Posted on 08/15/2018 5:15:02 AM PDT by ChicagoConservative27
Jeff Johnson shocked the Minnesota political world Tuesday with a commanding victory in the Republican primary for governor, while U.S. Rep. Tim Walz won a three-way race in the DFL primary, setting up a clash of starkly different visions for the state’s future.
Johnson, a Hennepin County commissioner, derailed former Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s bid to win back his old job. Pawlenty had been widely seen as the front-runner thanks to much higher name recognition from his two previous terms in office, and Johnson overcame a vast fundraising disadvantage with a message of change and by courting supporters of President Donald Trump.
“We have given the government of Minnesota back to the hardworking, forgotten men and women of this state, and you all helped,” Johnson said, gesturing at the jubilant crowd at his primary night party in Plymouth, where he lives.
(Excerpt) Read more at startribune.com ...
I hope Mr. Johnson is legit and not a stealth rino.
“I hope Mr. Johnson is legit and not a stealth rino.”
I live in MN and from what I know, he has a history as a RINO when he was Hennepin County Commissioner. He was also the nominee and lost 4 years ago to Gov. Dayton. In my view, not very likeable and definitely tried to paint himself as much more conservative than his record indicates. I would have preferred Pawlenty.
Pawlenty was always a bit of a slob for a polly tishun (not a knock, I proudly identify).
Running for President with that shaggy mullet. Oh well, probably more than his appearance that cost him.
Jeff isn’t a RINO. Here’s running on stopping refugee resettlement and eliminating the Met Council, an unelected group that has significant taxing and spending power. He attended the Trump rallies and became more emboldened through the primary. Pawlenty was and is a swamp rat.
Pawlenty refuses to attend the Trump rallies and continued to not support Trump’s efforts.
Pawlenty-has been. He’s not the only one.
Johnson is doing very well and has a chance.
I heard from some insiders in a pair of MN campaigns last night and they are thrilled Ellison won his race, because now they think the GOP will win both the governor and the AG, as well as flip a couple (possibly three) House seats.
Reads like the only one shocked is the Red Star.
Tim Pawlenty would be easy to beat and that is exactly why they wanted him.
After living in MN for the last 4 years, I would agree.
The RATS made a tactical error with Ellison as AG.
Assuming the GOP isn’t afraid to attack him.
The Wisconsin raw vote totals from last night do not bode well for the republicans. 81,000 more votes for Dems in total than Scott Walker. 2,000 more votes for the Dem challengers to Paul Ryan’s seat than the flock of Republicans running for that seat. time will tell, but I think Walker is in trouble. Also look for Sean Duffy to have a tough time in northern part of the state.
“Reads like the only one shocked is the Red Star.
Tim Pawlenty would be easy to beat and that is exactly why they wanted him.”
yep- pawlenty- did not endorse Trump
pawlenty- FAILED presidential bid
pawlenty- DID NOT GO to THE Republican convention
pawlenty- DID not seek republican endorsement
pawlenty- siphoned off HUGE dollars from the Republican party
I say RINO pawlenty will endorse the Demon party-
or stay running to help the demonrats- it’s what he does
I’m not convinced that Johnson will win the Governor’s race. His last two runs for statewide office were well...not so good. They were anemic and underfunded.
His supporters claim that he’s learned from the last two races. Based upon what I say of him during the GOP county and district conventions as well as on the campaign trail this summer, I’m not so sure he’s learned.
I voted for Pawlenty. Not because I thought Pawlenty was great. I thought at least he gave the GOP a chance of winning the Governors office in November. I just don’t see Johnson giving us that great of a chance.
Johnson’s best chance would have been if the Dem nominee was Erin Murphy. an inner city ultra liberal leftist. But she lost to Tim Walz. Walz is a tough opponent. He’s been elected to Congress from a GOP-leaning district because he’s been really greasy about portraying himself as a centrist. Trust me, he’s anything but a centrist.
I would hope that the GOP will do everything they can to tie Ellison to Walz.
“I say RINO pawlenty will endorse the Demon party-
or stay running to help the demonrats- it’s what he does”
Completely wrong. In Pawlenty’s concession speech, he congratulated Johnson on his win and endorsed him.
The Ellison win is good for Doug Wardlow, the GOP candidate who is very strong.
It makes absolutely no sense.
Jeff is a good candidate who is becoming stronger. He is surrounded by Trumplicans and I think that's a great sign.
I think Jeff can win and will win most of the out state counties. He needs to pick off some precincts in the Minneapolis/STP to win. Walz won't win in out state. We'll tie him to the libs in a big way.
“It makes absolutely no sense.”
Yeah it actually does make sense.
The people who are most pissed are the party activists who like to be schmoozed by the candidates. Pawlenty didn’t do that.
Yes, he said bad things about Trump. I don’t agree with that.
What Pawlenty had was name recognition (not all of it bad) and money. He did have volunteers too. I saw them out during the primary.
Walz will do better than expected - especially in southern Minnesota. He represents a good chunk of that area in Congress. Southern Minnesota is an area where Walz could easily undercut Johnson.
My choice, whether people like it or not, was based on practicalities. I decided that Pawlenty, for all of his issues, gave the GOP at least a chance at winning the Governors office. Based on his past performances, I remain unconvinced he can.
Having said that, I’d very much like to proven wrong in November.
I have been out of the state for seven years. What I know about Tim Walz was he isn’t a Twin Cities lunatic barking moonbat. Or has that changed?
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