that the Independence Party would not be running a candidate for Governor this
year. On the following day, however, the party endorsed a 39-year-old mother
of two, Hannah Nicollet, for Governor. She is believed to be the first female
candidate for Governor of Minnesota endorsed by a major party.
Nicollet, a longtime Ron Paul supporter, was originally a candidate for U.S.
Senate competing for the nomination against businessman Kevin Terrell.
However, in the middle of the afternoon she suddenly switched to the
gubernatorial race. Both candidates were nominated for their respective
offices.
The Independence Party also nominated Bob Helland for Secretary of State,
Brandon Borgos for Attorney General, and Pat Dean for State Auditor. Although
the turnout was small, there was enthusiastic support for all the endorsed
candidates.
Party veteran, former U.S. Senator Dean Barkley, was also in attendance
although he remarked that he was not running for any elective office. The
convention was held at Mankato State University.