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| Version | User | Scope of changes |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 15 2008, 9:28 PM EDT (current) | benawu | 722 words added |
| Mar 13 2008, 8:42 PM EDT | cbbc | 722 words deleted |
Changes
Key: Additions Deletions
Minnesota Senate Race
| Incumbent | Norm Coleman |
| Party | Republican |
| Seeking Re-election? | Yes |
| Candidate Website | Senate Website Campaign Website |
| Other Resources | Congresspedia profile on Norm Coleman |
| Challenger | Al Franken |
| Party | Democratic |
| Source of Information | Formally announced (2/14/07) |
| Candidate Website | Candidate website Midwest Values PAC (chair) |
| Fundraising Link | ActBlue |
| Contribution Data | FEC |
| Other Resources | Congresspedia profile on Al Franken |
| Withdrawn Challenger | Mike Ciresi (attorney, ran in 2000) |
| Party | Democratic (DFL) |
| Source of Information | active campaign website Newspaper story |
| Candidate Website | Campaign Website; FEC webpage |
| Other Resources | Congresspedia profile on Mike Ciresi |
| Challenger | Bob Olson, attorney and founder of American Sustainable Energy Council. |
| Party | Democratic (DFL) |
| Source of Information | MN Blue, 6/1/07 |
| Candidate Website | Campaign Website |
| Other Resources | Congresspedia Profile on Bob Olsen |
| Challenger | Jim Cohen, activist and attorney |
| Party | Democratic (DFL) |
| Source of Information | Will announce candidacy on 7/11/07 |
| Candidate Website | Campaign Website |
| Other Resources | Congresspedia Profile on Jim Cohen |
| Potential Challenger | R.T. Rybak |
| Party | DFL - Democrat - Mayor of Minneapolis |
| Source of Information | Twin Cities Pioneer Press |
| Candidate Website |
| Potential Challenger | Peter Agre |
| Party | Democratic (DFL) |
| Source of Information | MN Campaign Report rumor CQ Politics, 5/23/07 |
| Background | Nobel Prize winning chemist & Duke University professor |
| Potential Primary Challenger | Joe Repya |
| Party | Republican |
| Source of Information | The Hill, 6/13/07 |
| Background | Iraq vet, retired Lt. Col., fmr. adviser to Sen. Coleman |
| Potential Challenger | Dean Johnson (former State Sen. Maj. Leader) |
| Party | Democrat (DFL) |
| Source of Information | Local Media (click here) |
| Background | Party Leader in State Senate |
| Potential Challenger | Becky Lourey (State Sen.) |
| Party | Democrat (DFL) |
| Source of Information | speculation (My DD) |
| Background | Son Matt killed in Iraq May of 2005. Link to Senate site:St. Sen. Becky Lourey website |
| Potential Challenger | Chris Coleman (St. Paul Mayor) |
| Party | Democrat (DFL) |
| Source of Information | Roll Call- reg. req (mirror) |
| Candidate Website | 2006 Campaign website |
| Potential Challenger | Dick Franson |
| Party | DFL- perennial candidate |
| Source of information | D. C. Political Report |
| Candidate Website | 2006 Website |
| Potential Challenger | State Rep. Aaron Peterson |
| Party | DFL - Democrat |
| Source of Information | D. C. Political Report |
| Candidate Information | Rep. Aaron Peterson website |
| Potential Challenger | Donald E. Stephan |
| Party | DFL - Democrat |
| Source of Information | The Green Papers |
| Candidate Information | none located |
| Challenger | Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer |
| Party | DFL - Democrat |
| Source of information | Campaign Website |
| Candidate Information | St. Thomas University Professor |
| Potential Challenger | John Lesch - St. Senator |
| Party | DFL - Democrat |
| Source of Information | D. C. Political Report Media Report |
| Candidate Website | St. Rep. John Lesch website |
Background Information
This Senate seat once belonged to the much-adored progressive Democrat Paul Wellstone. In 2002, Wellstone was up for re-election running against Republican Norm Coleman, when his small plane tragically crashed just 11 days before the election, killing his immediate family, a small contingent of campaign staff, and two pilots. After his death with the state in mourning, the state Democratic party scrambled to find a new nominee. They found one, former US Vice President Walter Mondale, who ultimately lost to Coleman 47% to 49%, despite only having entered the race days beforehand.After an emotionally-charged memorial service for Wellstone which was political at some points, national conservative pundits criticized Democrats in an exceptionally dirty and dishonest manner, accusing them of trying to use Wellstone's death for political gain (see Al Franken's book Lies and the Lying Liars who tell them for more on this incident and the Republican smear-job afterwards).
Franken, a liberal comedian/best selling author/talk show personality, is considering a 2008 run against Coleman, to try and gain the seat Paul Wellstone, one of his personal heroes, once held. Franken, who moved his radio show to Minnesota from New York and founded Midwest Values PAC (which supported progressive Midwestern canadidates in the 2006 cycle) announced his candidacy formally on Valentine's day 2007- February 14.
Note: The Minnesota State Democratic party has been called the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL) since 1944.
Issues
Democrats are planning to use Coleman's votes against stem-cell research in the 2008 campaign. Being against stem-cell research is code for being outside of the mainstream.Resources
Below you will find resources relating to the 2008 Minnesota Senate race.Coleman (Republican incumbent)
Official Senate websiteWikipedia: Norm Coleman
2008 Campaign website
On The Issues: Norm Coleman
Congresspedia: Norm Coleman
Franken (Democrat- potential challenger)
Official websiteWikipedia: Al Franken
Blogs
MNCampaignReportMN Blue
