President Obama is endorsing down-ballot candidates, including a Rochester Democrat running for the Minnesota House.
Obama endorsed House District 25B candidate Duane Sauke on Monday. Sauke is running against former Republican Rep. Fran Bradley for the open seat. They are battling to replace Rochester DFL Rep. Kim Norton, who announced last year she would not seek re-election.
Sauke is one of eight DFL Minnesota House candidates endorsed by Obama. He is the only candidate endorsed by the president in southeast Minnesota.
Sauke said he found out about the president's endorsement 48 hours before it was announced. He said the endorsement helps highlight the importance of these statehouse elections.
"It does draw a light on the importance of every vote," he said.
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Sauke's campaign sent out a press release announcing the endorsement. In a statement, Jessica Post, executive director of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, said "We are thrilled that President Obama is endorsing our candidates in some of the most compelling races across the country. His endorsement highlights how crucial state legislative elections are to building on the progress the president has achieved and to continue to move our nation forward."
