Rochester Mayor Ardell Brede Saturday announced at a DFL rally Saturday that he was supporting DFL Mark Dayton for governor and Democratic U.S. Rep. Tim Walz for congress.

From the Rochester Post-Bulletin:

"As many of you know, I over the years as a nonpartisan elected (official) have tried to at least publicly be private with my support (of candidates)," he said.

He also said that he is backing area's DFL lawmakers for re-election.

Brede is well liked but the power of his endorsement is untested among voters in the hotly contested area.