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Tom Scheck
St. Paul, Minn.

Former Gov. Al Quie backs Seifert for governor

Former state representative Marty Seifert
Former state representative Marty Seifert discusses his campaign for governor in the Republican primary at the State Office Building Monday, June 2, 2014. Before filing his candidate paperwork, Seifert told reporters he doesn't expect any a€œsharp elbowsa€ in the campaign, but he has already pointed out some differences. The Republican from Marshall described himself as the "anti-establishment" candidate, and the only one from rural Minnesota.
Tim Pugmire/MPR News

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Former Republican Gov. Al Quie is backing former state Rep. Marty Seifert's campaign for governor. The Seifert campaign made the announcement Wednesday morning.

"I have been impressed by Seifert's ability to connect with Minnesotans all over our state and his unique grasp of the issues that are important for our future," Quie said in a statement issued by the Seifert campaign. "We need a leader who is dedicated to justice and he will appoint judges and justices who respect the law and the Constitution, have radical integrity, and who will respect the litigants."

Quie served as governor from 1978 until 1982. He defeated DFL governor Rudy Perpich in 1978.

Quie is the first former former Republican governor to take sides in the party's primary battle. He also backed Seifert's campaign in 2010 when Seifert later lost the GOP endorsement to Tom Emmer. Quie later backed Independence Party candidate Tom Horner over Emmer in the general election.

This year, Seifert decided to run in the primary even though Republican delegates endorsed Hennepin County Commissioner Jeff Johnson. Seifert, Johnson, state Rep. Kurt Zellers and businessman Scott Honour are all running in the August primary.