Trump looms large over Minnesota’s GOP race for governor

MARSHALL, Minn. — Inside a crowded room at Southwest Minnesota State University, nine Republicans who are running for governor were asked to name a policy of President Donald Trump’s that they disagreed with.

Aside from passing mentions of tariffs and the national debt, most of the prominent candidates in the race used the opportunity to praise Trump.

“I am grateful that President Trump has put America first,” said Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth, R-Cold Spring, who commended the president for securing the southern border.

State Rep. Kristin Robbins, R-Maple Grove, added that she supports “almost all of President Trump’s policies” and is grateful his administration is looking into fraud in Minnesota’s welfare programs.

Nearly every candidate clearly stated they are seeking Trump’s endorsement in the governor’s race. As businessman Kendall Qualls put it: “We are seeking it, and if he does, then game over, match.”

Trump’s sway among the Republicans who are seeking Minnesota’s highest office was fully apparent during the gubernatorial candidate forum on Monday night, even as the president’s approval numbers have fallen and the GOP faced broad electoral defeats a month ago. In Minnesota, GOP candidates risk backlash from the party’s base if they go against the president.

Their comments are likely to provide ammunition for DFL Gov. Tim Walz as he seeks a historic third consecutive four-year term. Walz is trying to make next year’s election a referendum on Trump, while Republicans are zeroing in on the fraud cases that have occurred during the governor’s administration.

Former gubernatorial nominee Scott Jensen, Minneapolis attorney Chris Madel, food company executive Patrick Knight, retired mixed martial arts fighter Brad Kohler, former U.S. Naval intelligence officer Phillip Parrish and former St. Cloud City Council member Jeff Johnson are also running.

The forum, which drew more than 150 people, came as Minnesota is in the national spotlight following Trump’s attacks against the Somali community and federal investigations into fraud in the state’s welfare programs.

Some of the lesser-known candidates took issue with Trump’s attacks on the Somali community on Monday night, departing from others who gave mostly flattering assessments of the president’s second term.

Kohler said Trump’s comments about minorities set back GOP efforts to win over voters of color in the Twin Cities.

“When this stuff comes out at 3 a.m. on a tweet and you wake up and you’re all of the sudden … losing your ground with the minorities, it’s very frustrating," he said.

“Everyone was made in the image of God,” Johnson said. “I realize that there are some groups that frustrate the president, some that don’t. For me, it was hard to hear that comment.”

On many other issues, the GOP candidates were in alignment. They said they want to reduce fraud, improve the state’s education system and lower taxes, among other things.

All of the candidates said they would sign bills barring transgender athletes from competing in girls sports and disallowing sanctuary cities and counties in Minnesota. Most of the candidates said they would support term limits for governor and the Legislature, as well as repealing the moratorium on nuclear energy.

Madel and Jensen both jabbed at the GOP lawmakers in the race.

“All of the state government — Republicans and Democrats — have done nothing with respect to fraud ... They’ve done literally nothing except write letters,” said Madel, who then cited his own fraud-fighting credentials.

“Trump showed the path,” Jensen said. “We need to shut down the government if we need to. We need to draw a line in the sand.”

While he praised Trump at times, Jensen was the only candidate who said he wasn’t seeking the president’s endorsement, though he added that he certainly would accept it if he got it.

The battle for the GOP nomination could stretch into next August. The Minnesota Republican Party will hold an endorsing convention next spring to pick a candidate to take on Walz, but half the candidates at Monday’s forum said they would take their campaigns to the August primary election if they do not win the GOP endorsement.

The field for governor could still grow. MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell filed paperwork to run for governor last week and told the Minnesota Star Tribune he will announce whether he plans to seek the office this week.

Qualls expressed concerns Monday night about a divisive intraparty fight in the months ahead.