Ryan Faircloth
Politics and government reporter
Higher EducationFaircloth previously covered higher education and breaking news, contributing to the Star Tribune’s Pulitzer Prize-winning coverage of the police killing of George Floyd. A 2018 graduate of the University of Minnesota, Faircloth started his career covering state politics for the St. Paul Pioneer Press and was named Minnesota’s Young Journalist of the Year by the state Society of Professional Journalists for his reporting at the Capitol. In his spare time, he enjoys practicing boxing and mixed martial arts – sports he once competed in – and searching the Twin Cities for barbecue and tacos that are even half as good as those he had growing up in Houston.
Latest from Ryan Faircloth
Lisa Demuth wins GOP straw poll for governor, Qualls and Lindell follow behind
The straw poll came as the GOP is dealing with political fallout from President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement surge.
February 5, 2026
Mike Lindell’s biggest gubernatorial campaign expense? Copies of his memoir
His campaign spent almost $190,000 last year on copies of his self-published autobiography.
February 3, 2026
U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar jumps into Minnesota governor’s race
Klobuchar’s entrance into the race shakes up a field that includes a dozen Republicans who want to make the 2026 election a referendum on the state’s fraud crisis.
January 29, 2026
Democrats win two special elections for Minnesota House seats
The results will restore the state House to a 67-67 tie before the legislative session that begins in February.
January 28, 2026
Republicans in Minnesota were bullish about their election chances. Then ICE arrived.
Just a few weeks ago, the GOP was riding a wave of momentum with fraud dominating the state’s political dialogue. Now the party is on its heels.
January 27, 2026
Walz signs executive order to add weapons screening at Minnesota Capitol
The move comes several months after former House DFL Leader Melissa Hortman and her husband were assassinated.
January 26, 2026
Walz and Trump speak by phone as White House appears to soften tone on ICE crackdown
Both parties described the call as productive. The governor’s office said Walz asked for “impartial investigations” into the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti.
January 26, 2026
Chris Madel ends GOP bid for governor, says he can’t support federal ‘retribution’ against Minnesota
His exit comes as some other Republicans have started to distance themselves from the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown in the state.
January 26, 2026
Minnesota Republicans stand with Trump, ICE after fatal shooting and threat of Insurrection Act
Democrats say the GOP will pay a “significant political price” for the aggressive immigration enforcement operation.
January 16, 2026
Behind Tim Walz’s decision to drop out of the governor’s race
Walz reversed course on his re-election amid a barrage of unfavorable headlines, threats to his family and skepticism from fellow Democrats. But his private doubts about running began earlier.
January 11, 2026
Gov. Tim Walz details decision to drop out of campaign, rails against ‘petty’ Trump administration
Walz said he has no plans to leave office before the end of his term in January, despite calls from some Republicans for him to resign amid fraud concerns.
January 6, 2026
The rapid rise and fall of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz
Walz’s exit from the governor’s race — and possibly from politics entirely — marked a stunning reversal of fortune and came as he faced unrelenting attacks.
January 6, 2026
