Johnson, Walz lead governor's polls, but is Pawlenty running?

With more than half of the Republican straw poll votes counted statewide Tuesday night, Feb. 6, Johnson had 45 percent of the votes (3,867) in the non-binding poll taken at caucus meetings across the state.

The undecided total of 16 percent likely was an indicator that many Republicans are waiting to see if former Gov. Tim Pawlenty gets into the race. He announced on Tuesday that he is quitting his Washington lobbying job, creating a buzz at many caucus meetings.

Without Pawlenty on the ballot, GOP choices were Hennepin County Commissioner Johnson, 45 percent, former Republican Party Chairman Keith Downey, 14 percent, Woodbury Mayor Mary Giuliani Stephens, 12 percent and teacher Phillip Parrish of Kenyon, 12 percent.

The Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party ballot results were coming in slower. Early returns showed U.S. Rep. Tim Walz, getting just less than a third of the vote. As with the GOP, undecided voters were No. 2.

State Auditor Rebecca Otto followed Walz but was ahead of state Sen. Erin Murphy and former St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman. In the early returns, state Reps. Tina Liebling and Paul Thissen trailed.

Attendance in many precincts was far below records set two years ago.

"If there is a 'message' from the voters at DFL/GOP caucuses tonight it is this: The overwhelming number of Minnesota voters want a new way of choosing their party’s nominees and want to scrap the caucuses," Rep. Pat Garofalo, R-Farmington, tweeted. "Turnout on both sides is insanely low!"

Turnout at both the Clay County Republican caucus held at Moorhead High School and the Clay County DFL caucus at Moorhead State University was slim compared to the 2016 caucus, which kicked off a presidential election year.

“I think on both sides, Republicans and speaking for the Democrats, the numbers will be way down simply because it is not a presidential election,” said Fred Wright, Clay County Republican chair.

In Willmar, a crowd of almost 100 people at the DFL caucus outnumbered those at the GOP event.

Rep. Dave Baker, R-Willmar, noticed the difference. “They have a pretty packed house over there. We’re going to have our work cut out for us."

Frank Wirsing, chairman of the Polk County Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, said turnout was far from what he saw two years ago, when 200 to 300 people showed up; he said he would have been happy with 20 this year, but just eight were there.

Democrats were pushing for a good voter turnout this year.

"One of the messages that we're trying to send this year is DFLers in Goodhue County, we mean business, and we want to see something happen in November," Ceri Everett said.

Pawlenty's future was a topic of discussion at both parties' caucuses.

Terri Cheney, a Hastings caucus organizer, said Pawlenty's late entrance into the governor's race could hurt the GOP.

"It is terribly disappointing," Cheney said. "The money and participation has already been holding out on the sidelines to see how things sift out. I was hoping tonight we would have a pretty clear sense of who’s ahead in the state, and now the people will wait yet again."

At least one Newport Republican was against a Pawlenty candidacy.

"Definitely not," said Everett Acker. "We’ve had enough of him. He’s not conservative enough."

Among the Becker County Republicans, support was strong for gubernatorial candidate Johnson, who grew up in Detroit Lakes.

"Of course I support Jeff Johnson," said LaVonne Nordgulen, secretary of the Becker County Republicans.

But Tim Pawlenty is still popular among Becker County Republicans.

"He did a good job -- he was a good governor," she said.

Wirsing, at the East Grand Forks DFL caucus, sounded concerned that Pawlenty could run statewide.:"He’s one of the people who could possibly take it, because of how middle-of-the-road" northern Minnesota is, he said.

The straw poll was atop the agenda in 4,000 precincts around the state. Caucus attendees also were to pick local party leaders and delegates for conventions that will endorse candidates later this year.

No poll was planned for U.S. Senate candidates, in either race that will be on the November ballot. One race will decide who will fill out the final two years of Al Franken's term; he resigned last month after several sexual misconduct allegations surfaced.

In an email, Downey's campaign reminded Republican activists that Johnson lost an attorney general race in 2006 and a governor campaign four years ago.

"If you want to win the governor's race, then get out and vote for Keith ... at the Republican precinct caucuses," the email said.

Johnson responded: "Unfortunately, one of my opponents -- Keith Downey -- has turned almost solely to attacks against me in the desperate hope of scoring higher in the caucus straw poll tonight. I won't respond in kind (though it would be pretty easy) because we won't win in November by tearing down other Republicans."

Such a division is unusual among Republican candidates and it likely spurred Republican caucus turnout.

Although Republicans and Democrats conducted straw polls for their governor race candidates, poll winners often do not end up on the November general election ballot.

However, the outcome of the Downey-Johnson spat could affect a couple of big names still thinking about getting in: Pawlenty and House Speaker Kurt Daudt.

Daudt remains uncommitted to the race.

Pawlenty and Daudt were not on the straw poll ballot.

Declared governor candidates for both parties have been traveling the state trying to get support from party faithful who may attend caucuses. Other than several forums, they have had relatively little interaction with the general public.

Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton says his current term, which ends early next January, will be his last in public office.

The last time there was an open governor's office, in 2010, caucus straw polls gave Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak the DFL advantage and state Rep. Marty Seifert the Republican nod. Neither won his political party's endorsement.

While party chairmen say they want the decision about who will run for various offices to be decided in party conventions, there are signs the governor races may be decided in an Aug. 14 primary.

Democrats will meet in Rochester for their nominating convention and Republicans in Duluth, both the first weekend of June.