MINNEAPOLIS — Leaders of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party took aim at likely Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump at their state convention Saturday and warned that divisions among Democrats could hurt the party in the November elections.
Hundreds of leaders, party activists and elected officials gathered for the one-day convention in Minneapolis.
Since there are no statewide offices on the ballot this year, the convention focused on electing delegates to the Democratic National Convention.
Gov. Mark Dayton was interrupted briefly by chants from supporters of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders when he said he is supporting Hillary Clinton for president.
"I know some of you are supporting Sen. Bernie Sanders," Dayton said. "I admire your passion and support of him."
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Sanders supporters booed U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar when she said she was supporting Clinton.
"Of course we have our differences, but in the end we have one job, and that is to make sure Donald Trump is not the next president of the United States," Klobuchar said.
Sanders won Minnesota's caucuses in March. Clinton is poised to clinch the Democratic nomination in the coming days.
Party Chair Ken Martin told convention-goers that a Trump presidency would endanger Democrats' achievements. Martin said prolonged disagreements between Sanders and Clinton could elevate the New York billionaire to the highest elective office in the United States.
Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges warned of "three words" that could become reality: "President. Donald. Trump."
Party members at the state convention Saturday were to elect four members to the Democratic National Committee and 27 delegates to the national convention — 10 of them from among party leaders and elected officials, and 17 at-large. They also were to elect six alternates.
