Swanson dismisses write-in talk as ‘conspiracy theories’
Attorney General Lori Swanson said Tuesday she'll undertake her final months in office with "every bit of passion and gusto that I can," but declared herself ready to hand over the legal reins to whomever wins the race to succeed her.
"I've got four months to go. People elected me to a four-year term," Swanson said, noting that she will be filing lawsuits and making policy recommendations to lawmakers until the end. She swatted down political chatter that she could still emerge as a write-in candidate if DFL nominee Keith Ellison falters in his race with Republican Doug Wardlow.
"People have too much time on their hands, I think, developing conspiracy theories. That is a no," she said when asked about the whispers, which picked up after Swanson redesigned her web page and launched a Twitter account in recent weeks after somehow existing without one until now.
Swanson was handily elected to three terms but gave up a bid for a fourth this summer when she abruptly switched to the governor's race. She finished third in the August Democratic primary won by U.S. Rep. Tim Walz.
Even if Swanson did want to make a late play for re-election, there are technical and practical barriers she would have to clear. She would have to register as a write-in candidate with the secretary of state to have any votes for her counted. And she would have to act fast because early voting begins this Friday.
But, Swanson emphasized, she is preparing to "move on to other opportunities."
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