After losing the MNGOP Deputy Chair race, RINO Kip Christianson tried to fail upward and receive the GOP endorsement for SD29 Senator as a consolation prize. However, SD29 Republican delegates instead chose small business owner Michael Holmstrom to succeed deceased Senator Bruce Anderson. As seen in our previous reporting breaking this race down, this race is in a deep red Senate district that Anderson won with 68% of the vote in 2022.

Sources tell A4L that there were 116 delegates, all candidates agreed to abide by the endorsement, and that the convention took three rounds of balloting to reach an endorsement where Mike Holmstrom led the vote on each ballot. Additionally, Melinda Mihajlov did not seek the GOP endorsement despite being listed on the Wright Co. GOP website. Reportedly, The Establishment tried to rally behind Kip with Jason Franzen and Tina Diedrick endorsing Kip following the second round of voting but Holmstrom maintained the lead and finished with 61% in the third and final round.

A4L was told that Establishment Rep. Walter Hudson (30A) was at the convention and did not speak on Kip’s behalf to the convention despite loving the sound of his own voice and calling Kip his “brother in arms through political trench warfare” on social media. Hudson speaking on behalf of RINOs didn't work at the State Central where David Hann was canned and Kip was also defeated and it didn't work for Hudson when supporting RINO Ron Kresha at the HD10A endorsing convention, however, Hudson not speaking doesn't seem to help the RINOs either!

It comes as no surprise that Kip was unable to win with delegates in a deep red district considering his record of fooling a blind, wheelchair-bound veteran onto the ballot for Congress under a Marijuana political party, was labeled a “political stalker” while working RINO funded Jobs Coalition, partnering with RINO David Hann to control the MNGOP, fighting to remove pro-life items from the MNGOP and RNC platforms, and much more including him revealing the former Democrat, ultra-liberal Speaker of the House a “mentor” following her tragic assassination (a secret relationship he likely wouldn’t reveal otherwise). His campaign website, which may have been a total waste of time and money on his part, included a picture of himself and Globalist RINO Tom Emmer, showing who his true loyalties are to. Many see Kip as an untrustworthy political operative, not the type of leader required to be a Senator.

With the GOP endorsement, Holmstrom receives full support from the party to support his candidacy in the primary election. In recent history, the majority of GOP endorsed candidates win the primary. Attendees tell A4L that Holmstrom had a video package narrated by radio show host Joe Pags and that his campaign was put together very quickly. Despite Mike Holmstrom previously interning for RINO Marion Rarick (29B) according to his social media, sources tell A4L that she supported Kip over Mike at the convention.

It remains to be seen if Kip and other candidates who lost the endorsement battle will live up to their word and concede the race. Kip was never filed to begin with and Jason Franzen has withdrawn his filing (confirmed with SOS office). Candidates have until Aug. 6th (today) at 5PM to file for office and the withdrawal deadline is Aug. 7th (tomorrow) at 5PM. According to the filing page on the Sec. of State’s website as of writing this article, GOP endorsed Michael Holmstrom is joined by Bradley Kurtz (who filed after endorsing convention), Rachel Davis, Tina Diedrick, and Melinda Mihajlov as Republican opponents and one Democrat opponent in Louis McNutt. It is unclear which GOP candidates will remain in the race and if any more will jump in. [NOTE: Since the 5PM deadline only Kurtz, Davis, and Holmstrom remain filed according to the SOS webpage]

Additionally, the 34B and SD47 special elections are also on our radar with the GOP’s Ruth Bittner running in the 34B race against one of three Democrats in a generally blue district. SD47 is vacant due to Nicole Mitchell FINALLY resigning from the Senate after a unanimous jury conviction of burglarizing her widowed stepmother. No evidence can be found if Democrats are holding an endorsing convention between state Reps Amanda Hemmingsen-Jaeger (47A) and Ethan Cha (47B). The GOP has endorsed Dwight Dorau, who previously campaigned for office as “Not A Burglar” to mock and draw attention to then-Senator Nicole Mitchell.

As things stand, the MN House currently sit with a one person GOP majority (67-66, following Hortman’s tragic assassination) and the Senate sits with a one person Democrat majority (33-32, with SD29 and SD47 vacant).

Action 4 Liberty will continue to inform the grassroots about what is happening in our state and hold firm to our principles of limited government. Congratulations to the SD29, HD34B, and SD47 GOP party units for reaching endorsements and Action 4 Liberty looks forward to holding any new elected politicians’ feet to the fire to protect liberty for the next generation.