These reports are compiled from campaign news releases.

GOVERNOR

Johnson to campaign in Austin

Republican gubernatorial candidate Jeff Johnson will make a campaign stop  at the  Pizza Ranch in Austin on from 4:30 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 16.  In 2014, Johnson was the Republican nominee who lost the gubernatorial race against Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton.

He is a native of Detroit Lakes who worked as a corporate attorney handling labor law issues. He began his own business that provided human resources training and workplace investigations. He’s served in the state House of Representatives and is currently on the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners.

CONGRESS

DFL candidates to participate in Rochester forum

The seven DFL candidates for Congressional District 1 will gather  from 7-9 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 24, in the first floor auditorium of the Rochester Public Library for a forum hosted by the Southeast Minnesota DFL. Candidates Johnny Akzam, Dan Freehan, Vicki Jensen, Colin Minehart, Joe Sullivan, Bob Ries and Rich Wright plan to participate and will each answer a series of questions from the audience. The DFL caucus is on Feb.  6.

Nelson raises $218,465 in first three months of campaign

Republican State Sen. Carla Nelson’s campaign announced today that it has raised $218,465.72 in her first three months as a candidate for Congress. Of the 500-plus donors, 95 percent came from within the state of Minnesota, the campaign said.

Sullivan releases campaign ad

MANKATO — Democrat Joe Sullivan’s Congressional campaign for the open seat in Minnesota’s 1st congressional district recently launched its first campaign ad of the cycle. The ad features Sullivan talking about standing up to Donald Trump and standing up for southern Minnesota values of family, community, honesty and respect.

The campaign will be rolling out a series of video and display advertisements over the course of the primary.

STATE AUDITOR

Stonewall DFL endorses Blaha

Democrat Julie Blaha, a candidate for state auditor, received the endorsement of the Stonewall DFL on Jan. 6. Her new release says she “has worked for has worked for LGBTIQ justice throughout her career as a teacher and union leader said she was humbled to receive the group’s support.”

Stonewall DFL is the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Friends caucus of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) Party of Minnesota. The caucus works to elect Democrats to public office in Minnesota and to encourage LGBTIQ community participation inside the DFL party and campaigns.

MINNESOTA ATTORNEY GENERAL

Winkler gains Stonewall DFL endorsement

In announcing his receiving the Stonewall DFL endorsement, Ryan Winkler, candidate for Minnesota Attorney General, touted his efforts for marriage equality as a legislator representing Golden Valley.

“While serving in the state legislature, I fought alongside LGBTQ+ community members year-in and year-out,” he said in a news release. “Together, we fought back a constitutional amendment and then brought full marriage equality to Minnesota. But we must continue the fight for justice and inclusion.”

He called it a big day for his campaign to get the endorsement, which he said was the first the race for attorney general.

“As attorney general, I will use the full powers of the office to protect all Minnesotans and their families regardless of whom they love or how they identify,” he said.

— Staff reports