MNGOP State Convention summary

Friday was an eventful first day of the MnGOP State Convention of 2026. First, Republicans got all of their constitutional officers endorsed. Nest, Republicans endorsed Adam Schwarze for U.S. Senate. Schwarze surprisingly defeated Michele Tafoya, largely on the life issue. Schwarze and Royce White each focused one of their speeches on the life issue. While that used to be a potent political topic at the national level, the Dobbs decision has largelly rendered that issue moot. Abortion rights are now either handled at the legislative level or at the Supreme court. U.S. senators have little say in the matter. With that dynamic changing, it's time for Schwarze to determine whether he's a team player or whether he's in it for himself.

While the Schwarze-Tafoya outcome was the highest-profile surprise, it wasn't the only surprise. Accordding to Alpha News's Convention live blog, "Only Braham Mayor Nate George and former State Sen. Scott Jensen’s names were put forward for nomination. Notably, State Rep. Elliott Engen’s name was not placed into nomination for endorsement. Engen has been running for state auditor for months." The surprise:

Results from the first ballot of the Minnesota Republican Party’s endorsement for state auditor are in.
  1. Nate George: 76.8% (1286 votes)
  2. Scott Jensen: 22.7% (360 votes)
    Scott Jensen went from being the GOP's endorsed gubernatorial candidate in 2022 to starting this year as a gubernatorial candidate to dropping out of that race to run for State Auditor. To get defeated by 50+ points on the first ballot is a healthy plummet from being the GOP's endorsed gubernatorial candidate 4 years earlier.

    After the endorsing fight, Schwarze and Tafoya delivered pitch-perfect speeches to the delegates:

    That's what unity sounds like. At the DFL convention, Angie Craig announced earlier this week that she was skipping the DFL State Convention and going straight to the DFL Primary for U.S. Senate.

    On Friday night's Almanac Political Roundtable, Andy Brehm said that the GOP delegates that he'd talked with were most concerned with winning this year. I'd say that'se pretty typical this year, moreso than in other years. After all, the last time a Republican won statewide office was 2006. This year's group of statewide candidates are the best and deepest group of statewide candidates since at least 2006 and possibly ever.

    UPDATE: After the Convention shut for the day, Michele Tafoya annoiunced that she'd challenge Schwarze in the GOP U.S. Senate Primary.

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