El Tinklenberg received the DFL endorsement during the 6th Congressional District Convention on Saturday, April 26th. He will be running against U.S. Rep. Michelle Bachmann, R-MN.

Tinklenberg, in his second try for the congressional seat, got his party's nod by acclamation after winning 72 percent support on the first ballot at the endorsing convention in Andover. He defeated tax attorney Bob Olson of St. Cloud.

Tinklenberg is a former minister in the United Methodist Church , served as Mayor of Blaine and was Commissioner of Transportation in the Ventura administration. He is the father of two sons and one daughter with his late wife, has seven grandchildren, and is stepfather to his wife Terri’s three children.