DULUTH, Minn. — A divided if not confused Republican state convention endorsed Adam Schwarze, who never has held elected office, for the U.S. Senate. Only on a seventh ballot did Schwarze pass the 60% threshold for endorsement. The endorsement marked Schwarze’s rapid rise in Minnesota Republican politics. He was firm in addressing 1,800 convention delegates: “I will fight in D.C., and we will fight to take back our state together.” Schwarze campaigned energetically for the endorsement. He emphasized his military experience as a Navy SEAL officer and his subsequent Washington career in international affairs. On abortion, still a hot-button issue among Republicans, Schwarze underscored his pro-life position: “I will not compromise.” Although endorsements from party conventions are coveted, they don’t necessarily mean easy sledding to the August primary election. It’s in the primary that voters decide who will be on the November general election ballot. Two of Schwarze’s rivals fi]or the endorsement signaled they will continue campaigning: Television sportscaster Michele Tafoya and pro-basketball player Royce White. Both Tafoya and White made it to a fourth ballot in the endorsement battle.
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Schwarze. Born in St. Paul. He doesn’t shy from god-talk. As balloting became heated at the convention, Schwarze told the 1,800 delegates that the nation was watching Minnesota, then added: “You know who else is watching? God.”
Candidate profile
Schwarze is a decorated combat veteran with experience in international affairs with the U.S. State Department. He has been deployed nine times a a Navy Seal officer, His resume says he has traveled to more than 70 countries. He holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Minnesota and a master’s from Harvard in international relations and a second master’s from Johns Hopkins in business administration. His campaign literature mentions experience with multiple federal agencies in conducting direct-action combat, intelligence, stability, peacekeeping, and global humanitarian missions.