Richard Painter will Seek US Senate in Minnesota

[kpete]

Former George W. Bush ethics lawyer ditches GOP, to seek U.S. Senate in Minn. as Democrat
Richard Painter will take on Tina Smith, who holds the seat now as Al Franken's successor.



Richard Painter, a longtime Republican who was chief ethics lawyer for George W. Bush's White House, intends to run for the U.S. Senate in Minnesota this year as a Democrat, according to a filing he made recently with federal elections officials.


Painter, a persistent and frequent critic of President Donald Trump on national cable TV news appearances and on Twitter, is expected to announce his candidacy at a Monday news conference.

He's running for Democrat Al Franken's former seat. Franken resigned Jan. 2 in the wake of numerous sexual harassment allegations.

Gov. Mark Dayton appointed Lt. Gov. Tina Smith to be his successor. That seat is up this fall in a special election, and Smith has said she intends to run for a full six-year term.

Minnesota's other Senate seat, held by Democrat Amy Klobuchar, is also up this fall, although she is widely expected to win another term.

http://www.startribune.com/former-george-w-bush-ethics-lawyer-to-run-for-u-s-senate-as-a-democrat/481182291/

[rzemanfl]

1. Franken should run. n/t

[samnsara]

2. ohhhhh maaaaan Im so conflicted! I really like Painter but i LOVE AL!!!

...Al should run, but not against Painter.

[onlyadream]

3. Wow. That's a shocker!!!! Nt

[procon]

4. Smart, honorable man, he'll make a good Democrat. nt

[FloridaBlues]

6. Seems legit and very smart he just might win

[MiniMe]

5. While I have liked Painter in the tRump era, he is not a Democrat and I wish he wouldn't run as one

Being anti-tRump does not mean he doesn't have beliefs to support the Republican agenda

[FloridaBlues]

8. He doesn't seem like a repub anymore people do changd

Maybe he has a shot At this, see how the voters feel about this.
He does speak his mind kind refreshingly

[WhiskeyGrinder]

10. I can't figure out why everyone is so excited about him running, when it sets up what's likely to be

a dreary primary with our current DFL senator, Tina Smith.

[dogman]

24. His opposition to a proposed mine in the border lakes deserves attention.

He might be good for Minnesota. They deserve a choice of qualified candidates.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

25. Does he oppose the mine, the permitting process, or the "foreign banking interests" that are backing

Polymet? His website says, "Foreign banking interests are attempting to pollute our most precious and beautiful natural conservation area. Richard will not tolerate this corruption and will fight to protect the boundary waters [sic] from harmful mining practices that leave our environment in shambles."

I've seen a lot stronger anti-mining statements from candidates. In fact, this is just fiery and vague enough (no mention of the difference between iron ore mining and copper-nickel mining, for example) that one-issue voters could flock to him, a former Republican, at the expense of the well-rounded and experienced current senator. No thanks. We just went through that here in the 8th, when environmentalists tried to endorse a former ICE contractor and FBI employee candidate as a DFLer. I mean, JFC.

[Kolesar]

27. Pick a genuine candidate who represents the Dem coalition

The right candidate can excite the electorate and motivate people to register and vote. A centrist will just produce more of the same. What is Painter's position on TPP, oil and gas, solar, NAFTA? What about Alleppo!?

[AJT]

11. The democrats are the adults and he is more of a

fiscally responsible old school republican. The democratic party has become the responsible ones so he will be a good fit. We need to welcome the people who have lost their party. We have people from the center to the left and democrats of all stripes can work together to get this country back on track.

[Golden Raisin]

7. He's been one of the voices on TV keeping me semi-sane

during the Trump nightmare.

[get the red out]

28. Same here! eom

[pnwmom]

9. I'd rather our opponents be decent people, so I'm happy to hear he's running. n/t

[dflprincess]

12. Tina Smith may not be Al Franken

but she is a DFLer and that is who Painter is currently running against.

If the seat were wide open, I'd welcome him into the race but we do not have time to waste on a primary fight this year. Especially as, at this time, it appears the Republicans will not have a primary for this seat.

[pnwmom]

15. You're right. I didn't read enough to realize he's switched parties. Wow. n/t

[backtoblue]

16. +1 nt

[S.E. TN Liberal]

13. Is he just a DINO, (Democrat in Name Only)?

The people of Minnesota deserve to have a real Democrat represent them.

What are this guys positions on the issues and what is his record?

Is he; a homophobe? Anti-choice? Anti-Union? Against Social Security and Medicare?

These positions would be bad for Minnesotans.

[Hoyt]

14. What's wrong with the appointed Senator? I do like Painter on MSNBC, but

why has it taken so long to shun GOPers?

[Blue_true]

21. Tina Smith is a solid, longtime progressive.

I would go with the proven. Maybe Painter will be a Liz Warren type convert. But should we take that chance when we already have a solid progressive?

[Hoyt]

23. I agree completely. Did not know much about her. Hope the voters aren't swayed.

[Kirk Lover]

17. Good for him! He is disgusted with the Republican party...I just heard him say how

foul Pruitt is and how is destroying the EPA and what kind of party denies science.

Glad to have him aboard !

[oberliner]

18. Go Tina Smith!

[WhiskeyGrinder]

19. I can't figure out why everyone is so excited about him running.

[oberliner]

20. Because he "zings" Trump on tv?

That's my guess.

Anyway, I think Tina Smith is great - has been taking on Big Pharma!

[SharonClark]

26. Bingo

Some DUers set a very low bar.

[Blue_true]

22. Me neither.

Tina Smith is a pretty solid progressive with a long track record.