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TOM SCHECK: During his years as DFL State Party chair, Mike Erlandson worked vigorously to make sure the party's endorsed candidates survived any challenge in the primary election. But now that he's the challenger, Erlandson says his purpose has changed.

MIKE ERLANDSON: I had a job to do. And I did my job, and I did it well. I've got a job to do right now, and it's talking to the voters of the fifth congressional district.

TOM SCHECK: Erlandson has decided to forgo the DFL endorsement and run in the DFL primary this September. He's running in a crowded field of DFLers hoping to replace Congressman Martin Sabo. Sabo is retiring after serving 28 years in Congress. Erlandson is Sabo's former chief of staff and has his old boss's endorsement.

Both men have a long history of loyalty to the party endorsement but are ignoring it in this race. Sabo was at Erlandson's side when he filed for office. He says he usually stays away from endorsing candidates who don't have the party's backing, but says he believes Erlandson is the best candidate.

MARTIN SABO: I thought Mike was a highly qualified person and the best person to represent the fifth district in the US Congress.

TOM SCHECK: Sabo also says the party endorsement hasn't been a sure sign of success. He says Attorney General Mike Hatch and US Senator Mark Dayton ignored the party's decision to endorse someone else but still won in the primary. Erlandson is one of at least seven Democrats who have indicated that they'll run in the September primary.

Minnesota's fifth, which includes Minneapolis and several first-ring suburbs, is a DFL stronghold in Minnesota. Whoever wins the DFL nomination is expected to have an easy time winning the November election. DFL party Chair Brian Melendez says he's disappointed that Erlandson and Sabo are not sticking by the party's endorsement process. He characterized Erlandson as doing what's best for Erlandson.

BRIAN MELENDEZ: For a long time, Mike was in charge of defending the endorsement. He's now stepped out of that role. And again, he's making the decision that he thinks will best serve his own political interests, and he's free to do that.

TOM SCHECK: Melendez says he's also not surprised that Sabo is backing Erlandson, especially since Erlandson worked for Sabo most of his adult life. Melendez says the DFL party will do what it takes to secure a primary victory for Ellison. He says DFL party volunteers will door-knock and make phone calls for Ellison.

Ellison will also have access to party staffers, voter ID lists, and will receive financial support from the party. Keith Ellison says he isn't surprised that Sabo is actively supporting Erlandson since Sabo backed his former staffer at the party's endorsing convention in May. Ellison says Sabo's endorsement will have little effect on the race.

KEITH ELLISON: The people of the fifth congressional district are very independent-minded, and they don't like kingmaking. And that's been shown in this race. In particular. The candidate that puts forth a progressive, strong message about peace, about universal health care, about renewable energy is going to win, and that person is me.

TOM SCHECK: Ellison's campaign has faced some problems in recent weeks. His past relationship with members of the Nation of Islam has been criticized, and Ellison's campaign staffer also confirmed that Ellison's driver's license has been suspended because of unpaid parking tickets. Ellison declined to comment.

For his part, Erlandson says it's up to the voters to decide if Ellison's past is an issue, but he did offer a subtle criticism of Ellison while touting his own background.

MIKE ERLANDSON: This is a very important job to the United States House of Representatives. None of us should be judged on anything other than our character, our experience, if we laid resumés on the table. Clearly, there's one person's resumé that stands out. I believe that's mine.

TOM SCHECK: The other Democrats running in the primary include former state Senator Ember Reichgott Junge, Minneapolis Council Member Paul Ostrow, and peace activist Eric Thompson. Republican Alan Fine, Independence Party candidate Tammy Lee, and Green Party candidate Jay Pond are also running. Reporting from the Capitol, I'm Tom Scheck, Minnesota Public Radio News.