In a last-minute decision, former National Indian Gaming Commission Vice Chairman Tom Foley has decided to run for attorney general in Minnesota. Foley has extensive legal experience in Minnesota, serving as county attorney in Ramsey County for four terms, and then for Washington County, two of the largest counties in the state.
But when the Democrat Farmers Labor Party (DFL), the dominant party in Minnesota, fractured in its latest convention, Foley had a choice to make. Instead of incumbent Attorney General Lori Swanson, the party nominated a progressive with virtually no law experience, and Swanson announced she would run for governor.
Foley responded to calls from his contemporaries and announced his run. The nomination will be determined by a primary on August 15.
In addition to his roles as county attorney, Foley has been active in other Minnesota politics, serving as Deputy Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Corrections under Governor Rudy Perpich, and representing former Governor Jesse Ventura in Washington D.C.
Foley was appointed to the National Indian Gaming Commission in 1995 by President Bill Clinton and later became its vice chairman. Since that time, Foley has consulted for many Native American tribes on federal issues surrounding Indian gaming and other tribal issues.
As attorney general, Foley says his dedication to tribes will continue, particularly in the area of opioid abuse. He has been working with attorneys from Florida, Alabama and California to bring lawsuits against the pharmaceutical companies.
“The Indian reservations in rural areas, particularly rural Minnesota, are affected far more by the opioid crisis than anyone else,” he told Minnesota Lawyer.
