I just got off the phone with Rep. Steve Simon who told me that he will not be a candidate for Congress in the 3rd Congressional District.
Though he seriously considered a run, Rep. Simon ultimatley decided that his work in the Minnesota House was too rewarding to walk away from it right now.
Rep. Simon said that he had called State Senator Terri Bonoff and offered his complete support. He emphasized that he thought it was important for DFLers to rally around Bonoff and said that he would be doing everything in his power to help her candidacy.
Rep. Simon is one of MN Publius’ favorite legislators. He would have been a terrific candidate for Congress and we are absolutley certain that he will be a terrific candidate for some other higher office at some point in the future. We look forward to supporting him when the time comes.
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Bonoff should be thanking her lucky stars. Simon is a formidable candidate, and he was - I think - the obvious front-runner for the 3rd CD endorsement due to his strong labor connections — - and moderate reputation. I know he doesn’t live in the district, but that’s a small matter if he moved. A real pity that he’s not doing this — - he’s tailor-made to represent this kind of district. Bonoff has alot to learn from him.
Simon was in the best (perhaps only) position to beat Paulsen. He is the only one who could credibly run outside the “new angry left” DFL. Paulsen will win because he, like Simon, is not a wako.
So what does everyone think this does for Jim Hovland? I think I had read here somewhere that Hovland and Simon have alot of respect for each other. Could Hovland have been holding off until Simon made a decision?
I like both Terri and Steve, so it would have been a tough decision for me if they both got in. That said, Terri is going to be a formidable candidate. Remember that she won a special election in 2005 in a supposedly “safe” Republican district against the Plymouth mayor (Judy! Judy! Judy!) who had much greater name recognition. Terri then turned around and won the seat again in 2006, against the same opponent.
Terri has come out of the gate quickly, raising nearly $90,000 in just 10 days (including donations from such DFL heavy-hitters as the Oppermans and Kaplans) and already hired an experienced campaign manager.
Republicans can spin it however they want, but those are the facts.
purupleblogdog-
You clearly have never heard of Terri Bonoff. No one would ever say she was part of the “new angry left”. She was endorsed by the Chamber of Commerce for heavens sake!
Nothing against Bonoff, but I do think it’s kind of pathetic that she’s the only DFL officeholder willing to get into this thing. Of course, unlike Simon, she won’t have to give up her legislative seat to run. But still, with the GOP obviously running scared in this thing, it’s kind of sad that there’s only one DFL legislator ready to do this (Hovland, bless his heart, doesn’t count as a DFL officeholder in my book). Lord knows, I’m not buying Simon’s lame excuse that the state house is just too rewarding. Gimme a break. Maybe there’s something about this race that he and others know, and Bonoff doesn’t? Or, like the others, he just didn’t have the gumption and bones to do it. Beats me. But one day, hopefully, we’ll find out why only one DFL legislator is in this thing.
I sincerely hope we see Simon running for something bigger one of these days. I don’t know how long Ellison is planning on staying in, but I wouldn’t mind seeing him in the 5th….
The 5th is a great idea for Simon. After all, it is where he lives.
I can think of three reasons why bright people in the district wouldn’t run for this:
1) Money. Raising money for a Congressional Seat is daunting, and it doesn’t end when you are elected. You keep raising money for your party your entire career, regardless of which party you are in.
2) Committment. When you sign up for Congress, you are committing that as your full-time career starting the day you announce. Goodbye to any private sector or other career ambitions. I think think of other ways to impact the world which pay better and have much better schedules.
3) Travel. I know people who travel for their work — it can be tough. But travelling as a congressmember is grueling. To DC and back, adn then throughout the district. This isn’t quite so bad in the 3rd, but imagine being in the 1st, 7th, or 8th. Gone all week, and then gone all weekend.
I totally buy it when people say they don’t want to do this for various reasons. But of all of the reasons I’ve heard, Ramstad’s is probably the most honest. “I’m tired.. and (to paraphrase) I’m tired of party politics”
steve’s a great guy and a fine candidate, but there is a very big reason why he didn’t run for this. HE’D HAVE TO MOVE. And he would probably still be behind Sen. Bonoff in getting the endorsement since DFL delegates, if presented with a man and a woman with equal resumes, tend to choose the woman.
I understand how some folks commenting on blogs are frustrated that more people aren’t running but this isn’t for our entertainment. To buy a house, sell a house, start raising money, spend most waking hours calling delegates or funders with the likely prospect that you won’t get what you’re trying to get is not that appealing and I don’t blame anyone for choosing not to jump in - either gainst Bonoff or Paulsen.