Blake Chaffee, a Duluth DFLer and campaign manager for Congressman Jim Oberstar, has opted not to enter the race for State Representative in District 7B. This comes on the day when Duluth City Council President Roger Reinert officially announced his campaign and leaves Reinert with uncontested frontrunner status.
Chaffee issues the following statement this afternoon:
“After careful consideration I have decided I will not be a candidate for the Minnesota House of Representatives.
“I am absolutely humbled by the support I have received from my friends in the DFL community, and I look forward to future opportunities to serve. Two years ago I made a commitment to Congressman Oberstar and feel that I am in a position to best serve my party, and my community, by working to elect a Democratic ticket this November.
“I am confident that we will emerge with a strong Democratic candidate who will be a voice for progressive issues, and working class families here in Duluth.”
According to Duluth sources, Chaffee remains a rising star in northern Minnesota’s DFL party and with his high profile job working for Jim Oberstar he may well have another shot at elective office in the future.
Meanwhile, this leaves Reinert with a clear path to the DFL endorsement and, possibly, nomination. The only other announced DFL candidate is political newcomer Brandon Stokey, who continues to remain silent despite the rising profile of this election. Others may enter, but Reinert is unrolling what appears to be a top notch legislative campaign. Frankly, the only person in West Duluth who can cause trouble for Reinert now is businessman and former mayoral candidate Charlie Bell. Bell beat Mayor Don Ness in the West Duluth precincts and could be very competitive as a moderate DFLer in a District 7B primary. I’d really like to know his plans.
So, who else is out there?
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