Marty taps fellow senator as mate in Minn. gov's race

Sen. John Marty, Patricia Torres Ray
Sen. John Marty has gone with a fellow senator to join him in his run for Minnesota governor, picking Democrat Patricia Torres Ray.
MPR Photo/Tim Pugmire

State Sen. John Marty has become the first DFL candidate for governor to select a running mate.

Marty announced Wednesday that state Sen. Patricia Torres Ray of Minneapolis is joining his campaign. Torres Ray is a first-term legislator, and the only Latina elected to the Minnesota Senate. During a news conference, Torres Ray said Marty has a clear, bold vision for the state that she wants to share with disengaged voters.

"John and I want to reach out to those who feel like they do not have a voice in government, and we want to bring them back to the table," Torres Ray said. "We want to get people excited about politics."

Marty said Torres Ray provides ethnic and gender balance. He said geographic balance wasn't as important.

"To me it's not where you're from or where you live," Marty said. "It's where your heart is, what you care about. And I think both of us care very deeply about people in every corner of the state."

Marty has said he will abide by the DFL party endorsement, which will come next month at the party's state convention in Duluth. State Rep. Marty Seifert is the only Republican candidate for governor who has announced a running mate.