Ventura Saddened Over Independence Party’s Reduced Status

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Former Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura says he's saddened by the Independence Party's loss of major-party status in Minnesota.

The secretary of state's office downgraded Ventura's onetime political home to minor-party status last month because none of its statewide candidates have received at least 5 percent of the vote for two consecutive elections.

That means Independence Party candidates must now petition to get on the ballot.

Ventura says that voters probably will be limited to two choices now, which he thinks is a huge step backward.

He says Minnesota was once the center of the multiparty system movement, but that appears to be lost.

Ventura plans to discuss the issue next week on his online political talk show "Off the Grid," which can be seen at Ora.tv.