Bonoff attending Pelosi event in California

Erik Paulsen, Terri Bonoff
Congressman Erik Paulsen shakes hands with State Sen. Terri Bonoff before their debate Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2016. in Minnetonka, Minn. Bonoff, a Democrat, is hoping to unseat Paulsen, a Republican, in Minnesota's 3rd Congressional District race. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)

Third District DFL Congressional candidate Terri Bonoff was in California Friday for a weekend conference hosted by U.S. House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi in Napa Valley.

Bonoff, who is challenging incumbent Republican Congressman Erik Paulsen, is listed as a featured guest at the annual political gathering.

A campaign spokeswoman confirmed Bonoff’s attendance, describing it as a “policy conference with other candidates and members of Congress.” She said Bonoff and other Democrats would be discussing Republican efforts to overturn abortion rights, same-sex marriage and gun regulation.

In a debate earlier this week, Paulsen repeatedly tried to link Bonoff to Pelosi. But Bonoff downplayed the relationship and even indicated that if she were elected she would not necessarily vote for Pelosi for House speaker.

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“Erik Paulsen has sent out a letter where he’s been fundraising saying that I’m Nancy Pelosi’s hand-picked candidate,” Bonoff said. “I’ve never said that. I did not talk to Nancy Pelosi during that time period when I was considering running. I did get a call from some other people who encouraged me to run.”

Bonoff went on to say she decided to run because of her objections to Republican Donald Trump’s presidential bid. Bonoff repeatedly tried to link Paulsen to Trump during the debate.

The Paulsen campaign was quick to react to news of Bonoff's trip.

"Terri Bonoff is a dishonest hypocrite. Perhaps she wanted to wait until she drank at the Pelosi cash trough this weekend before admitting she'd vote for tax-raising Obamacare architect Nancy Pelosi," said John-Paul Yates, Paulsen's campaign manager.