DFL candidates for Minnesota House launch ’14 campaign

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House Speaker Paul Thissen and Majority Leader Erin Murphy stand with dozens of DFL House candidates who filed for office. Tim Pugmire/MPR News

DFL candidates for the Minnesota House gathered this morning to file their paperwork and highlight what they have in mind for the next two years, if they retain majority control.

House Majority Leader Erin Murphy, DFL-St.Paul, said during a news conference that the slate of candidates will build on the work done during the past two years.

“We are really feeling the momentum of the agenda that is behind us, the agenda we have to share,” Murphy said.

Murphy said she won’t know until the candidate filing period ends tomorrow if some House districts fail to field a DFL candidate. There were two in 2012, and she said that could happen again.

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House Democrats highlighted  a list of accomplishments that included a “responsibly” balanced budget, investments in education and middle class tax relief.  House Speaker Paul Thissen, DFL-Minneapolis, said there is a clear choice for voters. Thissen said Republicans are wrong when they claim one-party control at the State Capitol isn’t working.

“I think you look at the facts, and the fact that we actually got a lot of things done for the people of Minnesota that they want done,” Thissen said. “Compare that to what happened two years before when we had divided government.”

Earlier in the day, House Minority Leader Kurt Daudt, R-Crown, appeared at a Republican Party of Minnesota news conference and offered a contrasting assessment of having Democrats in charge. He said the GOP campaign message is for more balance in state government.

“Our candidates in 134 districts around the state of Minnesota couldn’t be more energized,” Daudt said.