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The Minnesota attorney general's office doesn't come open very often, and Democrats have had a lock on it for more than 40 years.

But in June, incumbent DFLer Lori Swanson said she would 

 instead of seeking a fourth four-year term as AG.

That led to a scramble among DFLers on the 

. All are touting unique legal experiences that make them best qualified to run in November for the constitutional office.

Live analysis and results

Who's on the DFL primary ballot?

Candidates push ahead as primary nears


There is also a Republican primary for attorney general. Former state Rep. Doug Wardlow is the party's endorsed candidate. He is being challenged by former DFL state Sen. Bob Lessard and frequent candidate Sharon Anderson.


But because so many Democrats got into the race so late, here's a look at the DFL candidates:

Keith Ellison

Tom Foley

Debra Hilstrom

Matt Pelikan

Mike Rothman

: Ellison grew up in Detroit and moved to Minnesota to attend law school. He currently lives in Minneapolis. He has four children.

: Wayne State University, University of Minnesota Law School

: Ellison worked for the Lindquist & Vennum firm, Hassan & Reed, Ltd. and the nonprofit Legal Rights Center.

: Ellison has served in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2007 and gained national notoriety as the first Muslim elected to Congress. Ellison previously served four years in the Minnesota House. He is deputy chair of the Democratic National Committee.

: Fairness for workers, fair economy, civil rights and justice.

: Ellison says he wants to be the "people's lawyer" and hold those in power accountable.

"I think I can do more good work for more people faster as attorney general than as a member of Congress," Ellison said. "It's just a quicker route to justice."

: Ellison had a stint as an unpaid public affairs host on KMOJ radio in the 1990s.

: Foley grew up in southeastern Minnesota and currently lives in St. Paul. He is married and has two sons.

: University of Minnesota, University of Minnesota Law School

: Foley served as Ramsey County attorney from 1979 to 1994 and had a brief stint as acting Washington County Attorney. He served as vice chair of the National Indian Gaming Commission. Foley was an unsuccessful candidate for U.S. Senate in 1994, lieutenant governor in 1998 and U.S. House in 2000. He chaired the Minnesota Clinton For President campaign in 1992.

: Sexual violence, opioid crisis, cybersecurity, school safety and consumer protection.

: Foley jumped into the race in the closing minutes of candidate filing. He had concerns about the level of experience of the other candidates.

"The attorney general's office is the largest public law office in the state," Foley said. "I'm the only one that's ever managed a public law office."

: Foley's father Daniel was a Minnesota Court of Appeals judge.

: Hilstrom was born in Brooklyn Center and has lived there since, except for a time while attending college. She is married and has two grown children.

: University of Minnesota, William Mitchell College of Law

: Hilstrom worked as an assistant county attorney for Anoka County.

: Hilstrom was first elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2000 and is serving her ninth term. She is currently the lead Democrat on the public safety committee. Hilstrom previously served six years on the Brooklyn Center City Council.

: Consumer protection, opioid crisis and drug prices.

: Hilstrom says she wants to carry on the office's "proud tradition" of helping Minnesotans.

"We need to make sure that not only do we take on the issues of national importance, but we make certain that everyday Minnesotans — when they call the attorney general's office — get the help that they need. No one should be too big that they are above the law, and no one should be too small that they're below its protection."

: Hilstrom was the first in her family to earn a four-year college degree.

: Born and raised in Northfield, currently lives in Minneapolis.

: St. Olaf College, University of Minnesota law school

: Pelikan is a lawyer with the Madel P.A. firm in Minneapolis. He previously worked at Robins Kaplan LLP and clerked for several Minnesota Supreme Court justices.

: Pelikan is a first-time candidate who won the DFL endorsement in June when Lori Swanson abruptly dropped out of the endorsement battle at the state convention. Pelikan prevented a first-ballot endorsement for Swanson by winning support from 47 percent of the delegates. Swanson received 52 percent.

: Gun violence, opioid crisis, drug prices and anti-trust.

: Pelikan says Minnesotans need a bold, progressive as attorney general. Pelikan says he would bring a unique perspective to the job.

"For me, it's about everything from growing up in small-town Minnesota with a loving family, but as a gay kid who faced my share of bullying and isolation," Pelikan said. "That taught me how politics can make a difference in peoples' lives. That gave me deep empathy for fighting for people."

: Rothman grew up in Minneapolis and Chaska. He currently lives in Minnetonka with his wife and three children.

: Carleton College, University of Minnesota Law School

: Rothman was a partner at Winthrop & Weinstine in Minneapolis and previously worked at a law firm in California. He also worked as a Minnesota Senate staffer and a Minnesota Court of Appeals clerk.

: Rothman served as Gov. Mark Dayton's commerce commissioner from 2011 until late last year.

: Consumer protection, elder abuse, opioid crisis and drug prices.

: Rothman said he want to be attorney general to build on the consumer protection work he did as commerce commissioner.

"Deep down, I have a passion to help people, take care of them," Rothman said.

: Rothman was a state champion debater in high school.

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Tim Pugmire

Author

There's a crowded DFL primary race for Minnesota attorney general. Here's a quick look to help you sort through some of the candidates.

Crowded field seeks DFL nod for attorney general

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