Republican starts bid for Minn. elections post

Minnesota businessman and political newcomer Dennis Nguyen has thrown his hat in the ring to become the state's next Secretary of State.

Nguyen is the first Republican to announce he's running for the office currently held by Democrat Mark Ritchie, who's not seeking reelection.

Nguyen says that if he's elected, he'll get the Legislature to approve online voter registration first.

"Go through the legislative process, hold public hearings, have the Legislature approve it and have the Governor sign it into law," he said. "If we were to go through that process, I would definitely be in favor of online registration."

Nguyen's comments are in response to an online system set up by Ritchie. Gov. Mark Dayton and Republican lawmakers say that Ritchie should not have launched the new tool without legislative approval.

Nguyen also said a controversial plan to require voters to show identification at the polls isn't going to be part of his campaign.

"We are going and talking about increasing voter participation. So anything that increases participation, I am for," he said.

Nguyen says he'd use his office to encourage business growth in the state.

"We all know that the Secretary of State's office needs to be more than a place to drop off a check and register your new business," he said. "I intend to make the Secretary of State's office the one stop shop for job creation and capital formation in the state of Minnesota."

Nguyen would be the first Asian-American candidate to win statewide in Minnesota.

DFL legislators Debra Hilstrom and Steve Simon are also vying for their party's nomination to fill Ritchie's seat.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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