Senator Jordan Rasmussen (R-Fergus Falls) has refused to back the disenfranchised Republican Otter Tail County delegates. After GOP Chair Dave Hann unilaterally unseated the duly elected 2024 precinct caucus delegates, dozens of state legislators and hundreds of activists have come to their defense. Rasmussen, who lives in Otter Tail County, has kept quiet.

Rasmussen has benefitted from the swampy operations of the Otter Tail County Republican BPOU. In 2023, the BPOU unseated 33 Republican delegates because they were accused of supporting a conservative write-in candidate who ran against Rasmussen, Nathan Miller. 

This year, it looks like the BPOU has coordinated with the state GOP to unseat an estimated 100 delegates elected on caucus night. GOP Chair Hann alleges that the process was incorrectly conducted, despite evidence of the contrary.

This is an effort to punish grassroots delegates who want to get involved in the Republican Party process. While Senator Rasmussen is not up for re-election this year, Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach is – and she faces an endorsement challenge. Read about that here.

Dozens of GOP legislators have called out this election meddling, including representatives Mary Franson and Tom Murphy who represent districts 9A and 9B in Otter Tail County. Senator Rasmussen’s silence sticks out like a sore thumb.

The Republican Party leadership cannot pick and choose its winners and losers. They also cannot punish voters for their actions. Both the activists and the politicians have united in their opposition to the delegate election meddling in Otter Tail County. Only Senator Rasmussen, Congresswoman Fischbach, and Chair Dave Hann appear to benefit. They must now to the right thing and call for the reinstatement of the 2024 delegates.

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