if she lost the endorsement to another candidate, she would finish serving her current term.
Omar is seen by many as the leading candidate for the seat, and she is expected to mount a formidable campaign against Kahn. If Omar or Noor receive the DFL endorsement, it could pave the way for the first Somali state legislator in Minnesota.
The endorsing convention is Saturday at Northeast Middle School in Minneapolis.
