About a dozen protesters have gathered outside Cambridge-Isanti High School ahead of DFL executive committee hearing, chanting “Ellison Beats Women” to passersby. Keith Ellison seeking party endorsement for AG amid abuse allegations. 
Catch up on @jessvanb's report from Friday on Keith Ellison trying to reassure voters back on the campaign trail. He has repeatedly denied allegations, won't drop out and is seeking party endorsement today. strib.mn/2Mr6yYX
Erin Murphy, previously endorsed for gov, comes out to standing ovation, asks delegation to confer endorsement to Walz for Nov. and is met by applause and cheers.
DFL chairman Ken Martin: "We had a lot of great candidates running that represent the best of our DFL values. ... We're unified, we'er going to win this governor's race and we're going to win every race up and down the ballot."
Matt Pelikan, DFL's endorsed candidate for AG just now thanks party for endorsement, no mention of Keith Ellison.
Now moving on to consideration of endorsements. Starting with Ellison, who is coming to the stage now to speak.
Ellison met by mostly applause. Says, "It's been a tough week. Your continued support has meant the world to me. I want you to know that I take what has happened in the past week extremely seriously. ... I want to tell you face-to-face that I never abused Karen."
Ellison: "I know that millions of people have suffered in silence and I will not contribute to that silence." Now pivots to contrasting his candidacy with that of GOP opponent Doug Wardlow.
Question of Ellison endorsement now being taken up. Delegate asks for a paper ballot vote "because this has generated a lot of media attention and I want delegates to vote their conscience." Motion approved.
Committee meeting in recess to allow alternate delegates chance to register to vote on Ellison's endorsement.
Proceeding to a vote here at the DFL state central committee meeting. Will be by paper ballot, delegates have option of voting to endorse Ellison or no endorsement.
Co-chair Tim O'Brien explains that committee can do nothing to remove Ellison from ballot today. Says if endorse today and new evidence surfaces, party can pull endorsement later.
Now proceeding to ballot vote on Ellison endorsement.
DFL chair Ken Martin calls on party to unify around candidates with 80 days until election. Says he was proud of Walz and Murphy messages on campaign trail because it went beyond just lamenting Republicans. "If that's all we offered up to voters, we haven't offered up enough."
BREAKING: DFL votes to endorse Keith Ellison, who received 82 percent of delegates' votes.
Developing story: DFL Central Committee endorses Keith Ellison for attorney general strib.mn/2vTBhEv
DFL has now formally voted to endorse U.S. Rep. Tim Walz for governor.
Updated story: Minnesota DFL endorses Keith Ellison for attorney general after he urged party “to stick with me in this moment.” strib.mn/2vTBhEv
