Passing the Torch - A Look at the DFL Bench

With Klobuchar likely to enter the race, the next question is who will she choose as LG, and for the U.S. Senate if she wins in November

The Big Picture:

With Governor Walz ending his reelection campaign, the time has come for DFLers to select a new standard bearer at the top of their ticket. Minnesotans, and DFLers especially, are waiting anxiously in hopes of hearing that Senator Amy Klobuchar will enter the race. For what it is worth, I suspect a formal announcement will be made within the next ten days.

(We’ll be writing more extensively in the coming days on how Klobuchar’s entrance into the race will impact not only the gubernatorial campaign but also races up and down the ballot, including polling).

In the meantime, Governor Walz’s exit provides an opportunity to take a look at the DFL bench to see what elected leaders are well positioned, adequately experienced, and politically savvy enough to be seriously considered as a candidate for governor (in the unlikely event that Senator Klobuchar decides not decide to enter the race); or for lieutenant governor or a U.S. Senate appointment in the event that Klobuchar runs and wins.

Below, is an overview of the names currently being whispered in DFL circles along with a brief analysis of the political and governing strengths and weaknesses that each potential candidate brings to the ticket. Because it seems from everything I have been hearing that Senator Klobuchar’s entrance into the race is a foregone conclusion, the analysis below primarily views these elected officials through the prism of their appeal as a lieutenant governor candidate or U.S. Senate appointment; though of course, many of the same things could be said about them if they were at the top of the ticket.

The DFL Bench: Who Fits a Klobuchar Ticket—and Who Complicates It

With Senator Klobuchar at the top of the ticket, the strategic question is less about ideological purity and more about reinforcing her brand while managing internal party pressures. Below is a look at the most frequently mentioned DFL names—and how each would shape the political coalition Klobuchar would need to win and govern.

Attorney General Keith Ellison

Ellison would bring instant credibility with the progressive base and strong name recognition statewide. His presence could also help neutralize left-wing skepticism of Klobuchar’s centrist reputation. The downside is equally clear: Ellison’s tenure as AG has been polarizing, particularly in greater Minnesota and among suburban swing voters—precisely the voters Klobuchar excels with. Not to mention, given his role as top law enforcement officer in the state, voters may more closely associate him with the ongoing fraud scandals and hold that against him (rightfully or wrongfully). As a governing partner, Ellison could complicate message discipline and pull the administration into culture-war fights Klobuchar typically avoids.

Secretary of State Steve Simon

Simon offers stability, competence, and a clean governing profile. He aligns well with Klobuchar’s institutionalist approach and would reassure suburban moderates and election-integrity voters. However, Simon brings limited geographic or ideological expansion to the ticket; he reinforces Klobuchar’s strengths rather than offsetting them. As an LG pick, he would be a “do no harm” choice—solid but uninspiring.

Melisa Lopez Franzen (Former MN Senate Majority Leader)

A former Senate Majority Leader, Lopez Franzen may be one of the most underrated governing complements to Klobuchar. She offers deep legislative experience, fundraising ability, and credibility with business and labor alike. Her weakness is name recognition outside political circles. But as a governing partner—particularly in navigating a closely divided legislature—she would be exceptionally effective. From my perspective, the former senate majority leader is the odds on favorite to be selected as a lieutenant governor running mate.

Congresswoman Ilhan Omar

Omar would dramatically reshape the race—galvanizing the progressive base while simultaneously nationalizing the contest in ways Klobuchar has spent her career avoiding. While Omar’s presence could boost turnout in Minneapolis and among younger voters, it would almost certainly come at a cost in swing suburbs and rural districts. From a governing standpoint, ideological divergence and media dynamics make this pairing highly unlikely.

MN Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy

Murphy brings credibility with progressive activists and deep policy fluency on health and social services in particular. She also has experience running statewide having ran for governor in 2018 wherein she was able to secure the DFL endorsement at the convention before ultimately losing to Walz in the primary. However, she has struggled to expand her support beyond the party’s left flank at times. As a governing partner, she would be an invaluable asset given her extensive legislative acumen (a trait especially appreciated by a result-driven legislator like Klobuchar), having served as a leader in both chambers, built relationships with DFLers and Republicans alike, and been through countless legislative negotiations.

State Senator Grant Hauschild

Hauschild represents a strategically interesting option: a rural DFLer with a pragmatic governing record. He could help blunt GOP margins in outstate Minnesota (particularly on the Iron Range) and reinforce Klobuchar’s blue-collar appeal. The tradeoff is that he has a limited statewide profile and potential friction with metro-area progressives; not to mention, the difficulty it would pose for Democrats to hold onto his seat which will be crucial for determining the Minnesota Senate majority.

Mayor Jacob Frey

Frey brings fundraising prowess, media fluency, and suburban crossover appeal. He aligns well with Klobuchar ideologically, but the overlap is also the problem: he adds little geographic or demographic expansion and carries baggage from Minneapolis-specific controversies that Republicans would eagerly nationalize.

Melvin Carter (Former Saint Paul Mayor)

Carter offers executive experience, strong ties to communities of color, and a reform-oriented narrative. However, his recent electoral loss in St. Paul raises questions about political durability. As a lieutenant governor candidate, Carter would be a risk-reward play—potentially additive in turnout, but vulnerable to attacks about executive effectiveness.

Andy Luger (Former U.S. Attorney)

As a former U.S. Attorney, Luger would reinforce Klobuchar’s law-and-order credibility and prosecutorial brand. He offers strong suburban appeal and a record of institutional competence. Notably, Luger’s direct experience prosecuting major fraud cases—many of which exposed weaknesses in Minnesota’s oversight of public programs—could be framed as an asset: a signal that the administration is serious about accountability and restoring public trust. At the same time, that proximity to high-profile fraud scandals carries political risk, potentially inviting criticism that the DFL is elevating figures associated with an era of reactive enforcement rather than proactive prevention.

Ironically, Luger may reinforce the Klobuchar brand almost too cleanly. The pairing would reassure moderates but risk leaving progressives feeling entirely unrepresented in the administration’s power structure.

Bottom Line:

If Senator Klobuchar enters the race, the DFL’s challenge is no longer finding a nominee who can win statewide—it is assembling a supporting cast that broadens the coalition without diluting the brand that makes her uniquely electable.

The strongest LG options are those who reinforce Klobuchar’s strengths in competence, discipline, and results while quietly addressing gaps with progressives, rural voters, and communities of color.

Picks driven more by internal appeasement than electoral or governing logic risk complicating what should otherwise be a decisive advantage for DFLers up and down the ballot.