In Minnesota the job of the state Republican Party during primary is to protect their endorsed candidates. They succeeded with Jeff Johnson for governor, Mike McFadden for U.S. senator, Scott Newman for attorney general and even with Tom Emmer in Congressional District 6.  However, they failed us that night with Jim Hagedorn’s upset victory over endorsed candidate Aaron Miller here in Congressional District 1. Hagedorn won with 12,758 (54 percent) votes over Miller’s 10,871 (46 percent).

The state party sent out sample ballots this last week but forgot to put Miller’s name on the ones sent to District 1. Those ballots could have familiarized Miller’s name with voters and given him the votes he would’ve needed to win. Hagedorn likely won because of the familiarly of his last name with voters because his dad used to be a U.S. representative back in the 1980s.

Hagedorn had promised to abide by the party endorsement back in April but broke his promise in May by selfishly challenging Miller to a primary. Hagedorn has lived in southern Minnesota two out of the last 30-plus years, with both years being years he has run for this office.

Although I will now vote for Hagedorn in November for party unity, I doubt his ability to win over independents. Sadly, incumbent Rep. Tim Walz will now likely win his fifth term in office this fall.

 

Spencer Robert Krier

Glenville