In Minn. governor’s race, polarized parties create opening for candidate from party of Ventura

Polarized Minn. gov. race leaves opening for indie

MINNEAPOLIS — An independent candidate for governor of Minnesota has shown surprising strength in a race against a Democrat and a Republican at polar ends of the political spectrum.

Tom Horner is a moderate former Republican who is trying to follow Jesse Ventura’s lead a dozen years later. He hopes to harness the same discontent that fueled the former pro wrestler’s unexpected 1998 election.

Horner has lagged behind Democrat Mark Dayton and Republican Tom Emmer in the polls so far. But he’s picked up prominent endorsements and shown stronger fundraising than Ventura’s two previous would-be successors in Minnesota’s Independence Party.

Polls show many voters still undecided about who should succeed retiring Gov. Tim Pawlenty.