https://dickrussell.substack.com/p/the-return-of-jesse-ventura -- about the open Minnesota Governor's seat -
When he last ran, Ventura distinguished himself from two undistinguished stiffs. Times go around, come around. The linked item, in part:
Wearing a black SEAL team hat and sunglasses, sporting long hair and a white beard, Jesse told the reporter: “I just came here today to show my support as a graduate of Roosevelt and tell them how proud I was of what they did, of keeping ICE off of this campus.”
He went on to say: “We don’t need federal troops coming in here without warrants. Some people have said this undermines local law enforcement, Well, it undermines the entire Constitution. The military cannot be turned loose unless it’s a national emergency. They’re going to tell me this is a national emergency?!”
Asked if “they” was a reference to President Trump, he interrupted. “Who was that? You mean the draft-dodging coward? I don’t call him by name…..I spent 17 months in Southeast Asia while the draft dodger was playing golf.”
It was vintage Ventura. And he hinted about something he might be inclined to change his mind about - another run for public office. “Maybe it’s time for Jesse,” he mused to the reporter. “I only did one term. I’m owed a second.”
So I gave him a time-to-catch-up call. [...]
I brought up a story I’d recently seen online that appeared in the Las Vegas Sun, written originally by a columnist for the New York Daily News. It was headlined: “Time for Jesse Ventura to get back in the ring.” The op-ed meant the political ring and ended with the words: “Run, Jesse, run.”
Expressing amazement this actually came out in Las Vegas and New York papers, Jesse couldn’t help but muse some more. “I’ve thought about it,” he told me, “because Minnesota is a prime place to rewin the governorship. The field is weak. Tim Walz is retiring, so it’s wide open. A third party guy should never take on an incumbent but he’ll be gone. Right now on the Republican side, you’ve got an idiot pillow salesman and with the Dems I’m told Senator [Amy] Klobuchar is coming home to bestow her leadership on us as governor. The way to combat her is simple. She hasn’t held a private sector job in her life - so stay in Washington where you are and fight the guy.” Meaning, it seemed obvious, the current president who he wouldn’t deem to name.
Jesse paused again but only for a moment. “If it was ten years ago, absolutely I would run. The only thing holding me back now is my age of 74. From four years experience, I know how much energy it takes to do the job and I don’t know if I got it. But then again, I’m five years younger than the president. The good thing about the governorship is, you don’t have to file until June. [...];"
You heard it here [the Russell substack] first. What do you think, readers?
The field is weak. A quite conservative Dem who never held a private sector job. The pillow guy. One guy out of St. Cloud who noted a Somali concentration there and was called politically incorrect, but it is a small community to be called to any great assimilation. That candidate in the GOP against the pillow guy. A few other GOP bowling pins, one GOP outstate female. Weak.
Jesse owns no baggage like Jake Sullivan. And his view of Trump's siege of Minnesota does not have to be sophisticated, just strongly pro rule of law; and anti-Trump. His ticket is punched on that score. And, very indirectly, he appears to Crabgrass as closer to AOC in spirit than any of the others. An environmentalist. What you see is what you get.
And having to only be more promising than the two-party stranglehold, that's a plus
Jesse or more of the same?.
____________UPDATE____________
It was an easy search, the Las Vegas Sun item Russell noted, is online here. It's nothing special, but does note Jesse could be a candidate. When the choices are calcified on one side and mediocre on the other, two parties are not enough. Or two parties fail, and if Jesse goes write-in, as things now look, I'd write him in on my ballot. In a heartbeat.