Sen. DeKruif Won't Seek Re-Election for Minnesota Senate

Editor's note: This is a press release from Sen. DeKruif's office.

Following a week and a half of prayer and thoughtful contemplation with family and friends, Senator Al DeKruif is announcing that he will not seek elected office this fall.

A Minnesota put together DeKruif and fellow incumbent Senator Julie Rosen (R-Fairmont) in February, and opened up a large portion of the district DeKruif formerly represented without an incumbent.

“I ran to serve as citizen legislator because after nearly ‘40 years in the desert’ for Senate Republicans, I felt I could help win the majority to get our state’s fiscal house in order,” said Senator DeKruif. “With a move towards spending restraint, we turned a $5.2 billion deficit into a $1.2 billion surplus and started to implement real reforms.”

DeKruif urges the good work to continue: “In one very short term we have accomplished much. I’m proud of our progress and where we’re headed. Ahead, I will continue to be a fiscal hawk at both the state and local government levels on behalf of all Minnesota taxpayers."

“As I’ve thought about this decision, the most important considerations are my family, my businesses including my many loyal customers, and doing what is best to help ensure Republicans keep majority in the Minnesota Senate; in that order. I am absolutely confident that Senator Julie Rosen will prevail and continue to be a conservative voice for our District.  And I know that the new will field an A+ Republican candidate who will work to continue the amazing turn around we’ve accomplished in the past two years. I will aggressively work to elect them both as well as others throughout the state.”

“Most important, I need to do what is best for my wife, our special-needs son and my businesses.  After all, it is Minnesota families and job creators that led me to serve in the first place. It makes sense that these are my top priorities.”

“Even after the current Legislative Session ends, I will continue to serve and work diligently for limited, effective government, fiscal restraint and restoration of personal liberties our Senate Republican Majority has begun to re-establish.”

Laura Brod, who served as State Representative from New Prague, praised the Senator: "Al DeKruif is exactly what the Minnesota's citizen legislature should be about: a citizen who ran for office who used his actual life and business experiences to make positive change. We are lucky to have had such a thoughtful, hard-working and honest Senator serving our area and I look forward to seeing him in politics in the future."

Senator DeKruif says he looks forward to continue serving his current Senate District 25 until the 2013 Legislative Session begins and a new senator is sworn in.

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Former Sen. Kevin Dahle, who was defeated by DeKruif in 2010, has announced he'll the new Senate District 20 for the DFL party. No Republican candidates have come forward yet.

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