In gubernatorial news, Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher released her fundraising numbers last week. Despite not entering the race until August, she has managed to raise over $250,000 in those few months, and has $81,000 cash on hand. She also announced raising $80,000 in the month of December.

Making news in another way, Former State Auditor Pat Anderson announced she is exiting the governor’s race yesterday. Citing an unsettled field of GOP candidates, she’s declared that she will once again run for State Auditor. This departure represents the last female GOP governor candidate, with state Representative Laura Brod leaving last year for health reasons. This means that the entire governor’s race is now down to 2 female candidates, or 10% of the candidates, from a potential high of 25% back in June.

Quote of the day: “Home ownership doesn’t work too well without a woman willing or able to take on a share of the workload — or all of it.”

First, the in the governor’s race, Margaret Anderson Kelliher has announced a new hire.

[Anderson Kelliher's] campaign says it hired Allison Myhre as camp. spokeswoman. Myhre worked for DFL Rep. Collin Peterson.

And in the race for the party nomination, Attorney Susan Gaertner has stated she is no longer abiding by the endorsement, choosing to run in the primary regardless.

In the 6th CD, Tarryl Clark has been endorsed by Emily’s List.

EMILY’s List doesn’t lend its imprimatur to all pro-choice women candidates and the endorsement indicates that they take Clark’s chances seriously.

In the press release announcing the endorsement, EMILY’s List President Ellen Malcolm called Clark (who is also assistant majority leader of the state Senate) “a proven vote getter in what is traditionally rough territory for Democrats,” and asserted that “her candidacy puts this district in play and gives Democrats the best shot at picking up this swing-seat in November.”

But the 6th isn’t the only race with action. Former State Legislator Shelly Madore is challenging Dan Powers for the DFL endorsement in the 2nd district. The winner of that race will go on to face sitting congressman Republican John Kline. According to mnpACT:

Democrat Madore broke a long standing Republican stranglehold of the District 37A legislative seat in 2006. In fact, she broke a lot of barriers for Democrats in the South Metro, finding a way to win in a perceived conservative district. She lost her bid for re-election in 2008, by a narrow margin, to a heavily financed challenger, Tara Mack.

When she was elected in 2006, she quickly became a driving force for transportation issues in the south metro area….something that may run as a strong campaign theme in her 2010 bid.

And Maureen Hackett, one of the candidates running to unseat first term Congressman Erik Paulsen, has made a radio ad buy.

Maureen Hackett, a DFLer running in Minnesota’s 3rd Congressional District, started running a radio ad on Air America. The ad is a basic introductory ad detailing Hackett’s profile.

Hackett’s spokesman said the ad will run 70 times over the next two weeks at the cost of $674.80.

For Immediate Release
Wednesday, December 9th, 2009

EMILY’s List Endorses Margaret Anderson Kelliher for Governor of Minnesota

WASHINGTON, D.C. – EMILY’s List, the nation’s largest financial resource for women candidates, today announced its endorsement of Margaret Anderson Kelliher for Governor of Minnesota.

“EMILY’s List is proud to endorse Margaret Anderson Kelliher for Governor,” said Ellen R. Malcolm, President of EMILY’s List. “As Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives, Margaret has earned a reputation as a coalition builder, reaching across the aisle and working to make life better for all Minnesotans. She is a champion for women and families and has exactly what it takes to be elected Minnesota’s first female Governor. EMILY’s List is thrilled to support Margaret’s campaign and stand with her as she makes history in 2010.”

“I am honored to receive the EMILY’s List endorsement,” said Kelliher. “Their members support will be critical to help me build a strong and winning campaign across Minnesota.”

Kelliher was first elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 1998. In her first term, she was named “Freshman Legislator of the Year.” Kelliher guided the passage of a nation-leading renewable energy standard. When the safety of Minnesota roads and bridges was at stake, Kelliher built the coalition of Democrats and Republicans that overrode Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s transportation bill veto. Over the course of the past three legislative sessions – all of which ended on time – Kelliher oversaw an agenda that provided health care coverage for 40,000 uninsured children, provided for property tax relief for Minnesota families, and fulfilled a commitment to increase school funding.

In the face of historic economic challenges, Kelliher created a Jobs Task Force, recognizing the need to invest in job creation and training skilled workers for the new economy. She has been a relentless leader on choice, reproductive rights and women’s health.

In 2006, EMILY’s List helped elect Amy Klobuchar, Minnesota’s first woman U.S. Senator. In 1998, EMILY’s List helped elect Congresswoman Betty McCollum the first woman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from the state.

EMILY’s List is the nation’s largest financial resource for women candidates. In the 2007-2008 cycle, EMILY’s List raised more than $43 million to support its mission of recruiting and supporting women candidates, helping them build strong campaigns, and mobilizing women voters to turn out and vote. With more than 100,000 members across the country, EMILY’s List is one of the largest political action committees in the nation. Since its founding in 1985, EMILY’s List has worked to elect 80 pro-choice Democratic women to the U.S. House, 15 to the U.S. Senate, nine governors, and hundreds of women to the state legislatures, state constitutional offices, and other key local offices.

For more information on EMILY’s List and Margaret Anderson Kelliher, please visit www.emilyslist.org.

Monday, Former Gov. Wendell Anderson came out as an Anderson Kelliher supporter. “Speaker of the House Margaret Anderson Kelliher is the leader we need to steer us through these troubled times,” stated Anderson in an email to supporters. “I am proud to add my name to the over 1,000 people who have publicly pledged their support to Margaret for Governor.”

And today, the International Brotherhood of Electric Workers Minnesota chapter gave the Speaker their endorsement as well. Via the Star Tribune: “Our members, from Rochester to the Twin Cities to Moorhead to Duluth and the Iron Range, need a governor who will get electricians off the bench and back on the job,” said Tom Koehler, President of the IBEW Minnesota State Council. “Minnesota needs a peoples-leader and we believe that person, that peoples-leader is Margaret Anderson Kelliher.”

This puts Speaker Anderson Kelliher at four endorsements, leading all of the other DFL governor candidates.

Today economists delivered a grim financial forecast – we face yet another budget deficit. This on-going budget crisis must be resolved. It is time for Minnesota to break this cycle. We need a Governor who will level with Minnesotans. We need a Governor who does not rely on cuts alone to balance the budget. Solving our current economic shortfall and creating economic security will take a balanced approach and require the right mix of spending cuts and revenue increases.

Today’s budget forecast is a reminder that Governor Pawlenty’s unallotment did not balance Minnesota’s two-year budget. It was a quick political fix that solved nothing. Governor Pawlenty, Rep. Seifert and the House Republicans chose politics over the best interest of Minnesotans. I will be a very different kind of Governor.

The next session is going to be a challenge. Focused on his national ambitions, Governor Pawlenty appears determined to keep his “no new taxes” pledge regardless of the toll it takes on the people of Minnesota. However, our challenges can become new opportunities. With bold new leadership in 2011 and beyond, we can take the opportunity to reform the way Minnesota does business by implementing an economic development plan that will create jobs and improve our economy, balance our budget, and invest in education and health care.

To make these opportunities a reality, Minnesota needs a proven leader. The next Governor will have only twelve weeks from the day she is elected to propose a full budget, with progressive tax reform. Minnesota needs a leader who has stood up and fought for what is best for our state—someone who understands the difficulties Minnesotans face, and who will bring people together to create long term solutions and secure our future.

I have a track record of bringing people together to solve problems and resolve issues. I’ve taken on the partisan forces in state government and won. After the 35W bridge collapse, Governor Pawlenty told me he would never sign a transportation reform bill. I knew what I needed to do: I brought together a broad coalition that worked together to make Minnesota’s roads and bridges safer, and we overrode the governor’s veto.

In the 2010 election, we have the chance to work together again and ensure that Minnesota has the Governor it deserves. It will take another broad, strong and diverse coalition and I need you to be part of that effort.

Please join me in this campaign. Become part of the coalition by visiting my website and signing up as a Grassroots Endorser. You can also sign up to join our team of amazing volunteers and pledge to caucus for me on February 2, 2010. I also hope you will consider making a financial investment in the campaign – your contribution of $50, $100 or $250 will help build a people-powered campaign to identify caucus attendees and allow me to bring the message about my candidacy to Minnesotans in every corner of our state.

1. Margaret Anderson Kelliher (formerly #2): With multiple union endorsements in hand, MAK is moving into a strong position for convention endorsement. Women’s groups and Union support are golden and Kelliher is getting solid marks on those fronts. One more big endorsement by SEIU or Education MN and it could give her hard to beat momentum. Her biggest challenge going forward will be the legislative session. The success or failure of the 2010 version is squarely on her shoulders. Can she successfully challenge Pawlenty and push a Democratic agenda, via compromise or override? Or will she end up on the short end of more vetos? Her strength as a governor candidate is riding on the outcome.

Kelliher will be speaking at mnpACT’s candidate forum with Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak on December 11th.

Be sure to check out the entire list here.

Gubernatorial candidate Margaret Anderson Kelliher received her third union endorsement last week, this time from the Greater MN AFSCME Council 65. She then capped off last week by winning the DFL side of the gubernatorial straw poll at the Minnesota Farmer’s Union’s yearly meeting.

MnpACT has an interview with Dr. Maureen Hackett, DFL Candidate in CD 3. Among the standard questions, they delve into the controversy surrounding her previous donations to non-DFL candidates. Hackett addresses the scandal, stating, “I’m a Democrat and have overwhelmingly given to Democrats and Democratic causes, both locally, other state races, and nationally. On some occasions I have given to promote ideas. I have also given money to have access to events.”

Smart Politics takes note of the percentage of female donors contributing to the two women vying for the DFL endorsement in the 6th CD congressional race, with both State Senator Tarryl Clark and former IP Lt. Gov. candidate Maureen Reed receiving almost 50% of their campaign contributions from women.

And, speaking of Smart Politics, a post I have been meaning to link to for weeks now, “When Will Minnesota (or Wisconsin, Iowa, South Dakota, North Dakota…) Elect a Woman as Governor?” The summary? In Minnesota and/or Wisconsin, 2010 may finally be the year.

Four months after entering the governor’s race, House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher, DFL-Minneapolis, had no union endorsements. Now she has two.

Today, the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 49 endorsed the Kelliher’s bid for governor. Last week, the Minnesota Association of Professional Employees announced it would back her.

In a news release, Local 49 business manager Glen Johnson praised Kelliher’s role in the 2008 override of Gov. Pawlenty’s veto of a gas tax bill.

“The transportation bill override was the largest job-creating bill in decades, and Margaret made it happen,” he said.

Wendy Stuhr, a crane operator and endorsement committee member, said Kelliher was the unanimous choice.

There are still some major union endorsements yet to come — including those from Education Minnesota and Service Employees International Union.