Legislative retirements: The List

Posted at 7:52 AM on April 14, 2012 by Tom Scheck (5 Comments)
Filed under: Redistricting

I've been trying to track the list of lawmakers who aren't running for their current legislative seat. Some lawmakers have said they aren't running again. Others decided to run for higher office. Others have been "retired" through redistricting or endorsement battles. I also included paired incumbents because one of them will be "retired" by the voters in November.

Here's The List...

Retirements:

Keith Langseth, DFL-Glyndon
Doug Magnus, R-Slayton
Al DeKruif, R-Madison Lake
Amy Koch, R-Buffalo
Gen Olson, R-Minnetrista
Geoff Michel, R-Edina
Claire Robling, R-Jordan
Chris Gerlach, R-Apple Valley
Linda Higgins, DFL-Minneapolis (is running for Hennepin County Commissioner)

Incumbents who lost endorsement battles and aren't running again:

Michael Jungbauer, R-East Bethel (Lost to Sen. Michelle Benson, R-Ham Lake)
Ken Kelash, DFL-Minneapolis (Lost to Melissa Halverson Wiklund)
Mary Jo McGuire, DFL-Falcon Heights (Lost to Sen. John Marty, DFL-Roseville)

Senate incumbents who are leaving seat to run for higher office:

Gretchen Hoffman, R-Vergas (Lost CD7 endorsement to Lee Byberg)
Mike Parry, R-Waseca (Seeking CD1 endorsement)

Incumbents who didn't receive endorsement but may run in a primary:

John Harrington, DFL-St. Paul
(Note: DFL delegates voted not to endorse after several ballots)

Incumbents paired with an incumbent from another party:

John Carlson, R-Bemidji, is paired with Tom Saxhaug, DFL-Grand Rapids.
Lyle Koenen, DFL-Clara City, is paired with Sen. Joe Gimse, R-Willmar.
(Note: Koenen won a special election this week to replace the late Gary Kubly)

Retirements:

Mark Murdock, R-Ottertail
Bill Hilty, DFL-Finlayson
Larry Hosch, DFL-St. Joseph
Denise Dittrich, DFL-Champlin
Kate Knuth, DFL-New Brighton
Pat Mazorol, R-Bloomington
Nora Slawik, DFL-Maplewood
John Kriesel, R-Cottage Grove
Mark Buesgens, R-Jordan
Mindy Greiling, DFL-Roseville

Incumbents who lost endorsement battles and aren't running again:

Ron Shimanski, R-Silver Lake (lost to Glenn Gruenhagen, R-Glencoe)
Carol McFarlane, R-White Bear Lake (lost to Matt Dean, R-Dellwood)
Update: McFarlane told me she's "weighing all options" when asked if she's thinking about running in a primary.
Marion Greene, DFL-Minneapolis (lost to Frank Hornstein, DFL-Minneapolis)

House incumbents who lost endorsement but may run in a primary:

Tom Tillberry, DFL-Fridley
(Note: DFL delegates endorsed former Rep. Connie Bernardy over Tillberry)

Incumbents running for another office:

Kent Eken, DFL-Twin Valley (Running for MN Senate)
Torrey Westrom, R-Elbow Lake (Running for MN Senate)
Bruce Anderson, R-Buffalo (Running for MN Senate)
Mary Kiffmeyer, R-Big Lake (Running for MN Senate)
Connie Doepke, R-Orono (Running for MN Senate)
Branden Peterson, R-Andover (Running for MN Senate)
Bev Scalze, DFL-Little Canada (Running for MN Senate)
Keith Downey, R-Edina (Running for MN Senate)
Kurt Bills, R-Rosement (Running for U.S. Senate)
Bobby Joe Champion, DFL-Minneapolis (Running for MN Senate)

Incumbents paired with an incumbent from the other party:

Larry Howes, R-Walker, is paired with John Persell, DFL-Bemidji.
Carolyn McElfatrick, R-Deer River, is paired with Tom Anzelc, DFL-Balsam Township.

Comments (5)

I'm running for Hennepin Co. Commissioner. By the way, Rep. Champion is Bobby Joe, not Bobby Jo.

Posted by Linda Higgins | April 14, 2012 8:31 AM

Carol McFarlane is still weighing her options and may run in a primary even though she lost the part endorsement to Matt Dean.

Posted by Annie | April 14, 2012 10:28 AM

Nicely done!

Posted by Grace Kelly | April 14, 2012 1:09 PM

Ken Kelash lost the endorsement to Melissa Halverson Wiklund, not "Michelle Wiklund"

Posted by Nathan Coulter | April 14, 2012 1:10 PM

Thanks for the feedback. I fixed the errors and added the copy.

I haven't spoken with Rep. McFarlane so I'm leaving my copy that way she said she would abide by the party endorsement. I'll check with her this week to see if she's running in a primary.

Posted by Tom Scheck | April 14, 2012 1:46 PM

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