Michael Brodkorb, one the of the state's most savvy Republican operatives, is leaving his post with the state Republican Party to join state GOP Sen. Mike Parry's congressional campaign.
"Senator Parry can put the 1st Congressional District where it belongs -- in the Republican win column," said Brodkorb, 37. He added that Parry "is the right person to do this."
Parry announced Friday he will challenge three-term Democratic U.S. Rep. Tim Walz in the 1st Congressional District, which runs across the southern edge of the state.
Earlier this year, Brodkorb was re-elected to his voluntary post as deputy chairman of the state GOP. He also serves as paid spokesman for the state Senate GOP caucus, where he has worked with Parry.
Brodkorb said the party by-laws prevented him from keeping his position and working for a candidate who didn't have the GOP endorsement.
"Within the confines of a sound bite, I can't really do justice to the contribution Michael has made to the Republican Party," said Republican Party of Minnesota Chairman Tony Sutton. "Michael has spent incalculable hours doing everything from door-knocking for Republican candidates to developing political and communications strategies that enabled Republicans to capture majorities in the state House and Senate. In the public eye, Michael has been an aggressive voice for the Republican Party whatever the personal costs to himself."
In state politics, Brodkorb is known as a fierce and tenacious operative. He first made his first name as a partisan blogger and parleyed that into a formal role with the state GOP.
State GOP spokesman Craig Westover said Sutton will appoint a replacement, who will serve until the party's next meeting in December. Sutton expects to name a new deputy this week, Westover said.
