Tom Horner
Encyclopedia
Tom Horner is a Minnesota
politician
and a member of the Independence Party of Minnesota
. He was a candidate in the 2010 election for Governor of Minnesota
.
Horner received his bachelor's degree from the University of St. Thomas
. In 1978, he worked as press secretary for Republican
U.S. Senate candidate and future Senator David Durenberger
. After Durenberger was elected, Horner served as Durenberger's press secretary
and chief of staff
.
After serving in Washington, Horner returned to Minnesota, where he co-founded Himle Horner Inc., a public affairs
firm. He also served as an adjunct professor at the University of St. Thomas
, where he taught courses on communication and public affairs.
.
On May 9, 2010, Horner received the endorsement of the Independence Party for Governor. He faced Rob Hahn in the August 10 primary election, winning by a wide margin, and was therefore the ballot in the state's November 2 general election. He gained the endorsement of two former Republican Governors, Arne Carlson
and Al Quie
. For supporting Horner, 18 Republicans, including Durenberger, Carlson, and Quie, were banned from participating in the Republican Party of Minnesota
for two years. Other endorsements of Horner include onetime DFL U.S. Senate candidate Mike Ciresi
on October 19, the Star Tribune
, and the Duluth News Tribune
.
Horner received 11.9% of the vote. Independence Party candidates generally draw votes both from Republican- and DFL-leaning voters, but more Republicans voted for Horner than for the Independence candidates in the elections previous Governor Tim Pawlenty
won, so Horner may have cost the Republicans the Governor's office in a year they won both houses of the legislature.
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and a member of the Independence Party of Minnesota
Independence Party of Minnesota
The Independence Party of Minnesota , formerly the Reform Party of Minnesota, is the third largest political party in Minnesota, behind the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party and Republican Party . It is the political party of former Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura , and endorsed former U.S...
. He was a candidate in the 2010 election for Governor of Minnesota
Minnesota gubernatorial election, 2010
The 2010 Minnesota gubernatorial election was held on Tuesday, November 2, 2010 to elect the 40th Governor of the U.S. state of Minnesota for a four-year term to begin in January 2011. The general election was contested by the major party candidates State Representative Tom Emmer , former Senator...
.
Horner received his bachelor's degree from the University of St. Thomas
University of St. Thomas (Minnesota)
The University of St. Thomas is a private, Catholic, liberal arts, and archdiocesan university located in St. Paul and Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States...
. In 1978, he worked as press secretary for Republican
Republican Party of Minnesota
The Republican Party of Minnesota is the Minnesota branch of the United States Republican Party. Elected by the party’s state central committee in June 2009, its chairman is Tony Sutton, and its deputy-chairman is Michael Brodkorb.-Early history:...
U.S. Senate candidate and future Senator David Durenberger
David Durenberger
David Ferdinand Durenberger is an American politician and a former Republican member of the U.S. Senate from Minnesota.- Early life :...
. After Durenberger was elected, Horner served as Durenberger's press secretary
Press secretary
A press secretary or press officer is a senior advisor who provides advice on how to deal with the news media and, using news management techniques, helps their employer to maintain a positive public image and avoid negative media coverage....
and chief of staff
Chief of Staff
The title, chief of staff, identifies the leader of a complex organization, institution, or body of persons and it also may identify a Principal Staff Officer , who is the coordinator of the supporting staff or a primary aide to an important individual, such as a president.In general, a chief of...
.
After serving in Washington, Horner returned to Minnesota, where he co-founded Himle Horner Inc., a public affairs
Public administration
Public Administration houses the implementation of government policy and an academic discipline that studies this implementation and that prepares civil servants for this work. As a "field of inquiry with a diverse scope" its "fundamental goal.....
firm. He also served as an adjunct professor at the University of St. Thomas
University of St. Thomas (Minnesota)
The University of St. Thomas is a private, Catholic, liberal arts, and archdiocesan university located in St. Paul and Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States...
, where he taught courses on communication and public affairs.
2010 Gubernatorial Campaign
In 2010, Horner announced that he would run for Governor, seeking the endorsement of the Independence Party. Horner, who had previously identified as a Republican, said he was running because both Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL) and Republican candidates had become too extreme in their views. Horner was endorsed by his former boss, Durenberger, as well as former congressman and gubernatorial candidate Tim PennyTim Penny
Timothy Joe "Tim" Penny , is an American politician from Minnesota. Penny was a Democratic-Farmer-Labor member of the United States House of Representatives, 1983–1995, representing Minnesota's 1st congressional district in the 98th, 99th, 100th, 101st, 102nd and 103rd congresses.-Early life:Penny...
.
On May 9, 2010, Horner received the endorsement of the Independence Party for Governor. He faced Rob Hahn in the August 10 primary election, winning by a wide margin, and was therefore the ballot in the state's November 2 general election. He gained the endorsement of two former Republican Governors, Arne Carlson
Arne Carlson
Arne Helge Carlson, Sr. is an American politician and the 37th Governor of the state of Minnesota.-Early years, education and family:...
and Al Quie
Al Quie
Albert Harold Quie is an American politician who served as the 35th Governor of Minnesota from January 4, 1979, to January 3, 1983.-State and national government service:...
. For supporting Horner, 18 Republicans, including Durenberger, Carlson, and Quie, were banned from participating in the Republican Party of Minnesota
Republican Party of Minnesota
The Republican Party of Minnesota is the Minnesota branch of the United States Republican Party. Elected by the party’s state central committee in June 2009, its chairman is Tony Sutton, and its deputy-chairman is Michael Brodkorb.-Early history:...
for two years. Other endorsements of Horner include onetime DFL U.S. Senate candidate Mike Ciresi
Mike Ciresi
Michael "Mike" V. Ciresi is a prominent trial attorney and was a Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party candidate for the United States Senate from Minnesota. He dropped out on March 10, 2008. Ciresi gained his public reputation by litigating several high-profile mass tort cases...
on October 19, the Star Tribune
Star Tribune
The Star Tribune is the largest newspaper in the U.S. state of Minnesota and is published seven days each week in an edition for the Minneapolis-Saint Paul metropolitan area. A statewide version is also available across Minnesota and parts of Wisconsin, Iowa, South Dakota, and North Dakota. The...
, and the Duluth News Tribune
Duluth News Tribune
The Duluth News Tribune is a newspaper in Duluth, Minnesota. It is published by Forum Communications, which bought it in 2006 after The McClatchy Company acquired the News Tribunes previous owner, Knight Ridder.The present incarnation of the newspaper is the outcome of the merger and takeover of...
.
Horner received 11.9% of the vote. Independence Party candidates generally draw votes both from Republican- and DFL-leaning voters, but more Republicans voted for Horner than for the Independence candidates in the elections previous Governor Tim Pawlenty
Tim Pawlenty
Timothy James "Tim" Pawlenty , also known affectionately among supporters as T-Paw, is an American politician who served as the 39th Governor of Minnesota . He was a Republican candidate for President of the United States in the 2012 election from May to August 2011...
won, so Horner may have cost the Republicans the Governor's office in a year they won both houses of the legislature.
External links
- Tom Horner for Governor official campaign site