{"id":2552759,"date":"2026-01-26T12:41:02","date_gmt":"2026-01-26T17:41:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/minnesota-gop-candidate-for-governor-drops-bid\/"},"modified":"2026-01-26T12:43:45","modified_gmt":"2026-01-26T17:43:45","slug":"minnesota-gop-candidate-for-governor-drops-bid","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/minnesota-gop-candidate-for-governor-drops-bid\/","title":{"rendered":"Minnesota GOP candidate for governor drops bid"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">14<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fminnesota-gop-candidate-for-governor-drops-bid%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2552759&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Chris Madel, a Minneapolis trial lawyer who had been running for Minnesota governor as a Republican, announced he is ending his campaign. He said he could not reconcile his candidacy with the national party\u2019s handling of operation Metro surge, calling the enforcement effort overbroad and \u201can unmitigated disaster,\u201d and criticized federal immigration tactics as unconstitutional after a Border patrol agent fatally shot Alex Pretti amid an immigration operation. madel, who had risen in GOP straw polls since launching in December and had <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-administration-declines-to-appeal-ruling-that-struck-down-transgender-medical-mandate\/\" title=\"Biden Administration Declines to Appeal Ruling That Struck Down Transgender Medical Mandate\">provided legal counsel<\/a> to an ICE officer involved in a separate fatal shooting, also blamed national and some state Republican leaders for making it nearly impractical for the party to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/democrats-say-democrats-love-black-women-until-its-time-to-elect-us-black-candidates-say-democrats-doubt-their-electability\/\" title=\"\u2018Democrats Say Democrats Love Black Women \u2014 Until It\u2019s Time To Elect Us\u2019: Black Candidates Say Democrats Doubt Their Electability\">win statewide races<\/a>. He defended ICE\u2019s original goals but argued the operation had expanded beyond targeting true public-safety threats,and said citizens\u2014especially people of color\u2014are living in fear. Madel noted his support for president Trump on other issues and said his withdrawal was unrelated to Democrat Amy Klobuchar\u2019s entry; the GOP field now includes Lisa Demuth, Mike Lindell, Scott Jensen, Kristin Robbins, and Kendall Qualls.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Minnesota GOP candidate for governor drops bid over ICE operation<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2484692\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Republican attorney Chris Madel, a GOP gubernatorial candidate in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/minnesota\/\">Minnesota<\/a>, announced Monday that he is ending his campaign.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Madel said his decision to resign is because he can no longer align himself with the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/hogan-and-alsobrooks-sling-insults-in-high-stakes-senate-debate-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"Hogan and Alsobrooks sling insults in high-stakes Senate debate - Washington Examiner\">national party&#038;rsquo<\/a>;s approach to federal <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/section\/policy\/immigration\/\">immigration<\/a> enforcement in the state through Operation Metro Surge, calling it &ldquo;an unmitigated disaster.&rdquo;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/in_focus\/4432160\/bitter-senate-primaries-offer-democrats-midterms-roadmap\/\">Battle for the soul of Democrats seen through prism of bitter Senate primaries<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4432126\/trump-help-midterm-campaign-trail-iowa-trip\/\">Trump tries to prove he&#8217;s a help in Iowa&#8217;s swing House races<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4421101\/house-races-2026-big-competition-double-digit-candidate-fields\/\">House races in 2026 see big competition with double-digit candidate fields<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>&ldquo;I support the originally stated goals of <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/ice\">Immigration and Customs Enforcement&rsquo;s<\/a> operation, locating and deporting the &lsquo;worst of the worst,&rsquo;&rdquo; Madel said in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/CWMadel\/status\/2015783448091283559?s=20\">a video on X<\/a>. &ldquo;But Operation Metro Surge has expanded far beyond its stated focus on <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >true public safety threats<\/a>.&rdquo;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>His resignation comes after news that a Border Patrol agent fatally shot <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/immigration\/4432691\/what-to-know-fatal-shooting-border-patrol-minnesota\/\">Alex Pretti<\/a>. Pretti died in a physical confrontation that began when he intervened in an immigration operation he had been recording on his phone.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Madel condemned federal immigration tactics, calling them &ldquo;unconstitutional,&rdquo; and said U.S. citizens, particularly people of color, are living in fear and carrying paperwork to prove their citizenship. &ldquo;That&rsquo;s wrong,&rdquo; he said.<\/p>\n<p>Madel, a Minneapolis trial lawyer, rose quickly in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/mngop\/status\/1999940223145242879\">GOP straw polls<\/a> since launching his campaign in December. He positioned himself as a staunch defender of law enforcement and conservative views.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Madel drew attention for providing <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.independent.co.uk\/news\/world\/americas\/us-politics\/minnesota-governor-race-ice-chris-madel-b2907840.html\">legal counsel to ICE officer Jonathan Ross<\/a>, who fatally shot Renee Good earlier this month.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>In addition to his criticism of immigration operations in Minnesota, Madel said his second reason for resigning is that the national <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/republican-party\/\">Republican Party<\/a> has made it impossible for a GOP candidate to win in the state.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The reality is that the national Republicans have made it nearly impossible for a Republican to win a state-wide election in Minnesota,&rdquo; Madel said Monday.<\/p>\n<p>While he voiced his frustrations about Operation Metro Surge, he also pointed to GOP leaders at the state level who have contributed to the inability to elect a Republican governor.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Minnesota House leadership, including two of the Republican candidates for governor, have done nothing to properly investigate <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/minnesota-fraud\/\">Minnesota fraud<\/a>,&rdquo; Madel said. &ldquo;[They have] asked the federal government to do their jobs &hellip; the remedy for bad government is not more government.&rdquo;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Madel made it clear he is a supporter of President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\">Donald Trump<\/a> on other fronts, praising his actions in Gaza and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/price-controls-wont-work-better-on-credit-cards-than-groceries\/\" title=\"Price controls won&#039;t work better on credit cards than groceries\">credit card interest caps<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>With Madel&rsquo;s departure, the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/ballotpedia.org\/Minnesota_gubernatorial_and_lieutenant_gubernatorial_election,_2026\">Republican field now<\/a> includes Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth, conservative activist Mike Lindell, former state Sen. Scott Jensen, state Rep. Kristin Robbins, and business leader Kendall Qualls.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/4432964\/trump-gop-pushback-ice-fatal-shooting-minneapolis\/\"><strong>HILL REPUBLICANS RAISE CONCERN OVER SECOND FATAL SHOOTING IN MINNEAPOLIS: &lsquo;DISTURBING&rsquo;<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>On the Democratic side, U.S. Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/amy-klobuchar\/\">Amy Klobuchar<\/a> (D-MN) has filed paperwork to run for Minnesota governor following <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/tim-walz\/\">Tim Walz&rsquo;s<\/a> decision not to seek a third term. Given her high profile, she&rsquo;s not expected to face any serious primary challengers.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Madel said in his video statement that his decision not to run has &ldquo;nothing to do with&rdquo; Klobuchar&rsquo;s decision to enter the race.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Minn. GOP hopeful quits over ICE operation<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4130,"featured_media":2552760,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/vigil-alex-pretti-minnesota.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[71950,6203,40275,5698],"class_list":["post-2552759","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-candidate-withdrawal","tag-gop","tag-gubernatorial-race","tag-minnesota"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/vigil-alex-pretti-minnesota.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2552759","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4130"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2552759"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2552759\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2552763,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2552759\/revisions\/2552763"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2552760"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2552759"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2552759"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2552759"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}