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Two dozen Republicans in the Minnesota Legislature are lining up behind presidential hopeful Marco Rubio, including a pair from the leadership ranks.

House Majority Leader Joyce Peppin, R-Rogers and Senate Minority Leader David Hann, R-Eden Prairie, headline the list of new endorsers released Thursday by Rubio's campaign. The roster includes both rural and suburban lawmakers.

Hann joins the Rubio fray after initially supporting former computer technology executive Carly Fiorina, who left the race earlier this month.

One leading Republican who hasn't picked sides yet is House Speaker Kurt Daudt. 

He got behind Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker

 shortly before Walker's campaign fizzled. He didn't return a text message Thursday inquiring about his latest thinking on the race.

. That includes noted House fiscal hawk, state Rep. Steve Drazkowski of Mazeppa. So far no sitting legislators are publicly behind national front-runner Donald Trump.

While the political payoff for endorsements is debatable, the local leaders give campaigns extra voices at precinct caucuses. Minnesota's turn to vote in the Democratic and Republican nomination battles comes Tuesday.

House Speaker Pro Tempore Tim O’Driscoll

Politics and Government News

Capitol View®

Brian Bakst

Author

Two dozen Minnesota legislative Republicans throw support to Florida Sen. Marco Rubio in presidential campaign.

Rubio nets backing from two dozen state legislators

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