Keith Ellison runs to be a thorn in Trump’s side

On Tuesday, Rep. Keith Ellison, D-Minn., made an announcement few expected: He plans on stepping aside from Congress and running for Minnesota attorney general this fall with the hopes of replacing Lori Swanson, who is running for governor.

The Minnesota congressman, who also serves as the deputy chair of the Democratic National Committee, released a statement, saying:

There have been reports from Politico that Ellison “has grown listless and bored in the House,” and running for Minnesota attorney general was a way to shake things up.

It’s also a way to shake up the Trump agenda.

If Ellison is elected to be Minnesota’s next attorney general, he can challenge the Trump administration on a number of policies Ellison deems unconstitutional. After all, it seems to be the top campaign promise of several attorney general candidates currently running in a number of states.

Before New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman resigned in May, following multiple accusations of physically abusing women he dated, his office took more than 100 administrative or legal actions against the Trump administration or congressional Republicans, which elevated his own platform and profile in the process.

It’s hard to understate the importance of a state attorney general in the Trump era. Democrats have virtually pinned their hopes on litigating every policy that emerges from the White House in an effort to either gain the advantage or be a thorn in Trump’s side.

Ellison can certainly be one of those standing in opposition to Trump. And if decides to run for the Minnesota governorship or possibly president, he can at least add that he actively fought against the Trump administration to his resume.

(Ellison and his office did not respond to our request for comment in time for publication.)