Jeff Johnson captured the Republican Party’s endorsement for governor late Saturday afternoon at the state G-O-P convention in Duluth, after Mary Giuliani Stephens and Phillip Parrish dropped out following the third ballot. Leaving the convention floor a smiling Johnson said, “We’re coming out of here united, and a lot of people doubted that, and the Democrats aren’t, so it feels really good. I think it’s a good head start into the election season.”
But Johnson has a major hurdle before the November election: the August Republican primary. He’ll be up against a formidable political force — former Governor Tim Pawlenty, who entered the race late and didn’t seek his party’s endorsement.
Pawlenty’s supporters say the real test is the November election and they contend their candidate has a better shot at winning back the governor’s office for Republicans. House Speaker Kurt Daudt says, “Republicans are excited about this election and… we think we’ve got a real opportunity to win the governor’s race.”
Johnson says about Pawlenty, “He’s gonna outspend me. I know that. He’s got the big donors on his side early. They’ll grudgingly be with me later, so we’ll have the money if we need it in September or October.”
In an interesting political irony, Johnson has the endorsement of Pawlenty’s former lieutenant governor, Carol Molnau, who told delegates on Johnson’s convention video, “If there’s one thing I can say about former Governor Pawlenty, I had a lot of fun with him at the Fishing Openers. I wish him well, but I’m not looking forward to seeing him in Saint Paul.”
Pawlenty meanwhile is the beneficiary of a political irony of his own: He chose as his lieutenant governor running mate former state Senator Michelle Fischbach — a Republican from Paynesville who, through another twist of political fate, is currently serving as lieutenant governor in the administration of Democratic Governor Mark Dayton.
Johnson’s post-endorsement press availability: