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Capitol View®
Catharine Richert

Ortman: I’m the most conservative Franken challenger

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Ortman
Julianne Ortman makes her case to Republican delegates. Ortman is seeking the party endorsement to run against Sen. Al Franken in the general election. Tom Scheck/MPR News

Drawing on her experience in the state Senate, Julianne Ortman of Chanhassen told Republican delegates that she is the most conservative candidate to run against Sen. Al Franken this fall.

“If you really mean business, and you really want a fiscal conservative, then you’ll send me to Washington,” she told the crowd.

A lawyer by training, Ortman has represented Chanhassen in the state Senate for more than 10 years. She chaired the Senate tax committee during the 2011-2012 legislative session, and highlighted the fact that her caucus balanced the budget without raising taxes, instead agreeing to a plan that borrowed money from schools and sold tobacco bonds to close the deficit.

While she has underscored her conservative credentials on the campaign trail, Ortman’s critics say she’s been too moderate on issues like taxes.

During her speech to delegates, Ortman tried to get specific on what she would do if she’s elected senator.

Among other things, she said she would advocate to make government more efficient. Her plan includes reducing the workforce for non-essential government employees and repealing unnecessarily government rules.

Ortman also pledged to end the Affordable Care Act.

“When I’m sworn in as senator, we’ll repeal Obamacare and never replace it,” she said.

She also positioned herself as someone who would protect personal liberties.

“In Al Franken’s America, our government spies on our cell phones and internet activities, and collects our health care records,” Ortman said.

Ortman is in a fierce competition for the party’s backing against several other candidates, including Sunfish Lake businessman Mike McFadden. Ortman is counting on the endorsement to continue her campaign. McFadden says he will run in the primary no matter what happens at the convention.