Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) has chosen former Fergus Falls mayor Ben Schierer (right) as her running mate in a bid for governor. (KSTP/File/Schierer for Auditor website)
As state conventions start this weekend, the DFL’s presumptive frontrunner for governor now has a running mate.
U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar announced former Fergus Falls mayor Ben Schierer as her lieutenant governor choice on Friday.
In addition to formerly leading Fergus Falls for two terms starting in 2016, Schierer had also been running to replace State Auditor Julie Blaha, who isn’t seeking reelection.
That means Klobuchar’s announcement could impact that race, where the other DFL frontrunner is Rep. Dan Wolgamott (DFL-St. Cloud).
“Ben Schierer hasn’t just talked about how to create opportunities in Minnesota – he’s actually done it,” Klobuchar said. “He knows what it takes to run a small business – he’s run two of them. He knows what it takes to hammer out results by bringing together the private sector, the public sector, and the people – because that’s what he did as mayor. And he knows that transforming our government can’t happen without economic growth. Together, we will bring that approach to our state government.”
“I am proud and excited to join the ticket and work with Senator Klobuchar to lead this state with a growth agenda,” Schierer said. “With experience as a small business owner and a father of five, I know the hard work it takes to support a family and run a business. And as a former mayor devoted to rural economic development, I know how important it is to elect a Governor who will focus on expanding our economy and creating good jobs for Minnesotans across this state. Amy Klobuchar gets it – she shows up time and time again, in all 87 counties – and I am ready to partner with her to get things done for our families, our communities, and our state.”
The DFL is expected to endorse its gubernatorial candidate on Friday night. Gov. Tim Walz, who isn’t seeking reelection, isn’t expected to attend.
Why Schierer?
The 52-year-old Schierer has experience as a former mayor and small business owner, and he also served on the Fergus Falls City Council starting in 2004. He currently works with the West Central Initiative, a regional non-profit dedicated to economic development.
Klobuchar is surely counting on Schierer’s experience and history helping boost her in rural Minnesota, especially with plans for expanding the state’s economy and fighting fraud — something Schierer had already been highlighting in his bid for state auditor. Those will be key areas that Republicans try to knock the DFL candidates for leading up to Election Day.
Thom Petersen, the commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture since 2019, was rumored to have been a frontrunner to be Klobuchar’s running mate in recent months, as were Brooklyn Park Mayor Hollies Winston and Stillwater Mayor Ted Kozlowski. Instead, statewide fraud concerns may have led Klobuchar to Schierer.
If the Klobuchar-Schierer ticket were elected, he’d become the first person from Minnesota’s 7th congressional district to be elected to a statewide office in over 50 years, the campaign noted.
