Sen. Coleman backs Minnesota Senate Republicans in shunning Rep. Olson
U.S. Senator Norm Coleman, R-St. Paul, endorsed the move by Minnesota Senate Republicans today in refusing to welcome Rep. Mark Olson, R-Big Lake, to the caucus if he’s elected in District 16.
“I stand firmly with the members of the Senate Republican Caucus who today announced that they will not support Mark Olson for the open Senate seat of Betsy Wergin. His endorsement by the party is a matter that is of great concern to me. In particular, given the circumstances behind Mr. Olson’s decision to not seek re-election to the Minnesota House of Representatives – a decision that I believe was the right decision – I believe the fact that he is our party’s endorsed candidate for Senate District 16 is simply unacceptable and unsupportable,” said Coleman in a press release.
“The Senate Republican Caucus has made the appropriate decision in rejecting the candidacy of Mark Olson. I understand there are other candidates who may remain eligible to run in the September Primary, and I would hope that they continue their efforts to become our party’s standard bearer,” said Coleman.
“In the unfortunate event that Mr. Olson succeeds in the September Primary, I would ask that our party refuse to offer any type of assistance to his campaign. While the loss of a State Senate seat is unfortunate, I join Senators Senjem, Fischbach, Gimse, Hann, Koch and Michel in the strong belief that we must maintain and uphold our beliefs that violence of any kind, whether it is in word or in deed, should not be rewarded with our party’s support, of the support of voters in Senate District 16,” Coleman said.
Olson was convicted of one count of domestic abuse stemming from a dispute with his wife at their Big Lake home.
Olson was kicked out of the House Republican Caucus over his legal problems and finished last session — one he opined was very productive — as a one-man caucus.
