A smaller government employees union is splitting from its larger cousin to back Democrat Margaret Anderson Kelliher for governor.

Greater Minnesota AFSCME Council 65 announced Friday it was endorsing the Minnesota House Speaker. The union represents about 13,000 government, hospital and nonprofit workers outside the Twin Cities.

The pick goes in a different direction from the dominant state employees union, AFSCME Council 5, which is supporting former U.S. Sen. Mark Dayton.

AFSCME stands for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.