8th District DFL Congressional Candidate Drops Out of Race

Photo: File photo
Leah Phifer

April 18, 2018 04:28 PM

One of the leading candidates for the DFL nomination in the race for the U.S. Congressional seat in the state's 8th District has decided to end her candidacy.

Leah Phifer said Wednesday she would not compete in the primary election.

“My goal, since first declaring my candidacy in October 2017, has always been to win the DFL endorsement, bring new voices to the table and strengthen the party,” she said in a statement.

“A divisive primary season would only serve to weaken the party and distract from the issues affecting the people of the 8th District.”

The Two Harbors native, who worked as an intelligence analyst for the FBI, received the most votes at last weekend's 8th District Convention in Duluth, though none of the five candidates reached the 60 percent threshold required to secure the party's endorsement. And ultimately, the delegates decided against endorsing any candidate before the primary.

The nomination is open after Democratic incumbent Rick Nolan announced in February that he would not seek re-election.

Four candidates remain in the race for the DFL nomination: Joe Radinovich, Jason Metsa, Kirsten Kennedy and Michelle Lee.

KSTP 2018 Election Page

In a release, Phifer said she was not endorsing any of the remaining candidates at this time.