No DFL endorsement in Mpls. mayor race

Mark Andrew
Former Hennepin County Commissioner Mark Andrew speaks during a live radio debate among the six DFL candidates for Minneapolis mayor onTuesday, June 11, 2013, at Minnesota Public Radio in St. Paul.
MPR Photo/Jennifer Simonson

The Minneapolis DFL did not endorse a candidate for mayor on Saturday at a party convention that lasted more than 12 hours.

Six candidates competed for the endorsement. Former Hennepin County Commissioner Mark Andrew led throughout the balloting process and won a majority of the vote on the fourth ballot, but he failed to achieve the 60 percent needed for endorsement. Andrew told supporters it was still a big accomplishment.

""We've done an incredible job," Andrew said. "We've been in this campaign 16 weeks, that's all. We came from nowhere, and we stormed the city, and we did it because of the people in this room."

Two other candidates temporarily joined forces to prevent Andrew from winning the endorsement. Gary Schiff threw his support at the convention to Betsy Hodges, saying Hodges was his "second choice" for mayor because she shares his "progressive values."

"My second choice has always, always opposed stadium ripoffs and corporate welfare," Schiff said. "And so, to all delegates, I encourage you to vote your values. Follow your heart, but my second choice is Betsy Hodges."

Schiff came in third, behind Hodges and Andrew. Jackie Cherryhomes, Don Samuels and Jim Thomas mustered little support. All six will continue their campaigns.

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