John Harrington confirms run for Mee Moua's Senate seat

Mee Moua retirement announcement was a surprise

John Harrington, who's hanging up his handcuffs as the St. Paul Chief of Police on June 30, has ended the speculation and confirmed he's going to run for the Minnesota Senate seat being vacated by Mee Moua. A DFLer in good standing, he's already won the endorsement of the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association.

Moua surprised local politicos with her announcement at the end of the legislative session that she was retiring. Part of a refugee family, she was first elected in 2002, and was the highest-ranking elected official of Hmong background in the United States. In St. Paul, she's part of one of the largest concentrations of Hmong Americans in the country.

Harrington was recently considered, and passed over, for the top cop slot in New Orleans. St. Paul Assistant Police Chief Thomas Smith will replace Harrington when he retires. The Pioneer Press reports he'll face Avi Viswanathan, Jim McGowan, Vang Lor and Tom Hilber on the Aug. 10 DFL primary.