Thissen says he won’t seek ninth House term in 2018

Rep. Paul Thissen (DFL-Mpls), an eight-term member of the Minnesota House, announced Wednesday he would not seek re-election this year.

Thissen, who led the House DFL Caucus from 2011-16 and served as House Speaker during the 2013-14 biennium, is seeking the DFL endorsement for governor.

“My fifteen years in the state House has confirmed for me over and over again that Minnesota is a special place and an extraordinary state, a place that should lead — and that is more important now than ever,” he said in a statement.

Thissen was first elected in 2002 to represent a swath of southwest Minneapolis, and served as chair of the House Health and Human Services Committee from 2007-10.