MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (February 4, 2010)—Steve Kelley, who formally announced his run for Governor in October, 2009, has decided to end his campaign.
The full text of his email to supporters is as follows:
Thank you for being part of my campaign to transform Minnesota. I have been continually grateful for your words of encouragement, your advice, volunteer work and financial support over the last year. I am one of the fortunate Minnesotans who has had the opportunity to see firsthand the spirit of involvement that thrives in our state.
Even with your support, and the amazingly hard work of a dedicated and talented campaign team, I have not been as successful as we had hoped when the campaign began. As a result, I have decided to withdraw from the race for governor.
My wife Sophie has been a perfect partner in this campaign and in my public service. Our children Paul and Eleanor and our son-in-law Corey Orehek have worked hard and inspired me to work hard for them and for the future. And my parents and brothers and sisters have given me their support in ways beyond measure.
You have been generous in your support. One of the sad outcomes of this decision is that I will have fewer opportunities to work with you to make Minnesota the kind of place we see in our best dreams. I intend to return to my work at the Humphrey Institute where I have been privileged to be able to serve Minnesota.
I also intend to support the DFL-endorsed candidate for governor. To repair the damage done to our state, we must endorse a candidate in April, unite behind that candidate and win in November. Our fellow citizens deserve a DFL Governor in January 2011.
During the campaign I had the pleasure of getting to know better the other dedicated public servants who are seeking the DFL nomination. Through innumerable candidate forums and other visits with Minnesotans, I learned new insights from them about the challenges we face together and the solutions we must pursue.
I am immensely proud of my campaign team. Over many months they applied energy, intelligence and dedication to a challenging goal. It is has been a privilege to work with them.
I am confident that with the right leadership that engages the amazing Minnesotans that I met on the campaign trail, we can build a better home for our children.”
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Kelley served in the Minnesota Legislature from 1992 to 2006. He is currently a teacher and senior fellow at the Humphrey Institute and the director of the Center for Science, Technology, and Public Policy.
Fresh from my inbox:
Best of luck to SPK. He is an honorable man and I wish him the best.
Agreed. I like him a lot, I just don’t think he could have made it to the Governor’s mansion.
Admittedly not worth debating at this point, but that is absolutely false.
Furthermore, the only way we will win is if we adopt the strategy that only Kelley has been willing to promote: fight for the suburbs.
He could have won!
And what was he doing to fight for the suburbs?
He didn’t, so he couldn’t by definition. He was UNABLE to garner support.
By the way, if you admit it is not worth debating, and then directly contradict the statement…well, there’s a disconnect there.
Steve Kelley could have won the endorsement and the governship in 2006. But being the classy guy Steve is, he dropped out for the sake of party unity. Steve showed that class again today. Thanks Steve, and we’ll miss you on the campaign trail.
He was a great candidate, in a packed field. I hope he continues in a place of high leadership in the state.
If endorsed, Steve Kelley could have made it to the governor’s mansion. He could have easily beaten any Independent or Republican opponent.
That’s too bad, goodbye Steve!
Also, it’s too bad. Steve had just begun advertising and stuff.
I’m not going to romanticize this, he was a good legislator that never caught on statewide in several attempts.
In 2006, due to his netroots support, his candidacy was overblown and performed as well as can be expected
Mike Hatch was a stronger candidate, with a better campaign and a better record of service to the state. Steve was hyped through the blogs and young folks. Hatch built a coalition of old and new and was running regardless.
While debates about the 2006 Gov endorsement can go on and on, two months later when he was endorsed for AG and had the entire DFL apparatus behind him (plus his own campaign and those from other camps), he lost to a newcomer who’s biggest supporter lost his own race.
I think Steve would have been just right in 2002 when the DFL thought Moe and Julie Sabo was the answer. That was the year of the suburbanites on both sides of the aisle.
He may have been able to pick up some support to challenge the current AG with some of the manufactured problems in that office but, his time has passed when it comes to the gov or us senate seats.
…and best of luck to Steve. I do think he has a lot to offer in leadership, just not in elected office or at least Gov or Senate. He would be the most active Ed Commissioner since the 70’s, or a great pro-consumer Commerce Commissioner (they do regulate insurance businesses in the state).
Kelley was VERY close to winning the endorsement in 2006, Hatch was successful in blocking some delgates from getting to the floor and Becky Lourey eneded changing her mind about backing steve and dropping during her “concession” speech (supporting the stadium did not help either). As far as the AG race well not surprisingly Mike Hatch lied to Steve the day he got in telling him he would not get involved and convinved Luther not to drop after filing. None the less Steve was still doing well until Hatch told Luther he could not nominate him for Supreme Court unless he had a respectable showing in the primary. Hatch then gave Luther some suggestion of people to help these folks coordinated WITH the Swanson campaign so as not to overlap resources thus making steve battle on two fronts.
He was a good state Senator who took on some very tough issues and passed many with bipartison support his leadership is STILL missed.
That fight is over, get over it. Steve has.
Becky Lourey never told Steve she would throw her support behind him. Never. I would know.
Hatch never promised Steve anything, why would he? What was in it for him? His Lt was poised to take over that seat and that was Hatch’s plan, before Entenza ‘dropped out’. He earned nothing promising something to Steve Kelley who kicked him around for being clear on his decision to run in the primary.
And that story of the promised position between Hatch and Luther is bull, I know both of them are veteran enough, and close enough not say something as stupid that outloud- especially to a Kelley staffer. How would you know that? I mean, Hatch and Luther were friends long before that and Luther was one of his closest advisers. How would you know what may have been said to his closest adviser?
I think you’re listening too much to some of the kool-aid drinkers. For review:
Steve Kelley was a good legislator. That was it.
He ran for Majority Leader and got nowhere. He ran for Governor- twice, and came up short, he ran for US Senate and didn’t come close.
Mike Hatch wasn’t throwing a monkey wrench in his plans each of those times.
and save the bi-partisanship talk for 2011. When Kelly was in the legislature, this cantankerous ultra-partisanship didn’t exist. By the way, bi-partisanship only matters in the legislative body, the people only care that you get their agenda done, not how you do it.
“he was a good legislator that never caught on statewide in several attempts.”
Bingo. Again- I really LIKE Steve Kelly. I think he would have been a really good to great governor. I just didn’t see him really catching on.
DJZ, Hatch, a stronger candidate, with a better campaign and a better record of service to the state? Get real. Hatch had a crew of free campaign workers, most of whom were unclassified staff members at the AG’s Office. If you are a state worker without union protection, how can you say “no” when your boss asks you to come to his campaign HQ after work to stuff envelopes? The whole DFL campaign apparatus behind Kelley? With the top of the ticket throwing his support to another candidate, supressing the primary sample ballot and pulling other shenanigans? We can only hope that Kelley enters the 2010 AG race and gives the party a chance to actually get behind him this time.
The House, Senate and President’s staff all do the same thing. Except, those who worked for Hatch, did so because they wanted too and the three I know of, had years of campaign experience. I don’t recall any civil servants on the trail.
Kelley had his shot and it would be desperate and uncomfortable for him to once again leave the governors race and run for AG. He campaigned for almost two years and had his name out there in 2006. He was given the endorsement for AG and could not make it happen. We’re done.
Again, Education or Commerce, he’d be great.
yeah, no one saw this coming for the last four years. jeez.
No kidding. LOL.
He was a good candidate in a race filled with “good” candidates. Notice how so far no one is blowing anybody out of the water. Exactly how strong and steady is the support out there for candidates when “Undecided” is equal to or greater than the leading candidates? There is a long time for things to coalesce.
Steve is a nice guy but couldn’t do the AG thing last time (remember we have a DFL’er in there already) and doesn’t win hearts over. Either you love Steve or you like him but that’s not enough. His stadium support really hurt him.
Everyone should take a look at Tom Horner. He is running, and has a great platform. Check out his website @ http://www.horner2010.com
Thanks!
Hey everyone, I’ve got a belly button!