Mark Haase beats Mike Freeman for DFL endorsement as Hennepin attorney

Freeman plans to be on the ballot in November regardless of the endorsement vote, his son said.

May 20, 2018 at 1:56AM
Mark Haase
Mark Haase (Vince Tuss/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Minneapolis attorney Mark Haase won the DFL endorsement for Hennepin County attorney Saturday, beating incumbent Mike Freeman by a vote of 249 to 134.

"It seemed like the delegates had responded to the message of reclaiming justice," said Del Jenkins, vice chair for District 3 and co-convener of the convention held at Patrick Henry High School in Minneapolis.

Mike Freeman, 70, has been chief prosecutor in the state's most populated county for 19 years. Haase, 50, is a graduate of the University of St. Thomas School of Law. There were no other candidates.

"I am incredibly excited that the message of our campaign resonated with the DFL Party," Haase said after the convention. "We're going to build on this momentum and will start the general election campaign immediately."

Mike Freeman's son, Matthew, said Saturday that Freeman plans to be on the ballot in November regardless of the endorsement vote.

Jim Buchta • 612-673-7376

Hennepin District Attorney Mike Freeman, right, and Assistant Hennepin County Attorney Thad Tudor, left, addressed the media after Beth Freeman's sentencing at the Hennepin County Government Center, Friday, May 11, 2018.
Hennepin County District Attorney Mike Freeman, right (Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
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about the writer

Jim Buchta

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Jim Buchta has covered real estate for the Star Tribune for several years. He also has covered energy, small business, consumer affairs and travel.

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