Politics & Government

Carlson Secures DFL Endorsement for Senate District 51 Race

More than 350 delegates attended the Senate District 51 DFL endorsement convention at Dakota Hills Middle School on Saturday in Eagan.

It took four ballots and more than four hours, but former Sen. Jim Carlson secured the Democratic endorsement at the Senate District 51 DFL convention on Saturday.

Carlson, who was unseated in 2010 by Republican Senator Ted Daley, competed against Eagan Mayor Mike Maguire for the Democratic endorsement in a closely-watched, high-profile endorsement campaign.

In the end, Carlson took 200 delegate votes, or 60.06 percent of the ballots, against Maguire's 133 delegate votes, or 39.94 percent. In order to receive the endorsement, the candidates had to secure at least 60 percent of the vote of the delegates present and voting at the convention. If no candidate reached that margin on the first vote, the delegates vote again. More than 350 delegates from Burnsville and Eagan were present at the event.

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Four separate ballots were cast on Saturday for the closely-contested Senate endorsement, and each time Carlson expanded his lead, before reaching the required 60 percent margin on the third vote.

In speeches prior to the endorsement vote, Maguire and his supporters characterized him as a candidate who is attractive to both independent and Republican voters in the district. Cross-aisle appeal in Senate District 51 is crucial because of the strong Republican presence in the district, said former Eagan Sen. Deanna Wiener, who spoke on behalf of Maguire.

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Carlson emphasized his previous successes in the district, and highlighted the handful of endorsements he’s received from Education Minnesota, the  and from sitting state senators.

“I’ve already won in a senate race, I’ve already won against an incumbent who was a Republican, and I won as a Democrat,” said Carlson, referring to his his successful Senate election campaign in 2006.

No matter the outcome of the vote, however, both candidates pledged to bring the fight to their Republican foes as the 2012 election cycle progresses.

“If we don’t win, the right-wing majority will continue on its path through the Minnesota that we know, doing lasting and long-term damage,” Maguire said.

More than 350 delegates gathered for the endorsement convention, which took place on Saturday at  in Eagan.

Some, like Carlson supporter and delegate Benjamin Gross, said the high-profile race between two well-known candidates invigorated the proceedings. While Gross felt both Maguire and Carlson are electable candidates, he said he appreciated Carlson’s ability to think and vote independently.

“Jim is independent and will vote for what he sees is right, even if the party structure says no,” Gross said.

Eagan resident and delegate Denise Sjoberg has known Maguire for more than 10 years, and credits Maguire for ending divisive politics on the Eagan City Council.

“He has proven himself to be so popular in Eagan and so well-respected,” Sjoberg said prior to the endorsement vote. “He has the best chance to beat Ted Daley.”

Maguire, who congratulated Carlson on his victory at the convention, said he's looking forward to relaxing and going on vacation with his family. Both Maguire and Carlson previously pledged to discontinue their campaigns if they did't receive the Democratic endorsement.

"I give a lot of credit to Carlson and his campaign today," Maguire said. "It's disappointing for me of course, but we move forward. I'm grateful that my family and I can go on vacation on Monday, and that's what I'm most focused on."

"Thank you, thank you, thank you," a triumphant Carlson told the convention following the final ballot.

"We are going to knock on every door, call every number," Carlson said. "This will be a race that Ted Daley will never forget."

Other DFL endorsements included Laurie Halverson for House District 51B and Sandy Masin for House District 51A.

Now Carlson's task is to win over the voters of eastern Burnsville. A larger chunk of the city was included in Carlson's home district after legislative lines were redrawn earlier this year.


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