Minnesota Gubernatorial race thinning out

(St. Paul, MN) -- A pair of candidates who had been running to attempt to unseat Minnesota Governor Tim Walz this November have dropped out of the race.

Former Sheriff in Hennepin County Rich Stanek did not file the necessary paperwork by Tuesday's 5 p.m. deadline at the Secretary of State's office. Stanek's campaign has released a statement he will be returning to consulting for law enforcement.

Stanek would have faced Dr. Scott Jensen in a Republican party primary this August.

Also, former WCCO Radio host Cory Hepola announced Tuesday he was suspending his campaign as a third-party candidate, citing that "the party wasn't strong enough to break through the polarization driven by the Democratic and Republican parties."

Currently Dr. Jensen is the front-runner to face Walz in the upcoming election.