Bakk ends bid for governor

District 7 Senator Tom Bakk this weekend decided to end his bid for the DFL endorsement for governor. Bakk said he will continue to focus his energies on balancing the state budget in “as fair and sensible a way possible and putting in place policies that will restart our stalled economy.”

“I want to thank my supporters and volunteers who have put in thousands of hours on the phones, working to spread my message of jobs, jobs, jobs,” said Bakk. He said he was especially appreciative of the several unions who threw their support behind his candidacy.

Bakk said he had the delegates to be a factor at the convention, but did not think he could reach the 60 percent needed for DFL endorsement. “Faced with a decision of spending the next month working to earn delegate support or focusing entirely on the immediate problems Minnesota is facing,” said Bakk, “I’ve chosen the latter and will focus on my work as chair of the Senate Tax Committee."

Bakk added that after eight years of budget crises, no new revenue, and cuts to schools and health care systems, “Minnesota is in dire need of a new leader who will get the state back on track and take steps to invest in our future.” He ended his formal statement by leaving the door open for a run in the future.