Paul Thissen: Innovation in Action

Thissen Thanks DFL

Despite falling short of the DFL endorsement, it is time to be profoundly thankful.

I am thankful for my amazing opponents – statesman and moral compass John Marty, gutsy and outspoken advocate Tom Rukavina, inspirational and hopeful leader RT Ryback, and smart and diligent worker Margaret Anderson Kelliher.

It seems like such an incredible understatement to simply say thank you for your support. I am humbled, thrilled and inspired by those of you who got involved for the first time because you wanted to work together to take back the governor’s office. I’m heartened to the longtime activists who through their experienced eyes, saw someone that they could trust in me.

I am thankful for my family’s constant support and encouragement. My dad and my wife, Karen, made literally thousands of phone calls. My mom and my sister were my rocks as I traveled Minnesota, taking care of everything from my children to feeding my campaign staff. My kids have been patient while they waited for their dad to get home from being on the road campaigning with my team. My family was and is the foundation of our team.

And that campaign team– the whiz kids who made up my staff proved that with countless hours, a little heart and a lot of moxie – that the future of the DFL is filled with potential and that they will not be out-worked, out-organized, or out-shone.

Most important, I am thankful to all of you for seeing the same vibrant future for Minnesota that I do. Over a year ago, when I started this campaign, I was the tall guy with the white hair and the hard-to-pronounce last name.

The past year was filled with thousands of miles, traveling from Hawley to Rochester, Marshall to Bemidji, the Twin Cities and finally here to Duluth. Over all of those miles, I heard over and over again from people who knew that it was Minnesota’s time.

My campaign’s story is a Minnesota story. It’s a story where the person with fewer advantages who is less well known becomes successful with hard work, grit, and sheer determination.

For an entire year, I had the overwhelming opportunity to envision a better Minnesota with all of you. Even though I fell short of becoming your nominee, I am lucky and blessed to share that vision of a vibrant future. With that in mind, I have no regrets and I leave this election in your capable hands.

Thank you all for your incredible support.