Sen. John Marty of Roseville running for Senate DFL minority leader

Veteran DFL state senator John Marty of Roseville is running for caucus leader, becoming the third Democratic senator to vie for the top job.

Marty joins colleagues Sens. Melisa López Franzen of Edina and Nick Frentz of North Mankato. The caucus leadership election is planned for Sept. 13.

Minority Leader Susan Kent, DFL-Woodbury, said last week she would step down from the role and not seek re-election to her Senate seat next year.

Marty announced his plans in an email to his colleagues.

“I want to bring the caucus together, to unite us into an effective team,” he said in an email to his colleagues obtained by the Reformer. “We will not always agree with each other on everything, but we need to trust each other, respect each other, listen to each other, and support each other.  That mutual trust and respect must include our hard-working staff as well as senators.”

Marty, currently serving his 11th term, has been an advocate for progressive causes, including a single-payer health care system. He ran for governor in 1994 and 2010.

Marty did not immediately return messages seeking comment.

State Sen. Chris Eaton, DFL-Brooklyn Center, said she intends to support Marty’s leadership run. She was critical of Franzen’s statement against Kent over her handling of a harassment complaint. Eaton said she believed more liberal members of the caucus would not support Frentz.