LINO LAKES, Minn. — The crumbling political career of two-term Minesota Housen member Elliott Engen took another dive. The two-term Lino Lakes representative withdrew his candidacy for re-election. For Engen, age 27, it’s been a bewildering career path from rising visibility in state Republican politics to confused ignominy in recent months. His trajectory:
> November 2020: Engen learned the ropes of campaigning in his first his bid for elected office at age 21. This was in District 38B. He barely lost, 50.1% to 49.8%.
> November 2022: On his second try Engen won the seat from the now-renumbered District 36A with 51 At the capitol he impressed fellow Republicans as a likable go-getter. “A rising star” he was called.
> November 2024: Engen was re-elected from 26A with 54%.
> October 2025: Perhaps a little too eager to advance his political career, Engen declared his candidacy for statewide office — auditor. In this period he had discussions with fellow Republican representative Peggy Bennett of Albert Lea, who was pondering a gubernatorial bid and who was looking for a running mate for lieutenant governor. A deal was struck. For reasons that were never clear, Bennett put off identifying Engen as her choice. At some point — it’s unclear why or exactly when —Engen lost interest in his campaign for state audiytor.
> March 2026: Engen was arrested driving drunk late at night after a day of drinking around town with a fellow Republican House member, Walter Hudson, who was carrying a firearm. During the day he played hooky from a House committee meeting, which would very soon would come back to haunt him.
BApril 2026: As punishment the House Ethics Committee, chaired by Greg Davuds, a Preston Republican, stripped Engen and Hudson of their committee assignments.
> June 2026: Engen texted Bennett that he was withdrawing as her running mate. She quoted him the next day as considering a career change out of state. Engen however, had a different explanation in a news release the next day: That family finances precluded him from continuing in elected office. That same afternoon, however, Engen contradicted himself and filed fir re-election from House District 36A, which requires residency not only in Minesota but also in the district.
Engen. Had made a name for himself as an ideological right-winger in state Republican circles.
Carer profile
Elliott Engen was born in St. Paul. As a student in politics and law agt Hamline University in 2021, he became imbued by the charismatic Christian nationalist Charlie Kirk. He founded a Hamline campus chapter of Kirk’s Turning Point USA. At a national Turning Point convention Engen found encouragement from fellow Trump loyalists to run for elected office. Engen’s career experience after college includes worki as an operations associate in Hennepin County law firm.t Cour. He later became public relations manager at Wildlife Forever, a conservation group working against invasive species,. He left the job before joining the legislature. In all this Engen honed mannerisms and the signature style of the late Charlie Kirk, who had been assassinated in September.
> June 2026: Feeling let down and betrayed, Bennett ended her gubernatorial campaign. It was impossible to find a substitute runnng mate in the remaining four hours to the filing deadline.
> June 2026: Engen withdrew as a 36A candidate in a message to state election authorities.
Earlier: Bennett’s secret sidekick: Troubled fellow solon
Earlier: Bennett gubernatorial ticket falls apart
Earlier: Auditor hopeful creates stir with fraud charge
Earlier: House leadership distressed at boozing arrests