From Staff Reports from The Cook County News Herald - June 10, 2017

Rick Nolan U.S. Rep. Rick Nolan (DFL) announced on Friday, June 2 that he would forego a run for Minnesota governor. Instead, he will seek another term in Congress.

Nolan had dangled out the prospect of a run several months ago after current governor Mark Dayton made it clear that he wouldn’t seek re-election. 

Sue Hakes, former mayor of Grand Marais and a former Cook County commissioner and winner of a Bush Fellowship, recently set up an exploratory committee to see if she could garner enough support and mount a candidacy to fill Nolan’s seat should he run for governor. But with Nolan’s announcement, Hakes said, “Sources close to Congressman Nolan have said he will be running for re-election to Congress. At this time, I have no plans to run against him.”

In a press release, Nolan said, “The challenges and consequences of the issues facing our nation in Washington are too important for me to walk away from at this time.”

“Moreover, while I’ve received lots of encouragement to run for governor, both from within the 8th District and throughout the state, some of the strongest sentiments have come from constituents who want me to continue the successful work I’ve been able to do in Congress.*

“My decision also reflects and recognizes the tremendous effort put forth by the thousands of people across the 8th District who have worked so diligently to give us hard-fought victories over the last three election cycles.

“America is at a tipping point, and I feel compelled to devote all of my energy and experience to moving our nation forward – and to stopping powerful elements determined to roll back a century of American progress that has doubled life expectancy and created the greatest middle class the world has ever known. These destructive forces cannot be allowed to succeed.

“To defeat them, first and foremost, we need to change the way we do politics. It is imperative that we put an end to the toxic special interest money that is poisoning our campaigns and destroying people’s confidence in our government. The very survival of our democracy is at stake.

“I also want to express my gratitude and thanks to the many friends and supporters who encouraged me to run for governor, and to the people of the 8th District who have given me the honor of representing them in the Congress of the United States. I will continue to do all within my power to merit their trust and confidence – and to pay forward the blessings and opportunities so many of us have been given as we strive to advance the greater good.” 

Congressman Nolan was rated the second most effective Democrat in Congress in a 2015 study undertaken by Vanderbilt University and the University of Virginia, and published by the Washington Post.