Local Republican delegates in southern Minnesota failed to endorse anyone from a crowded field of congressional hopefuls over the weekend.
Several candidates are vying to fill the final months of the late GOP U.S. Rep. Jim Hagedorn current term as a May 24 special primary and an Aug. 9 election approach.
But the endorsement that was debated for hours during the First District Republican convention wouldn't have applied to that race. Instead, the endorsement was focused on the regular midterm election for the seat that will decide who represents the redrawn district for a full two-year term starting next year.
Winning Saturday's endorsement could have provided a boost in the special primary race as a range of candidates try to break away from the rest of the field.
"I think the people of the First District are paying attention to the race and looking at the candidates, doing their research, and I think they're going to make an informed decision on May 24," said Aaron Farris, chair of the First Congressional District Republicans.
State Rep. Jeremy Munson led all seven rounds of voting as the convention stretched past midnight but was unable to gather enough support to win the coveted endorsement.
The latest round of campaign finance reports showed that more than $1 million already has gone into DFL and GOP campaigns for the seat. That includes a $200,000 loan that Munson made to his campaign. But records show that, when excluding loans, Republican Matt Benda, an Albert Lea attorney, had the strongest fundraising quarter in the field through the end of March.
Munson tweeted Saturday that GOP U.S. Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky has endorsed his campaign and earlier announced the support of Republican U.S. Reps. Jim Jordan of Ohio and Thomas Massie of Kentucky.
