Talking Points: Aug. 12 Primary Elections In Minnesota

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – You may not be thinking politics right now, but in just eight days Minnesota votes will go the polls to cast ballots in the Aug. 12 primary.

Turnout is expected to be very low and that has candidates scrambling for support.

This year political candidates trying to do get their message out ahead of the August primary have been drowned out by a very busy series of news events, including the Jesse Ventura trail and the shocking murder of Mendota Heights police Officer Scott Patrick.

The Republican primary for governor is especially tough with four candidates: Scott Honour, Jeff Johnson, Marty Seifert and Kurt Zellers.

All of whom appear to have a shot at winning.

Also adding to the uncertainty is early voting.

Starting on June 27, voters throughout the state have been casting primary votes and it's not clear how that will affect individual races.

The Republican parties endorsed candidate for Governor, Jeff Johnson, appeared on WCCO Sunday Morning.

"We thought the numbers were going to be larger for that early voting. What we saw last week was around 12,000 statewide both DFL and Republican who had voted early, which is much lower than we expected. So, I don't think it's going to change in the next week," Johnson said.

Johnson has had another obstacle to overcome. On July 21 he underwent emergency abdominal surgery and was off the campaign trail for a week. He says he has fully recovered.

You can watch WCCO Sunday Morning with Esme Murphy and Matt Brickman every Sunday at 6 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.