ST. PAUL - Even though party faithful have backed a rival Democrat, retiring Fifth District Congressman Martin Sabo is sticking with Mike Erlandson in the competitive race to fill his shoes.
Sabo was on hand Thursday as Erlandson, the congressman's longtime chief of staff, filed to run in a Sept. 12 primary.
Erlandson's main opponents are the DFL's endorsed candidate, state Representative Keith Ellison, and former state Senator Ember Reichgott Junge.
Sabo says he usually refrains from siding with candidates who don't get the party's backing. But he says the endorsement doesn't ensure success either.
The DFLer who wins the primary will face Republican Alan Fine and the Independence Party's Tammy Lee in November.
