Tag: Republican Party of Minnesota

GOP field for 2022 Minnesota governor’s race already taking shape

The last election is barely over, but Minnesota Republicans have already started to angle for the state’s next big political matchup.

Too soon? For a party desperate to regain statewide relevance, and hopeful that pandemic-driven decisions and last spring’s stretch of civil unrest left Democratic Gov. Tim Walz vulnerable, 2022 offers a chance for a major reset.

“It’s time we get our act together because we have a very beatable governor here who will have a lot of serious issues to account for,” said Annette Meeks, a longtime GOP insider and the party’s 2010 nominee for lieutenant governor. Continue reading.

Ex-wife gets restraining order against MN GOP spokesperson Jack Tomczak

As of July, the Republican Party of Minnesota has a new communications director.

His name is Jack Tomczak. You may remember him from the annals of angry white guy radio, before he departed abruptly from KTLK’s “Up and at ‘Em” morning show in 2016. His cohost, Andrew Lee, apologized to their audience but remained mum about the reason. 

After that, Tomczak was a co-host on the Up and At ‘Em podcast, then spent a couple years as a field director with Americans for Prosperity, the Koch family-backed political advocacy outfit.

Tomczak also previously worked for current GOP U.S. Rep. Tom Emmer’s failed 2010 bid for governor, and for ex-GOP U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann, whom he later criticized for being “erratic” and “irrational.” Continue reading.

Minnesota GOP Violates Mask Mandate

Less than a day after the mandate went into effect, Minnesota GOP leaders appeared maskless at an indoor event in Brainerd

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – Within less than a day of Minnesota’s mask mandate going into effect in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19, the Minnesota Republican Party openly flouted the mask order, posting photos on social media of maskless attendees at their indoor summer retreat in Brainerd.

The Minnesota Republican Party’s violation of the mask mandate comes despite a recent surge in COVID-19 cases across the United States, despite the fact that 85% of Minnesotans approve of mask-wearing, and despite the advice of medical experts like the Mayo Clinic who’ve stated: Continue reading “Minnesota GOP Violates Mask Mandate”

ICYMI: MN GOP Recruits Conservatives to Run 3rd Party and Siphon DFL Votes

DFL Party Calls on MN GOP to Claim Candidates or Disavow Dirty Tricks

Yesterday, the Minnesota Reformer reported that Republicans have actively recruited far-right candidates to run as 3rd party, pro-marijuana legalization candidates in swing districts for Congress and the Minnesota legislature. In Minnesota, candidates do not need to collect nomination signatures or receive the approval of the Grassroots-Legalize Cannabis Party or Legal Marijuana Now Party in order to run under their banner.

Ken Martin, Chairman of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, released the following statement:

“Instead of running on the strength of their values and ideas, Republicans have recruited third party candidates in order to deceive Minnesotans and steal votes. Senator Paul Gazelka, Representative Kurt Daudt, and the Republican Party must level with the people of Minnesota – did you or your allies recruit these candidates or do you disavow these dirty tricks? Continue reading “ICYMI: MN GOP Recruits Conservatives to Run 3rd Party and Siphon DFL Votes”

Minnesota GOP Officials Silent on Contributions from Men Indicted for Conspiring to Funnel Foreign Money into U.S. Elections

Lewis, Stauber, Hagedorn, and Carnahan refuse to condemn foreign meddling in Minnesota elections

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – Late last week, two associates of Rudy Giuliani, Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman, were arrested as they attempted to flee the United States. The two were charged with allegedly conspiring to funnel foreign money to Republican politicians and candidates for the purpose of buying influence in U.S. – Ukraine relations.

As the Pioneer Press reported, multiple Minnesota Republicans received money from Parnas and Fruman, including Jason Lewis, the Minnesota Republican Party, and the National Republican Congressional Committee, run by Tom Emmer.

While the NRCC and Republican officials in other states have returned the money they got from Parnas and Fruman, including Brian Mast, Kevin McCarthy, Joe Wilson, Brian Fitzpatrick, Lloyd Smucker, and John Katko, Jason Lewis and MN GOP Chair Jennifer Carnahan have thus far refused to return or donate the contributions. Continue reading “Minnesota GOP Officials Silent on Contributions from Men Indicted for Conspiring to Funnel Foreign Money into U.S. Elections”

Super-PAC That Received Illegal Foreign Contributions from Indicted Giuliani Associates Spent Almost $5 Million to Benefit Minnesota Republicans

GOP-aligned Super-PAC allegedly received over $300,000 in foreign money for the purpose of buying influence in U.S. – Ukraine relations

DFL Demands MN GOP Return Money from Indicted Giuliani-Linked Associate

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – Yesterday, two associates of Rudy Giuliani were arrested and charged with allegedly conspiring to funnel foreign money to Republican politicians and candidates for the purpose of buying influence in U.S. – Ukraine relations.

The two men arrested, Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman, allegedly funneled $325,000 into the Trump-aligned America First Super-PAC through a shell corporation. Among the Republicans who benefited most from America First’s illegal campaign cash were Minnesota Republican Congressmen Jim Hagedorn and Pete Stauber. Continue reading “Super-PAC That Received Illegal Foreign Contributions from Indicted Giuliani Associates Spent Almost $5 Million to Benefit Minnesota Republicans”