Politics & Government

Mike Maguire Ends Senate Campaign, Throws Support to Carlson

Maguire said an endorsement challenge filed by his campaign had created a "counter-productive" division among DFL supporters.

Eagan Mayor Mike Maguire announced on Thursday that he is ending his campaign for the Senate District 51 seat and will not run in a primary against fellow DFLer Jim Carlson.

The move effectively ends months of drama in the local Democratic party and allows Carlson, a former state senator, to focus his efforts against incumbent Sen. Ted Daley (R) in the November election.

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Earlier this year, from the Minnesota DFL party. But Maguire, citing multiple voting errors in Carlson's favor at the endorsement campaign in March, .

His challenge led to a formal review from the party's Constitution and Bylaws Commission, which drew to a close last week when the commission .

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Although he still disagrees with the commission's ruling, Maguire said the campaign grew too "derisive and divisive" following the filing of the challenge.

""Engaging a primary campaign would not alleviate but potentially exacerbate the rancor and division that has been created," Maguire said. "I don’t think a primary of that type, that grew out of derision and division, would be productive and good for the community."

Maguire's decision to withdraw was in part motivated by his wife and family, he added.

“The impact of having campaigned for eight months for endorsement and the idea of looking at five [months of campaigning] in a derisive, divisive context factors in, and you have to think about your family in that context," Maguire said.

The mayor said he will now cast his "unwavering support" behind Carlson, and urged his followers to do the same.

“I sincerely thank Mayor Maguire for his efforts and for his dedication to good governement in the south metro," Carlson said on Thursday morning. "His candidacy and his efforts to run for the Senate have made me a better candidate."

The possibility of a Democratic primary was an unfortunate distraction, Carlson said. Maguire's decision will allow him to focus on his efforts to unseat Daley and target issues like fiscal responsibility, campaign finance reform and education funding.

In the wake of his decision to end his campaign, Maguire intends to spend more time with his family and working in his role as Eagan's mayor. At this point, Maguire says he has no immediate plans to take a more active, supporting role in any local campaigns.

Nor would the mayor make any predictions as to his political future.

"In the Jewish faith there's this saying that if you want to make God laugh, you tell him your plans," Maguire said. "I think it’s good political advice as well.”


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