Tom Horner

Tom Horner (born July 23, 1950) is a Minnesota politician and a member of the Independence Party of Minnesota. He was a candidate in the 2010 election for Governor of Minnesota.

Horner received his bachelor's degree from the University of St. Thomas. In 1978, he worked as press secretary for Republican U.S. Senate candidate and future Senator David Durenberger. After Durenberger was elected, Horner served as Durenberger's press secretary and chief of staff.

In 2010, Horner announced that he would run for Governor, seeking the endorsement of the Independence Party. Horner, who had previously identified as a Republican, said he was running because both the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL) and Republican candidates had become too extreme in their views. Horner was endorsed by his former boss, Durenberger, as well as former congressman and gubernatorial candidate Tim Penny.

On May 9, 2010, Horner received the endorsement of the Independence Party for Governor. He faced Rob Hahn in the August 10 primary election, winning by a wide margin, and was therefore the ballot in the state's November 2 general election. He gained the endorsement of two former Republican Governors, Arne Carlson and Al Quie. For supporting Horner, 18 Republicans, including Durenberger, Carlson, and Quie, were banned from participating in the Republican Party of Minnesota for two years. Other endorsements of Horner include onetime DFL U.S. Senate candidate Mike Ciresi on October 19, the Star Tribune, and the Duluth News Tribune.