Minneapolis attorney Chris Madel announces GOP campaign for governor

Minneapolis attorney Chris Madel jumped into the GOP race for governor on Monday, betting that his outsider status and bare-knuckle approach will distinguish him from other Republicans seeking to face Gov. Tim Walz.

Madel, a 58-year-old Waseca native, successfully defended state trooper Ryan Londregan from murder and manslaughter charges, as well as a lawsuit, in the 2023 shooting death of motorist Ricky Cobb II. He also defended former WCCO reporter Liz Collin and Alpha News against a defamation lawsuit related to their film, “The Fall of Minneapolis.” That lawsuit was dismissed as well.

Over the course of his career, Madel has developed a reputation as a staunch supporter of law enforcement and an effective fraud investigator. He helped Best Buy uncover a kickback scheme involving one of its own executives and a supplier, and he led an internal investigation into allegations that the Fiesta Bowl illegally reimbursed its employees for campaign donations.

Madel’s entry into the race shakes up a GOP field that, until now, had mainly featured a mix of state legislators and perennial candidates. A political newcomer, he is hoping his experience as a courtroom brawler and fraud fighter will resonate with Minnesotans who are tired of the status quo.

“The difference between me and literally the rest of [the candidates] is that I’ve actually accomplished things,” Madel said last week in an interview at his downtown Minneapolis law office. “I have won over and over again in the areas that I think are the most important right now to voters. That would include fraud and public safety.”

Other Republicans who are running for governor include Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth, state Rep. Kristin Robbins, 2022 nominee Scott Jensen and businessman Kendall Qualls.

At a news conference Monday, Madel told a crowd of several dozen supporters that “if you’re tired of losing, I’m your candidate.” Minnesota Republicans haven’t won a statewide election since 2006.

Republicans believe Walz is vulnerable as he seeks a third consecutive four-year term after a failed run for vice president and a series of high-profile fraud cases.

Walz and Democrats have argued the governor’s office must stay in DFL hands to protect Minnesota from President Donald Trump.

Madel is already encountering resistance from some in the GOP for donating to both Republicans and Democrats in the past.

Ahead of his campaign announcement, Action 4 Liberty, an influential right-wing group in Minnesota, wrote in a blog post: “Madel supported Biden and all kinds of insane Democrats, how could grassroots Republicans possibly take him seriously in a GOP primary?”

Robbins also criticized Madel’s political contributions in a statement Monday, including a previous donation to Walz. “The contrast could not be more clear. I am the only candidate in this race who has a consistent conservative record,” she said.

He declined to talk about Trump’s second term when asked, saying he’d rather focus on local issues and not give fodder to Walz, who he said wants to make next year’s election a referendum on Trump.

“I don’t play in my opponents’ playground,” Madel said.

Asked at Monday’s news conference if he will seek Trump’s endorsement, Madel said, “I will seek your mom’s endorsement. I will seek everybody’s endorsement.”

Madel is kicking off his campaign with a pledge to reject donations from corporate political action committees, unions and lobbyists: “I don’t want anybody thinking that somebody’s pulling my strings.”

If he doesn’t win the Minnesota GOP’s endorsement at next year’s state convention, he said he will move forward to the August primary election.

“I have spent the last 30 years talking to juries and people in the Twin Cities. I feel like I know them,” Madel said. “They are my neighbors.”

He faulted Walz as well as Republicans in the state for not doing more to crack down on fraud in government programs. Fraudsters have stolen hundreds of millions of dollars from state-run programs over the past several years.

On the issue of public safety, Madel said state leaders need to stand behind law enforcement and “show the public that this is an honorable profession.” At his news conference, he announced that the Minneapolis Police Department’s union is endorsing his campaign.

Madel said he would support covering the cost of two-year degrees for people pursuing law enforcement careers, as long as they remain in the field for at least five years. If elected governor, he said he also would crack down on county attorneys who give “sweetheart” plea deals to violent offenders, using statutory authority to reassign criminal cases to the state attorney general when necessary.

“I want to get back to a place where you and your family can walk down Nicollet Mall at night and not be worried that you’re going to get hurt,” he said.

He proposed exempting Minnesotans’ first $75,000 in income from state income tax, a change he estimated would cost between $4 billion to $6 billion per year.

Minnesota DFL chair Richard Carlbom criticized Madel in a statement Monday, saying he has previously defended violent criminals in his capacity as an attorney.

“He lacks a moral compass to be Governor,” Carlbom said in a statement. “He would take Minnesota in the wrong direction.”

Madel scoffed at the DFL’s attack, saying 90% of the cases he’s worked on are civil matters.