Former gubernatorial candidates reflect on a race lost

After a total of eight rounds of balloting, a handful of concession speeches and showers of balloons and confetti, the DFL and Republican parties of Minnesota have endorsed candidates for the upcoming governor’s race.
The Republicans picked Rep. Tom Emmer after two rounds of voting during last weekend’s Republican convention. His opponent, Rep. Marty Seifert, withdrew after the second ballot.
For the DFL, House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher beat a group of candidates including Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak to win the endorsement. She’ll face an August primary battle before the Nov. 2 election.
Some of the losers will seek re-election in their current offices, and others will leave politics in search of new careers and opportunities. The Minnesota Daily caught up with some of those candidates.
R.T. Rybak
Party: DFL — Current office: Mayor of Minneapolis
On the convention: “[Kelliher] has a lot of support within the party, and that was tough to overcome,” Rybak said. “It is so critical for Democrats to come together to beat Tom Emmer — who will be an extremely conservative governor — so I am backing the endorsed candidate.”
On his campaign experience: Rybak said the highlight of his campaign was working with the large group of young supporters and staff, whom he applauded for their work.
“We built a base that may be used for me or another candidate ongoing,” he said. “The final chapter has not been written.”
On the future: “I go back to a job I love as mayor,” he said. Rybak may run for governor again in the future, but he said he wants to focus on Minneapolis for now.
Marty Seifert
Party: Republican — Current office: State representative
On the convention: “I didn’t think it was worth dragging the convention on and on,” Seifert said of his decision to bow out of the race after the second ballot. He questioned whether Emmer’s endorsement from former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin made the difference at the convention.
He was unavailable for comment.
On Tom Emmer: “I want each and every one of you to campaign as hard as I am going to campaign for him,” Seifert said to applause during his concession speech. He said Minnesotans are hungry for less government and less taxes.
“I think Tom Emmer is the guy to do that,” he said.
On the future: Seifert announced mid-campaign that he would not run for re-election as a state representative in 2010. He said he will focus on his family and his small business, a property management company.
“You never say never, but I think we are taking a hiatus from politics.”
Tom Rukavina
Party: DFL — Current office: State representative
On the convention: “I was the best progressive in this race and there’s no doubt about it, but now I want you to vote for the second best progressive in this race,” Rukavina said as he put on a Kelliher pin during his concession speech. He was unavailable for comment.
On his campaign experience: “This has been a wonderful, wonderful ride for me,” he said in his speech, later asking for a show of hands of those who thought he would make it through the fourth ballot. “Our campaign did more with less than anyone.”
On the future: Rukavina has filed for re-election for his seat as a state representative in 2010, according to the Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board.
Susan Gaertner
Party: DFL — Current office: Ramsey County Attorney
On the convention: “I was surprised by the outcome,” Gaertner said. She thought Rybak had the momentum at the convention, but said she respects the party’s decision.
“I thought that the convention-goers would perceive him as more electable because he’s not part of the mess at the Capitol, but obviously I read that wrong.”
On her campaign experience: “I’ve learned a lot about Minnesota, about Minnesotans’ lives,” she said. “I’m sorry that I won’t have an opportunity to improve Minnesotans’ lives through that role.”
On the future: Gaertner announced she would finish her term as county attorney but would not seek re-election in 2010.
“Four four-year terms is enough for me,” she said. “What happens after that remains to be seen.”
John Marty
Party: DFL — Current office: State senator
On the convention: “It obviously hurts when you don’t win,” Marty said. “But we’re really pleased that the candidate who did get the endorsement … has made a commitment that she’s going to work with us to try to enact [the Minnesota Health Care Plan] into law.”
On his campaign experience: “It’s certainly made me more passionate about the issues I’m working on … I’ve learned much more about the needs of the state and obviously feel very passionate about it because of that.”
On the future: Marty said the first step is to close up his gubernatorial campaign office, a process that includes finding new jobs for his staff. Once completed, he will run for re-election to the state Senate.
Paul Thissen
Party: DFL — Current office: State representative
On the convention: “I’m disappointed in the result, because I thought we had the right message about where the party and the state needs to go,” Thissen said. “But I’m very happy to support the party moving forward.”
On his campaign experience: “I was pleased and humbled with the support. It is an odd feeling being someone who really is doing this for the first time.”
On the future: Thissen will run for re-election for his seat in the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2010.
“There’s a lot of work to be done on the issues I care about in health care, higher education and getting people back to work,” he said.
Thissen is open to the possibility of running for governor again in the future, but he stressed the importance of the DFL party getting through this election first.