DFL Rep. Simon Joins Minn. Secretary Of State Race

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) -- Another Democratic state lawmaker is joining the race for Minnesota secretary of state.

State Rep. Steve Simon of Hopkins announced his plans Tuesday. He is chairman of the House Elections Committee.

Current Secretary of State Mark Ritchie is not running for re-election. The primary responsibility of the office is to administer state elections.

Simon's House colleague, Rep. Debra Hilstrom of Brooklyn Center, is also running. So is Jeremy Kalin, a former state representative. Another Democratic candidate, veteran elections administrator Rachel Larson Bohman, dropped out of the race last week.

No Republicans have officially joined the race though several have expressed interest.

Simon has represented Hopkins and St. Louis Park in the Legislature since 2005. He is also an attorney in private practice and a former assistant state attorney general.

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