The Stonewall DFL announced Sunday evening that they had endorsed Matt Entenza for governor in November 2010. Stonewall held their candidate screenings on Dec. 12 at a members-only meeting.
To the endorsement Entenza said, “I am so proud to have earned the endorsement of Stonewall DFL. I am committed to running a campaign and having an administration that reflects the rich diversity of our state. Stonewall DFL stands strong for equal rights – as I always have and always will. They will be an invaluable partner in making Minnesota work again for all Minnesotans.”
The rankings were:
“A” rating:
Mark Dayton
Matt Entenza
Susan Gaertner
Steve Kelley
John Marty
RT Rybak
“B” rating:
Margaret Anderson Kelliher
Tom Rukavina
Paul Thissen
Incomplete:
Tom Bakk (Interview still needed)
Endorsed: Matt Entenza
Here’s the full press release from the Stonewall DFL:
ST. PAUL, Minn. – In what appears to be the first DFL caucus endorsement of the 2010 gubernatorial campaign, Matt Entenza has been endorsed by the Stonewall DFL, the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, friends and allies caucus of the DFL Party of Minnesota.
Entenza has a long history of advocating for equal rights for all Minnesotans. Believing it’s wrong for the government to allow some adults full rights as citizens and deny others those same rights, he co-authored the first Minnesota bill for marriage equality. He opposed a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage. He supported domestic partner benefits for state employees and authored legislation to increase the penalties faced by those convicted of crimes based on sexual orientation.
Entenza has been endorsed by the Stonewall Caucus in every campaign he has run since 1994.
Earlier this year, in conjunction with the Twin Cities Pride festival, Entenza released a video, “Pride,” which can be found here: http://www.facebook.com/l/a3cd6;www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYPsrCPMnBE.
“Matt Entenza’s position on the issues important to our members is as simple as it is strong: equality for all Minnesotans – period,” said Del Jenkins, chair of Stonewall DFL. “It is easy for us to support someone we truly believe will make the best governor of Minnesota .”
Said Entenza: “I am so proud to have earned the endorsement of Stonewall DFL. I am committed to running a campaign and having an administration that reflects the rich diversity of our state. Stonewall DFL stands strong for equal rights – as I always have and always will. They will be an invaluable partner in making Minnesota work again for all Minnesotans.”
Stonewall DFL, with more than 4,000 members, is a political organization that works for a safe and equitable Minnesota by working to elect GLBT and allied Democrats to office in Minnesota and within the DFL. Stonewall offers advice to candidates and campaigns about GLBT outreach and offers endorsements for local, state and federal DFL candidates. By its most recent assessment, it has a 92 percent success rate for endorsed candidates.
Matt Entenza is a leading Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) candidate for governor of Minnesota . His campaign revolves around three core principles: growing jobs all over Minnesota by focusing on the potential of the clean energy economy, providing better educational opportunities to our children and those seeking higher education, and ensuring health care for all. Entenza represented St. Paul in the Minnesota legislature for 12 years, including four years during which he also served as House Minority Leader and led the DFL to significant gains. In 2007, Entenza founded Minnesota 2020, a think tank that has been an important voice for progressive policy positions and which he chaired until April 2009. Entenza is a graduate of Worthington High School in Worthington , Minn. , Macalester College in St. Paul , and the University of Minnesota Law School. More information is available at http://www.facebook.com/l/a3cd6;www.entenza.com.