DFLer Norton won’t run again for Minnesota House seat

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A five-term state lawmaker is planning to leave the Legislature next year.

Rep. Kim Norton, DFL-Rochester, announced today that she will not seek re-election in 2016.

Norton was first elected to the Minnesota House in 2006. She is currently the lead Democrat on the House Greater Minnesota Economic and Workforce Development Policy Committee.

Norton said her decision was partly based on the growing challenges of partisan politics. She said as a moderate she’s been frustrated trying to work across the aisle to find compromises.

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“I’m not a heavily partisan person,” Norton said. “I just love policy, and it’s difficult in the current climate for someone with that attitude, I guess.”

Norton was the first Democrat and first woman elected to represent her House district. She said the timing of her announcement gives potential candidates time to consider running in 2016.

Norton said she’s considering a possible run for mayor of Rochester in 2018.

Norton will be missed, said House Minority Leader Paul Thissen, DFL-Minneapolis.

“Kim cared about the facts more than she cared about the demands of party or interest groups,” Thissen said. “She was a great legislator in the finest tradition of Rochester and Minnesota.”