SOUTHERN MINNESOTA - The next step in the battle between Sen. Mike Parry (R-Waseca) and former state representative Allen Quist for the Republican endorsement for 1st Congressional District race is up in the air as the Republican 1st District Central Committee scrambles to find a day to continue the endorsement convention.
The convention previously met on Saturday, April 21 to select a candidate. But, the delegates were so closely split after 14 hours and 23 ballots that neither candidate received the threshold majority of votes needed for the endorsement. The convention was adjourned with the Central Committee directed to determine another date to continue the process.
The initial time frame of two to three weeks that was sought with the adjournment motion, which would mean a May 12 convention, does not work. The Central Committee reviewed the district's bylaws and found that the Central Committee meeting must be announced 10 days ahead of time. Also, the bylaws state that the Committee is required to announce the selected date for the convention at least 10 days ahead of time.
No dates are known yet because the Central Committee hasn't met. But, district Republicans have been bouncing around June 2. The other weekends between the May 12 and June 2 are unlikely because of scheduling conflicts with the Republican State Convention and Memorial Day. Quist's newsletter to his supporters has similarly suggested June 2 as the most likely date.
Republican Party of Minnesota 1st Congressional District Chair David Kruse said that because the last convention ended with an adjournment, as opposed to a Motion to Recess, the next convention will count like a new event. He said that different rules or guidelines could be proposed for the event's proceedings. He said he didn't know of any specific changes that could be possibly introduced, or whether any changes would occur at all.
Kruse said that he and many other Republicans are hopeful that the next endorsement convention will be shorter than the April 21 meeting.
The Central Committee currently has a deadline for finishing its work and starting a convention before June 5, which is the election filing deadline for candidates.
(Josh Moniz can be e-mailed at jmoniz@nujournal.com)