Over 250 delegates, alternates, guests, candidates, and attendees gathered at the Roseville Middle School on Saturday, April 18th to hold the biannual congressional district convention for CD4. The convention was chaired by outgoing State Rep. Patti Anderson and attendees appreciated the neutrality she used as Chair. Among other party business to complete, the focal point of the paulitical convention was the Congress endorsement contest between candidates Paul Wikstrom and Paul Xiong to take on radical Democrat Betty McCollum.

Paul Wikstrom was previously the GOP nominee for State Representative in District 40B. His State House campaigns were particularly notable because his first opponent, Democrat Curtis Johnson, violated residency rules and did not actually live in the district. This was not adjudicated until after the general election and resulted in a temporary GOP majority. Once this was decided in court, a special election was called and Wikstrom was defeated by radical leftist David Gottfied.

Paul Xiong is the former Chairman of the Hmong 18 Council, which encapsulates the 18 different Hmong clans (families) in Minnesota. Xiong’s candidacy centered around his leadership and connections within communities that have been unreached by Republicans. Xiong also touted his resume and life story as a former police officer and small business owner with parents who fled Communism.

Both candidates agreed on stage to abide by the endorsement of the CD4 delegates and not pursue a primary campaign.

Ahead of the endorsing convention, Wikstrom sent an email insinuating that Xiong was a Democrat plant since he previously made a donation to a Democrat. This donation was to Democrat Ethan Cha, a current State Representative. The MN Campaign Finance Board (CFB) does show this donation. See below:

As seen above, Xiong also appeared to have donated to a candidate for Judge in the 2nd District who ran against a Walz-appointed liberal.

Paul Xiong addressed the attacks against him in an email and rejected Wikstrom’s characterization of him and chose not to sling mud in return. Xiong contended that he is a Constitutional conservative, a supporter of President Trump, an opponent to illegal immigration, and ready to fight Minnesota’s fraud regime. Xiong also made sure to explain his previous donation to Ethan Cha, pointing to his Chairmanship of the Hmong 18 Council, which demanded his attendance and support of Hmong candidates, including Ethan Cha.

The pre-endorsement attacks were barely and vaguely mentioned at the CD4 convention in speeches. Wikstrom and Xiong opted to not attack the other in their speeches and in the Q and A section.

Wikstrom brought a group of some local and out-of-district Republicans on stage with him during his speech and spoke about how his efforts led to the temporary GOP House majority and the creation of the fraud committee. Xiong led a group of Hmong, Laotian, Buddhist, Asian, and some Republican individuals on stage and spoke about his resume and qualifications. While it was clear that English is not Xiong's first language, many delegates were interested in his message. 

Questions for the Q and A section were submitted by delegates and alternates. A committee, including the article’s author, read all the questions, combined questions, and had the same five questions ready for both candidates. Interestingly, John Kyzylyzyn, a frequent attacker of A4L, was also in the committee and had an incredibly positive attitude. While it was bizarre and unexpected, A4L will not hold the fact against him that he told the committee that he did not know the 2nd Amendment off-hand.

Following speeches and the Q&A section, a paper ballot vote was held with delegates voting. In the vote, sources tell A4L that Wikstrom won approximately 70% and Xiong won 30% of the vote.

Xiong gave a concession speech and congratulated Wikstrom’s victory. Wikstrom released an online video thanking Xiong for running and making him a better candidate.

The convention also featured platform resolution. Included in the CD4 Resolutions Committee report was A4L’s Never Again platform resolution. This now goes to the MNGOP Resolutions Committee before a vote of the delegates at the state convention.

A straw poll for Governor and U.S. Senate. See the results for both below:

Governor results

1. Lisa Demuth & Kendall Qualls (TIE) - 31.79% (48 votes each)
2. Mike Lindell - 10.60% (16 votes) 
3. Patrick Knight - 9.93% (15 votes)
4. Kristin Robbins - 5.96% (9 votes)
5. Phil Parrish - 4.64% (7 votes)
6. Raul Estrada - 2.65% (4 votes)
7. John Krhin - 1.32% (2 votes)
8. Undecided - 1.32% (2 votes)
9. Peggy Bennett - 0% (0 votes)
10.  Write in - 0% (0 votes)

The above Governor straw poll also included Scott Jensen and Brad Kohler as options despite Jensen running for Auditor and Kohler leaving the GOP. Jensen and Kohler both received zero votes.

A source tells A4L that a Lisa Demuth volunteer was caught throwing Kristin Robbin's literature in the trash and stole a clipboard. Robbins did attack the "bad deals" Demuth cut with Democrats during her speech to the convention.

U.S. Senate results

1. Adam Schwarze - 43.71% (66 votes)
2. Michele Tafoya - 31.13% (47 votes)
3. Mark York - 11.92% (18 votes)
4. Royce White - 3.97% (6 votes)
5. Undecided - 3.97% (6 votes)
6. Alycia Gruenhagen - 3.31% (5 votes)
7. Tom Weiler - 1.99% (3 votes)
8. Write in - 0% (0 votes)
9. David Hann 0% (0 votes)

As seen above, 2024 nominee Royce White is trailing in fourth place. White was unable to attend due to basketball coaching obligations according to his campaign representative, David Penn. Since White is known to give powerful speeches, his absence was clearly felt. Previous supporters of Royce seemed to favor Schwarze at the CD4 convention but the State Convention delegates will ultimately determine the party endorsement.

A4L would also like to thank the many individuals who approached this article’s author and showed appreciation for our reporting. Grassroots conservatives know that A4L is fighting against big government and exposing the corruption in our state’s politics. Action 4 Liberty will continue providing Patriots with hardcore, liberty-based, and anti-establishment reporting that cannot be found anywhere else.