The MNGOP state convention is taking place this weekend in Duluth and this event will determine who receives the official party endorsement for the offices of U.S. Senate, Governor & Lt. Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, and State Auditor. While the endorsement does not guarantee a candidate the GOP nomination, endorsed candidates typically win the primary. This year, Republicans expect a fiery event that pits Establishment RINOs against candidates supported by grassroots conservatives.

High Prices

Some grassroots conservatives have chosen not to attend this year’s convention due to the party price gouging delegates, alternates, vendors, and guests. Despite inflation, high taxes, and high costs stretching average Minnesotans thin, MNGOP chair Alex Plechash has chosen to charge attendees more than they have paid for any previous state convention. A4L has largely put this issue to the side to avoid depressing turnout but it is an unfortunate truth we must accept. Excluding hotel, food, and travel costs, Plechash is demanding $200-$240 from delegates and alternates just to have the ability to vote. 

Despite receiving pushback from multiple wings of the party, Plechash has continued his pursuit of turning the state convention into the party’s big cash-grab. To make matters worse, the party is also demanding at least $5,000 for a candidate to be given the chance to speak! In a pay-to-play move by the MNGOP, a candidate must purchase a $5K or $10K campaign suite in order to give their speech at the convention. Statewide Republican candidates already face an uphill battle in Minnesota without Plechash fleecing them!

Electronic voting clickers

Another issue that is sure to be discussed will be the party’s use of rented electronic clickers, costing the party somewhere around $40K to rent. Considering the grassroots’ issues with electronic voting and fiscal responsibility, many delegates may not be pleased to be using such equipment. While the party has given assurances that the results will secure and auditable, some Republicans (likely including Mike Lindell supporters) will remain skeptical.

Governor Race

The largest focal point of the convention will be the Governor and Lt. Governor races. Three candidates have emerged as frontrunners thus far including Mike Lindell, Kendall Qualls, and RINO Speaker Lisa Demuth. Qualls and Demuth have both announced Lt. Governor selections and Lindell is yet to announce his running mate. Demuth has the baggage of voting to fund fraud and voting for every single bill signed into law by Tim Walz in 2025 and 2026. While many see Ryan Wilson’s addition to Demuth’s ticket as one of her only good qualities, Kendall Qualls has ended up in a different position with his running mate.

Qualls’ #2, modular home businessman Brian Nicholson, has recently faced scrutiny after largely being unknown. On the AM 1280 radio station, former MN Senate President and former Qualls surrogate, RINO David Osmek, went on the attack against Qualls and Nicholson on a variety of subjects, including a civil court case in which Nicholson is a defendant. Osmek stated that the lawsuit alleges Nicholson used company funds for personal uses and asked for fraudulent loan documents to be submitted.

Osmek also argued that Qualls is wasting 2/3rds of his campaign funds on consultants. A4L began reading Qualls’ CFB reports to verify this and in the midst of this research, the CFB pulled all campaign finance reports to take off the addresses of donors. As of this article’s publishing, Minnesotans are still unable to see the CFB reports for candidates. From what was seen, it was clear that Qualls has spent hundreds of thousands on campaign consultants. Qualls and Nicholson made a video on X but kept their response to 

Several other GOP Governor candidates will compete for the endorsement including businessman Patrick Knight, Assemblies of God pastor John Krhin, and State Representative Peggy Bennett. While each has not yet received major traction for their candidacies, John Krhin has made it clear that he stands with grassroots conservatives by rocking an Action 4 Liberty t-shirt in campaign literature. See below:

Sources tell A4L that candidate Phil Parrish will also be listed on the ballot for Governor at the convention but refused to pay the $5K speaking fee. Candidate Raul Estrada and his running mate, Joe Kincaid (Joe Liberty), have selected to not attend the convention and are running straight to the primary due to concerns with the MNGOP and a preference to compete for the support of the broader GOP electorate. 

Candidates Mike Lindell, Kendall Qualls, John Krhin, Phil Parrish, and Raul Estrada have all signed A4L’s Never Again Pledge, proving they will fight to shrink government, limit their own power, and prevent tyrannical lockdowns from happening ever again.

U.S. Senate Race

The U.S. Senate GOP race is crowded with several candidates seeking the nomination. This includes 2024 GOP nominee Royce White, Navy Seal Adam Schwarze, leftist Michele Tafoya, former White House fellow Mark York, Navy veteran Tom Weiler, and Alycia Gruenhagen, Several other candidates have also filed campaign paperwork but the listed names are the individuals expected to seek the party endorsement. If interested in learning more about each of the candidates, read previous A4L reporting here. 

Secretary of State Race

Three Republicans are running for the MNGOP endorsement for the office of Secretary of State including former CD1 MNGOP Exec. Committeewoman Wendy Phillips, former Judge Tad Jude, and activist Dave Meissner. Both Phillips and Jude have signed A4L’s Never Again Pledge while Meissner has refused. All three candidates are listed on the MNGOP website as candidates who have pledged to abide by the party endorsement. Jude is coming off of three recent political losses: CD3, Hennepin Co. Attorney, and Attorney General. While Jude’s experience has garnered him support, it has also made some delegates feel his time is past. Wendy Phillips began fighting for election integrity issues during the 2020 Stop The Steal movement and recently received Mike Lindell’s endorsement. Phillips also stood up for Otter Tail delegates when they were disenfranchised by then-MNGOP Chair, corrupt David Hann, and was ousted from her party position by the Establishment for doing the right thing.

State Auditor Race

Three candidates are seemingly in the GOP nomination battle for the State Auditor position including Braham Mayor Nate George, 2022 Governor nominee Scott Jensen, and DWI Elliott Engen. Engen has not campaigned since his DWI but has also not dropped out. A4L is told that Engen did not pay the speaking fee or collect the 50 signatures needed to compete for the endorsement at the state convention. Jensen initially was running for Governor again but was facing abysmal levels of support so he has chosen a lesser office and is hoping he can win on name ID. On the other hand, Nate George has created a fraud risk score that he plans on implementing if elected and is the only Auditor candidate who has signed A4L’s Never Again Pledge.

Attorney General Race

Only one candidate, Ron Schutz, is seeking the MNGOP endorsement for Attorney General. Schutz is a wealthy attorney who has made donations to many Republicans and RINOs. Schutz has refused to sign A4L’s Never Again Pledge.

Democrat Convention

Minnesota Democrats will be holding their state convention on the same days as the MNGOP, except their convention will be held in Rochester. The fee for delegates and alternates is about half of what the MNGOP is charging. While Klobuchar does have several Democratic opponents, none have mounted a serious campaign thus far. While several of the races are not contested, the U.S. Senate and State Auditor races will show where splinters occur in the party. Fake moderate Angie Craig has lost massive support in the party and is expected to lose BIGLY to lunatic leftist Peggy Flanagan. Democrats continually move toward socialism, big government, and wasting tax dollars on fraud so it should be expected that their future State Auditor candidate will do more to cover up fraud than to expose it. UPDATE:  Since publishing, Angie Craig has withdrawn from the endorsement process, which she was expected to lose handedly. 

Action 4 Liberty will continue to provide Patriots with liberty-based reporting that cannot be found anywhere else.