According to the proposed rules of the Republican party, candidates will need signatures from 2 percent of delegates to have their names entered into endorsement nomination.
For the two leading gubernatorial candidates -- state Reps. Marty Seifert and Tom Emmer -- the signature threshold likely will not be a challenge. It may be a bit more of a hurdle for four other potential candidates.
To be eligible to be considered for endorsement, candidates for statewide non-judicial endorsement must meet all legal requirements and submit nominating petitions to the Nominating Committee containing the printed names and signatures of a minimum of 2% of the State Convention Delegates. The Nominating Committee shall then report to the Convention those candidates who have met the petition and legal requirements to be nominated. The Nominating Committee may also state whether they deem the candidates to be qualified or unqualified to receive endorsement. The Nominating Committee will meet on Thursday, April 29th at 5:00 p.m.
The rules were a bit different for the Democratic convention. Candidates there had to be nominated by a delegate and get 50 seconds from the floor. No candidate had trouble getting the required floor votes, even if they lacked endorsement support from delegates.
22. NOMINATING PROCESS: Candidates shall be placed in nomination from the floor in name only. At least 50 delegate votes must second the nomination to place the candidate's name into nomination.
