MEDINA, Minn. – A former healthcare exeeutive who in recent months has traversed the state as head of the nonprofit TakeCharge Minnesota, Kendall Qualls, declared himself as a Republican candidate for governor. Qualls, who endorsed policies of former President Trump, said he is running because “the radical left has morphed the culture of the country where it is not recognizable.” He announced on the Fox News cable channel. His candidacy is the sixth high-profile Reopublian n for the GOP primary to try to go up against incumbent Democrat Governor Tim Walz. Announced earlier:
> State Senator Michelle Benson.
> State Senator Paul Gazelka.
> Former State Senator Scott Jensen.
> Mayor Mike Murphy of Lexington.
> Physician Neil Shah.
Lower profile GOP candidates include activists Thomas Evensted and Sammy McCarty.
Qualls formerly was global marketing vice president at Medtronic/Covidien. Earlier he was with Pharmaceutical, Biotech, Johnson & Johnson and Roche Labs. He ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 2020 against Dean Phillips in the Third district and lost 55.5% to 44.3%.
Qualls. Holds degrees from the University of Michigan in business, University of Oklahoma in communications and economics, and Cameron University in political science. Age: 45.