Minnesota governor's top choice to replace Franken is mulling 2018 run

[TexasTowelie]

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton’s top pick to fill Sen. Al Franken’s Senate seat, Lt. Gov. Tina Smith, is considering also running for the seat next year, as Dayton faces pressure from top Democrats in Washington to appoint more than a mere caretaker, according to two Democrats familiar with the discussions.

Franken said Thursday he would resign over allegations of sexual harassment, leaving Dayton to appoint a replacement until a special election next November to complete Franken’s term, which runs through 2020.

Dayton’s initial inclination was to pick Smith, a longtime aide and his second-in-command since 2015, to serve as a placeholder until next year’s election, a Democratic official told The Associated Press. The official requested anonymity because the official was not authorized to discuss private deliberations surrounding the appointment before Dayton’s announcement.

The official said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has reached out to Dayton and pressured him to instead appoint someone who can use the opportunity as a running start for a 2018 campaign.

Read more: http://www.providencejournal.com/news/20171208/minnesota-governors-top-choice-to-replace-franken-is-mulling-18-run

[Qutzupalotl]

1. That's probably wiser than an open primary.

What do Minnesotans think of her?

[dflprincess]

3. The fun will begin at the precinct caucuses February 6

the problem with not going the place holder route is that it might discourage other DFLers from challenging whoever he appoints which will lead to the Republicans running a "let the people decide" campaign. It could end in the same kind of disaster we had in 1978 when, thanks to Governor Wendell Anderson arranging to get himself appointed to Mondale's seat when Mondale became vice president, we lost both senate seats (Humphrey had died earlier that year and someone had to be elected to finish his term as well as the other seat coming up on its normal cycle.)

[MattP]

2. She has a trial run