MInnesota GOP Highlights

What a weekend!

People came from all over Minnesota, from rural towns to cities, representing precincts and Basic Political Organizing Units. Farmers, miners, and union members all joined in. From Angle Inlet in the north to Spring Grove in the south, everyone gathered together. It was amazing to see so many different backgrounds come together with a shared purpose: to move Minnesota forward. Some dressed up, while others wore jeans and flannel shirts, showing true Minnesota style. Everyone came to the Republican Party of Minnesota Convention. This time, we attended as Republican People of Color, not as delegates but as guests.

Saturday ended on a suspenseful note due to technical problems with the voting clickers. The Republican Party is known for its order and respect for constitutional procedures, always following parliamentary rules. If anyone wondered whether this was a fair election, I can assure you it was. Delegates voted more than ten times for the governor’s endorsement because of computer glitches that were out of their control. Delegates remained engaged, sharing their opinions through parliamentary procedure under the convention chairman’s guidance. After a long Saturday, the party endorsed Kendall Washington Qualls for governor, Schwarze for Senate (on Friday), Schultz for Attorney General, Tad Jude for Secretary of State, and Nate George for State Auditor. This process gives Minnesota Republicans a fair and democratic way to unite behind their candidates for statewide elections.

In Caucus party politics, the focus is on the individual, not the group. Each party holds a precinct-level convention, where citizens are selected by their peers to serve as delegates. These delegates can move up to represent their House district and vote on Senate and Congressional candidates for their area. All delegates then come together for a state convention. This year, it was held in Duluth, Minnesota, at the Duluth Convention and Entertainment Center. Politics can be both serious and lively. We had a DJ, we danced, and there were exciting moments as people waved candidate signs and mingled on the convention floor. We listened to passionate, respectful, and inspiring speeches from the candidates. Then, using clickers, the representatives elected delegates voted on behalf of the electorate in primary to endorse their preferred candidate under parliamentary rules. Watching democracy in action is truly special.

We Republican People of Color, know these candidates well and are excited about the ticket.

Kendall Qualls has a story worth sharing. He came from humble beginnings. His father served 25 years in the military, including during the Vietnam War, and Kendall himself served for 5 years. After that, he did something remarkable: he started an organization focused on helping boys become responsible men, inspired by his Christian faith. Mohamed Ahmed can vouch for Kendall’s commitment. In 2022, while Ahmed was in Tanzania on a State Department speaker program, he saw that most aid programs focused on girls, leaving boys without support. Ahmed reached out to Kendall, who then connected with churches in Africa to help. Kendall’s actions showed he is a man of service and integrity. Tonight, I watched as Republicans across Minnesota endorsed him for governor.

Our Senate candidate, Andy Schwarze, has served as a Navy SEAL on multiple deployments. He is a true hero and defender of the country, risking his life as part of the armed forces. Now, he is continuing his service by running for the Senate, ready to use his experience and dedication to help the country.

Nate George is running for State Auditor. As a former city mayor, he turned his city’s finances from red to black and even created a surplus, all while serving as a soldier. He told me he decided to run because, like many of us, he was frustrated with Government mismanagement. Plus, he is an accountant and auditor to boot. Nate is committed to reducing fraud and protecting taxpayers’ money in Minnesota’s government.

Tad Jude is a respected veteran of politics in Minnesota, known across the state as a man of his word. He keeps his promises and delivers results. He last ran for Congress in Minnesota’s District 3 and has also served as a commissioner. Tad returned to politics because he believes our election system is in trouble and wants to restore Minnesota’s standards of election integrity.

Jim Schultz is a civilian lawyer, a man of integrity with a résumé that would impress anyone. He comes from outside government politics and brings new ideas for enforcing the law as Minnesota’s Attorney General. His top priority is fighting fraud in government programs.

These are talented individuals the Republican Party has chosen: protectors, outsiders, soldiers, heroes, people of faith, and, most importantly, capable leaders who can help win elections and stop mismanagement in Minnesota.

Here are the key priorities each candidate is focused on: Kendall Qualls is emphasizing education reform, expanding economic opportunities, and supporting parents’ rights. Andy Schwarze is committed to strengthening public safety, backing law enforcement, and improving veterans’ services. Nate George is focused on cutting wasteful government spending, eliminating fraud, and restoring fiscal discipline as State Auditor. Tad Jude is running to improve election integrity, expand transparency, and make sure every Minnesotan’s vote is counted fairly. Jim Schultz is dedicated to fighting public corruption, protecting families, and taking a tough stance against crime.

If you want to learn more about each candidate and their platform, I encourage you to visit their official campaign websites or the Republican Party of Minnesota’s website. This way, you can get informed about their priorities and share that information with others.

This 2026 ticket is one of the best I’ve seen since the days of Republican Governor Tim Pawlenty, who was the last Republican to win statewide in Minnesota. The state is almost evenly split, but Democrats have a slight edge in major population centers like Anoka, Hennepin, Dakota, and Ramsey counties. In the 2024 elections, 83 of Minnesota’s 87 counties voted Republican, but Democrats still won statewide because of their strength in the most populous counties.

This midterm elections, if the issues remain focused on local concerns, Republicans have a strong chance of winning statewide elections. But if Republicans ignore outreach in those four key counties, or if the other 83 counties do not match their previous turnout, big statewide victories will still be out of reach for the Republican Party in Minnesota. That is why Republicans Party of Minnesota is rolling up their sleeves with specific outreach strategies: organizing neighborhood canvases, setting up information booths at community events, and holding town halls to listen to local concerns.

Republicans across the state also plan to connect through social media campaigns tailored for each county, collaborate with local leaders and faith communities, and focus on voter registration drives and absentee ballot assistance. By knocking on doors, meeting people where they are, and building local connections, Republicans are determined to make their message heard and earn every vote.

www.rpoc.org learn more, by reading more!

We are fired up as Republican People of Color. In the coming months after summer, if still alive and free, we plan to travel from Angle Inlet to Grove City, inshallah, but our focus is on those four counties. Hennepin, Anoka, Dakota and Ramsey Counties. We will campaign, speak, register voters, hit the media hard, and help the Republican cause in the midterms. We are not officially affiliated with the party or any candidates but make no mistake: we are ready to go.

We invite you to join our efforts. Whether you want to volunteer, help with voter registration, organize events in your neighborhood, or simply spread the word, every effort counts. If you are interested in getting involved, reach out to your local Republican group, or candidates above on their websites, find them at upcoming community events, or contact them directly. Together, we can make a real difference for Minnesota.

Let’s go, Elephants! We have a dream team ready to win in Minnesota.

Democracy really is a beautiful thing, isn’t it!