The Green Party of Minnesota will have four candidates on the November general election ballot this year, including three seeking statewide office and another running for a seat in the Minnesota Senate.
In a statement emailed to Independent Political Report, the party said the Minnesota Secretary of State’s office verified petitions for Steven Young and Jane Kirby for governor and lieutenant governor, Seth Kuhl-Stennes for secretary of state, and Ngone Niang for the 39th State Senate District. The Secretary of State’s candidate filing page now lists all four individuals as Green candidates for the general election.
The party previously endorsed the slate at its state endorsing convention on April 18 at the Minneapolis Central Library. As they pursued the petition route under Minnesota law, the three candidates for statewide office were required to submit at least 2,000 valid signatures, while Niang needed at least 500 for her Senate race.
Rachel Braaten, a co-chair of the Green Party of Minnesota, said in the statement that she was proud the party could offer what she called “incorruptible candidates” this cycle.
“Because the Green Party and its candidates don’t take corrupting sources of money, we ensure that we are working for the people of Minnesota,” Braaten said. “With policies that people actually want, such as ranked-choice voting and universal healthcare, we speak loudly and clearly about what we are for. We may be outspent, but we are not outnumbered.”
The party noted that it has been active in Minnesota politics since 1996 but has not fielded a gubernatorial ticket since the 2010 election cycle. That year, Farheen Hakeem ran with Dan Dittmann as her running mate, with the ticket receiving 6,188 votes and placing fifth among seven tickets on the ballot.
While the statement did not include a comment from Young on the ballot access announcement, Kirby said she is running to give voters “an honest and decent candidate” who will consider the welfare of all state residents. “Sustainability and kindness will guide decision-making, with future focus requiring access and accountability for all. Our water, the hallmark of Minnesota, is not for sale,” Kirby said.
The party said the slate is campaigning around the Green Party’s foundational 10 Key Values, which it defined as social and economic justice, grassroots democracy, nonviolence, ecological wisdom, decentralization, community-based economics, feminism, personal and global responsibility, respect for diversity, and future focus. It added that the candidates will directly engage with voters as part of their outreach.
“In the coming days and months, the candidates will be reaching out to meet and listen to people in Minnesota to understand their concerns and hopes, and share their ideas about how we can make our state a more just, peaceful, and sustainable place for today and generations to come,” the statement said.
Be First to Comment