In the aftermath of the — to be charitable — messy endorsing conventions for Minnesota’s two major parties, we all pretty much knew the multiple contested primary races would be difficult. Today, the endorsed Republican gubernatorial candidate, Henneipn County Commissioner Jeff Johnson, called for….stop me if this shocks you...a “halt to refugee resettlement in Minnesota until security and cost concerns are addressed”.
In what little polling has been done in the race, Johnson trails former Governor Tim Palwenty, who himself back in his first race in 2002 played the scary non-white people card. For Johnson, it’s a matter of trying to attract as many Trump supporters as possible. Those who can remember the waning days of the 2016 campaign will recall candidate Trump’s stop at a Sun Country Airlines hanger at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, where he attacked in extremely harsh terms our state’s significant and vibrant Somali population.
The DFL-endorsed candidate, state representative Erin Murphy — herself in a tough four-way race in that primary, hit back, calling Johnson’s statements “divisive” and “cynical”. Well of course they are but in a race that if we are fortunate will see 15% turnout for a race being held on the second Tuesday in August (seriously, wtf?; and it’s a long story so I’ll spare you for now), both Johnson and Pawlenty are playing to those most likely to vote.
All primaries will be Tuesday, August 14. On Wednesday, August 15, we’ll be able to better report just what might go down as at least then we’ll know who the finalists in each race will be.