The complicated path to redrawing Minnesota’s congressional and legislative districts is keeping some candidates from jumping into election races.
Because boundaries are certain to change during the redistricting process, which must be finished by Feb. 21 either by the Legislature or the courts, some folks thinking about a run for office in 2012 are holding off, says Don Davis of Forum Communications:
Potential candidates are putting out feelers now and raising some money, but “they are making a little bit of a political gamble,” said [state Republican Chairman Tony Sutton]. A new district could put them in competition with someone in the same party or in an unfavorable geographic area.
Jumping into a race always is a tough sacrifice, added Chairman Ken Martin of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party. “When you combine that with redistricting, no one wants to pull the trigger.”
Waiting until mid-February to start a campaign might work for legislative candidates, but congressional races take more time and money; several DFL candidates have already begun campaigning and raising money to take on Republican U.S. Rep. Chip Cravaack.
And the state party chairmen, who recruit congressional candidates, are struggling, the story said:
“It does hamper recruitment efforts because people are not so ready to commit themselves to a race,” Martin said. “A lot of people right now are taking a wait-and-see attitude.”
Redistricting ….how about get raid off 6th dist.