MINNEAPOLIS — Prominent Minneapolis lawyer Chris Madel joined a crowded field of candidates for the Republican nomination to unseat Democrat incumbent Tim Walz. The time is now, he said, to break the Democratic hold on every statewide elected office. “If you’re tired of losing, I’m your candidate,” Madel told supporters. “If you’re not there are a whole bunch of other ones.” He is the 11th Republican to announce. Madel, age 48, has not held public office before. His most recent prominence has been to win the dismissal of murder charges against State Patrol trooper Ryan Londregan for a traffic stop gone bad. Londregan was in the front row cheering at Madel’s one-hiur announcement event. Madel also secured the dismissal of a 2023 defmation lawsuit by Assistant Minneapolis Police Chief Katie Blackwell against Alpha News reporter Liz Collin for the documentary “The Fall of Minneapolis.” In announcing his candidacy amid an elaborate PowerPoint display, Madel promised to shake up state government, cut taxes, improve schools, fight crime and end “open season” on law enforcement by prosecutors. He blamed Walz for what he called a deterioration in public safety, fraud in state-managed programs and dwindling educational outcomes. An emphasis was on fraud, which the Minnesota GOP apparatchik has been working up as a problem created by Walz largesse. “I understand fraud,” Made said. “I actually understand how to uncover it, how to actually do something about it.: He added: “This is our money, and I truly believe that when a government holds your money, they hold it in a sacred trust.” He promised also to slim down government. Madel told supporters expects his rivals for the nomination to dig up his previous donations to Democratic candidates. These include $250 to Walz in 2006. Is response: He’s also made significant contributions to conservative organizations and represented them pro bono.
Madel. Grew up in Waseca. Graduate of Macalester College and University of Michigan Law School. Early career: Antitrust trial attorney for the U.S. Justice Department.
Crowded GOP field
> Julia leman. State senator. Daughter of former U.S. Senator Norm Coleman.
> Lisa Demuth: Speaker of Minnesota House.
> Scott Jensen: Former state senator. 2022 nominee for governor.
> Jeff Johnson: Former St. Cloud City Council member. Republican nominee for governor in 2014 and 2018.
> Patrick Knight: Food company, former Marine.
> Brad Kohler: Retired mixed martial arts fighter.
> Mike Lindell: MyPillow founder.
> Chris Madel: Minneapolis attorney.
> Phillip Parrish: Former Naval intelligence officer.
> Kendall Qualls: A businessman. Former congressional and gubernatorial candidate.
> Kristin Robbins: State legislator.
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