Hatch pulls out of attorney general race
Updated 2:30 p.m. | Posted 10:02 a.m.
Former Minnesota Attorney General Mike Hatch on Wednesday withdrew from the race to regain his old job less than a day after he filed in the wide-open contest.
Hatch, a DFLer, told MPR News earlier in the day of his plans, saying he was satisfied with the field of candidates in the race.
"I wanted a full field and we got it," Hatch wrote in an email before formally removing his name prior to Thursday's deadline to be taken off ballots.
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Hatch was among six Democrats to file for the office, which incumbent Democrat Lori Swanson is giving up to make a late entry into the governor's race.
The remaining Democrats are: private attorney Matt Pelikan, who has the DFL endorsement; U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison, state Rep. Debra Hilstrom, former Ramsey County Attorney Tom Foley and former Commerce Commissioner Mike Rothman.
Former state Rep. Doug Wardlow is the Republican endorsed candidate. But frequent candidate Sharon Anderson and former state Sen. Bob Lessard have filed in that primary.