Winkler prepares run for attorney general
A former DFL legislator said Wednesday that he's gearing up to run for Minnesota attorney general in 2018 if the incumbent moves on.
Former five-term Rep. Ryan Winkler said he has formed a campaign committee to start building toward a run, which allows him to raise money and take other outreach steps. He said he would run only if three-term Democratic Attorney General Lori Swanson doesn't.
"I think the office is too important to wait until the last minute to try to put together a campaign," Winkler said. "For me, there's always the possibility I put in a lot of time and effort and ultimately the attorney general decides to seek re-election and I stand down."
Swanson has not revealed her 2018 plans, but some are promoting her as a possible candidate for governor.
A DFLer has occupied the attorney general's office for 45 consecutive years.
Winkler is a lawyer who represented a Golden Valley district in the state House. He resigned from the Legislature in 2015 when his wife took a job abroad. He has split his time between Belgium and Minnesota but intends to move back full time next year. Winkler works for a biotech firm with offices in Minnesota.
During his time in the Legislature, Winkler championed a successful effort to raise the minimum wage while tying future increases to inflation, and he fought unsuccessfully for more disclosure of campaign spending by outside groups. He also helped establish a fund for victims of the Interstate-35W bridge collapse.
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