Johnson, Ortman Win Minn. GOP Scrimmages
Early Republican scrimmages Saturday in races for Minnesota governor and the U.S. Senate gave a leg up to a pair of candidates who are looking for any edge against better-financed rivals. The straw polls at the Minnesota Republican Party's State Central Committee meeting were won by Hennepin County Commissioner Jeff Johnson in the governor's race and state Sen. Julianne Ortman for Senate. But if past preference polls are any guide, neither has a lock on the party's endorsement that will be awarded next May or the nomination to be decided in August. "I don't know that I believe in the curse of the straw poll," Johnson said after his win, alluding to others who have been overtaken come state convention time. "These are the most active of the activists."
