VICTORIA, MN – State Rep. Paul Kohls (R-Victoria) announced today (Thursday, Oct. 29) that he is withdrawing his candidacy for Minnesota governor.

He has served District 34A four terms in the state House of Representatives. District 34A consists of Hollywood Township and the Cities of Mayer, Watertown and New Germany.

Previously, in a straw poll for Republicans in early October, Kohls received less than 10 percent of unofficial votes cast by Republicans; trailing behind State Rep. Marty Seifert (R-Marshall), Delano Republican Tom Emmer (R-Delano) and others.

Seifert, who is the former House minority leader, obtained 37 percent of votes cast by delegates, with Emmer taking 23 percent, former auditor Pat Anderson of Eagan 14 percent and State Sen. David Hann of Eden Prairie 12 percent. The other candidates received less than 10 percent of votes cast.

Other candidates are former state representative Bill Haas of Champlin, Phil Herwig of Milaca, who ran for congress in the 8th district, State Senator Mike Jungbauer of East Bethel, and Leslie Davis, an environmentalist from Minneapolis.

So far, Democrats who have announced interest in running for governor include House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher and Reps. Tom Rukavina and Paul Thisse.

Kohls said that he isn’t sure what his political future holds, and that he is considering whether or not to seek reelection in the House.