Local campaign staff move on after endorsements

After constant recruitment, numerous district conventions and countless hours spent in the campaign office, a candidate getting a party’s endorsement stamps a successful campaign.
For candidates who did not receive the endorsement, deciding whether to drop out of the race not only affects their future in politics but terminates the jobs of those who have provided the backbone for their campaigns.
“It’s heartbreaking,” Steve Hogan, regional field director for former gubernatorial candidate and Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak, said. “It’s tough for not just myself but for everyone, for my boss who has two kids under 2. It’s our job, our health care.”
Hogan, who has been with Rybak’s campaign since 2009, spent seven days each week working on the campaign, some days spending more than 12 hours in the office.
“It feels good to have a few days off and relax, but at the same time, you’ve also invested so much time and energy to do this,” Hogan said.
Phil Troy, University of Minnesota political science junior, was an intern for Republican candidate Marty Seifert in the fall and continued to volunteer for his campaign throughout the spring.
On Saturday, when Seifert dropped from the race during the Republican Convention, Troy said he was shocked but not as emotional as he expected to be.
“I expected the voting to go on longer than it did, but Marty said, ‘I’m most likely going to lose, and I’m not doing anyone favors by dragging it out,’ ” Troy said. “I support his decision, and those two [Seifert and Tom Emmer, the endorsed candidate] standing on stage together speaks volumes about how unified we are going forward with this.”
During campaign season, full-time employees work anywhere from 40 to 80 hours each week.
Because of this, Hogan said, most full-time employees are unable to work another job and, because of their passion for the candidate, don’t think about their campaign terminating.
“We were out on the convention floor, and it had got to the point where just R.T. and Kelliher were left and we were really working the crowd,” Hogan said. “We got a call saying, ‘Come back to the will room,’ and I thought we were going to come back out with a new strategy, but once we saw R.T. come in and start giving people hugs, it really hit me.”
Hogan, 24, is currently unemployed and undecided on what to do going forward.
“I’m considering a couple different campaigns and also some things outside of politics,” Hogan said. “Getting into law school is also a possibility.”
Tiffany Orth is currently the campaign deputy finance director for DFL candidate Matt Entenza, who did not participate in the party’s endorsement convention.
“It’s hard to say if I could find another job, but I do think I would have the persistence and drive to find something,” Orth said. “I would probably be applying to graduate school.”
In addition to looking for a paid job, staff of former candidates also have to decide if they will continue to support one of the remaining candidates.
Troy said he will support Emmer as a volunteer for his campaign through the summer and into the fall.
Drew Post, agricultural and food business management junior, who was also part of Seifert’s campaign, plans to join Emmer’s effort as well.
“We’re going to be behind the candidate no matter who it is,” Post said. “I fully expect those who were working for Seifert or anyone else for that matter to work for Emmer. It’s about getting elected.”
Those who were part of Rybak’s campaign are also continuing their efforts to ensure a Democrat’s win.
“As a campaign, we still realize that there’s work to be done,” Hogan said. “There’s still areas where Democrats can win, and we want to make sure that still happens. We’re still working together to make a difference in Minnesota.”