Posted at: 07/23/2009 4:14 PM

Thissen Jumps Into Minn. Governor's Race

Minneapolis, Minn. -- Democratic state Rep. Paul Thissen formalized his campaign for governor Thursday after spending weeks on the road talking about it.

Thissen kicked off his bid for Minnesota's top job outside his Minneapolis home. He says it's time to take the state in a new direction.

Thissen says Gov. Tim Pawlenty's move to eliminate a state health care program for adults "crossed a moral line."

Thissen is a four-term House member best known for his work on health care issues.

He has traveled far from his district in Minneapolis and Richfield in recent weeks, visiting northwestern, northeastern and southwestern areas of the state and Twin Cities suburbs. He has focused on hospitals hit by state budget cuts.

Here is a list of candidates who have either announced their intention to run or are exploring a possible candidacy:

R E P U B L I C A N S

Pat Anderson: Former State Auditor.
Rep. Michele Bachmann: Current 6th District U.S. Congresswoman.
Rep. Laura Brod: New Prague legislator with lots of ambition and outspoken on fiscal policy.
Norm Coleman: Former U.S. Senator who conceded Senate Race to Al Franken and lost 1998 governor's race to Jesse Ventura.
Leslie Davis: Frequent candidate who has registered to run as a Republican.
Rep. David Hann: Eden Prairie legislator who specializes in education issues.
Bill Hass: Former state representative.
Sen. Mike Jungbauer: Current state Senator from East Bethel.
Mark Kennedy: Former 2nd District U.S. Congressman, U.S. Senate contender.
Rep. Mary Kiffmeyer: Big Lake legislator, former Secretary of State.
Rep. Paul Kohls: Victoria legislator known as fiscal conservative from conservative district.
Sen. Geoff Michel: Senator from Edina who serves as an Asst. Minority Leader.
Marty Seifert, House Minority Leader: Former leader of Minnesota House Republican Caucus.
Brian Sullivan: Businessman who narrowly lost Republican endorsement for governor to Tim Pawlenty in 2002. Has served on Republican National Committee.
Charlie Weaver: Former legislator, former Public Safety Commissioner under Jesse Ventura. Gov. Tim Pawlenty's first chief of staff and now heads Minnesota Business Partnership.
Tom Emmer: A three-term state Representative and attorney.

D E M O C R A T S

Sen. Tom Bakk: Senate Tax Committee Chair who just authored a huge tax increase bill this year.
Chris Coleman: Mayor of St. Paul and son of former House Speaker Nick Coleman (no relation to Norm Coleman).
Mark Dayton: Former U.S. Senator.
Matt Entenza: Former House DFL Leader.
Susan Gaertner: Ramsey County Attorney who was among the first to declare her candidacy.
Steve Kelley: Former State Senator from Hopkins who lost endorsement battle for Governor to Mike Hatch in 2006.
Rep. Margaret Anderson Kelliher: Current state House Speaker.
John Marty: State Senator who ran in 1994 and lost big to former Gov. Arne Carlson.
R.T. Rybak: Mayor of Minneapolis and Chair of Obama Campaign in Minnesota in 2008.
Rep. Paul Thissen: Current state legislator.

(Information from the Associated Press and KSTP-TV)