Livingstone enters Senate race

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Red Wing salesman and cartoonist Craig Livingstone announced Wednesday that he will join a growing field of Republicans vying for Sen. Steve Murphy's seat.

"Considering the anemic health of our state's economy, this is the time to get off the sidelines and get in the game," Livingstone said through a press release.

Murphy, a five-term Democratic senator from Red Wing, announced Friday that he will not seek re-election this year. Red Wing Mayor John Howe and Cannon Falls auctioneer Rod Johnson have both announced they will seek the GOP endorsement for the District 28 seat.

So far, no Democrats have publicly signaled interest in the seat.

Livingstone said he would focus on bringing jobs and commerce to the district and the state. The 58-year-old also said he would work to rein in government so it keeps pace with the state's economy and doesn't infringe on the private sector.

"The state should not be permitted to compete in segments of the economy that they regulate or ought to be provided by the private sector," Livingstone said in the press release.

Livingstone said he made up his mind to run for the seat after the 2008 elections, which saw a second wave of Democratic victories capped by President Obama.

"As things unfolded, I became more and more concerned," Livingstone, an Ontario, Canada, native said.

His mission became clear, he said - putting a conservative in Murphy's chair.

"Murphy has epitomized big government, big spending," Livingstone said.

He said he would abide GOP endorsement, provided the recipient is a fiscal conservative. Livingstone said it "would be too early" to say whether he would force a primary in that situation.

Livingstone is a sales representative with Q Media of Red Wing, which owns KCUE and KWNG, and is a former editorial cartoonist for the R-E.

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