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Capitol View®
Tim Pugmire

Zellers giving up House seat in run for governor

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Republican gubernatorial candidate and state Rep. Kurt Zellers announced today that he will not seek re-election to his Minnesota House seat in District 34B this year.

Zellers is currently serving his sixth term and was Speaker of the House for two years when the GOP was last in the majority. He lives in Maple Grove.

In a news release, Zellers said it has been an honor to represent his district for 11 years.

“I’m proud of the important legislation I passed over the past six terms benefitting the residents of Maple Grove and Osseo, as well as the state of Minnesota,” Zellers said.

Zellers is one of six GOP candidates trying to unseat DFL incumbent Gov. Mark Dayton this fall. He plans to run in the August primary.

Zellers’ announcement is the latest in a growing list of legislative retirements. The other Republicans who’ve said they won’t seek re-election include state Reps. Mike Benson of Rochester, David FitzSimmons of Albertville, Mary Liz Holberg of Lakeville, Andrea Kieffer of Woodbury and Ernie Leidiger of Mayer. The DFL list includes state Reps. John Benson of Minnetonka, Tom Huntley of Duluth and Michael Paymar of St. Paul.