Ellison resignation could set off rush for MN's 5th District seat

[portlander23]

Ellison resignation could set off rush for MN's 5th District seat
David Montgomery
Duluth News Tribune

On Monday, Dec. 5, at least three different people expressed interest in running for the seat should Ellison resign, including his 2016 Republican opponent and two Democratic state lawmakers. Many more could join them due to the unusual nature of the special election a resignation by Ellison would create.

Mike Erlandson, a former chairman of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party who ran unsuccessfully for the 5th District in 2006, said a special election could attract a “larger field of candidates” than usual. That’s because current officeholders wouldn’t have to choose between their existing positions and running for Congress, as they might if the seat were up at a regular November election.

Ellison has represented the 5th District since 2007. He has attracted some high-profile support for his bid to run the Democratic Party, including from former presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders. But some leading Democrats have criticized the possibility of a part-time chair, leading Ellison this weekend to publicly float the possibility of resigning his seat in Congress should he be chosen as chair.

I'm all for a progressive coup in the DNC, but I'd feel better with Ellison still in congress.

[Renew Deal]

1. Ellison is better off in Congress.

It's a better long term decision.

[still_one]

2. I will leave it to others to debate the merits of his being the next DNC chair, but

resigning from his seat in the House removes one of the obstacles I had for him becoming DNC chair, because I believe a DNC chair should be a full time job

[nycbos]

3. For everyones information....

... Ray Buckley (another candidate) is a progressive. Don't know much about Jaime Harrison but I have heard good things.


There are some who seem to think that anyone who didn't agree with Bernie on 100% of the issues isn't a progressive.


That kind of purity demands will cause us to loose every election.


Sanders himself is not like that. He calls himself a socialist but he is really a progressive pragmatist.

That's how he governed Burlington. He voted for the ACA even though he supports single payer because he knows 15,000,000 more people getting care is better than zero. And he probably sees the ACA as a step we can take toward single payer.


I would say all three candidates running would we good candidates. I would prefer Buckley or Harrison because are current state party chairs they have a better sense of what we have been lacking on a state and local level the Ellison.

[George II]

4. Why would anyone think that Ellison would resign?

[geek tragedy]

5. so he can become DNC chair. nt