Uphold 2nd Amendment Rights
Accountability in Government and Personal Lives
School Transparency
No More Critical Race Theory
No More Social and Emotional Learning
Less Government, More Transparency
Less Taxes
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From the Desk of Alex Plechash Chairman MNGOP September 16, 2025
Today Governor Tim Walz announced he will seek an unprecedented third term. His rhetoric of “historic progress” could not be further from reality.
Minnesotans are struggling under Tim Walz’s failed leadership:
• Slower growth than the nation – Minnesota’s economy has grown at less than half the pace of the national average since Walz took office. Families and businesses are leaving for states with lower taxes and more opportunity.
• $10+ billion in new taxes – Walz hiked taxes on everyday Minnesotans, including a new Amazon delivery tax, a 20-cent gas tax increase, and higher fees that hit the middle class the hardest.
• Failed schools – Only 50% of Minnesota students can read at grade level and only 45% are proficient in math. In some districts, fewer than 1 in 3 students are at grade level. Minnesota girls’ math scores fell behind boys by nearly half a grade level post-COVID — one of the worst gaps in the nation.
• Teachers Union cronies protected – While enriching the teachers’ union with sweetheart deals, Walz left parents and kids behind.
• Over $1 billion in fraud – Walz presided over the largest welfare fraud scandal in state history. More than $1 billion was stolen through Feeding Our Future and related schemes. Yet no one was fired. No bureaucrats were held accountable. Minnesotans were left footing the bill.
• Rising crime – Violent crime spiked on his watch, with Minneapolis recording some of its highest homicide rates in decades.
• Giveaways to illegals – Free college tuition, taxpayer-funded health care, and driver’s licenses for illegal immigrants while Minnesota families faced rising costs and declining services.
And now, Walz is championing policies that steal opportunities from our daughters. He signed laws allowing biological boys into girls’ sports, bathrooms, and locker rooms. At this year’s high school softball state tournament, a girls’ team was forced to compete against a biological male — denying Minnesota girls a fair shot at a state championship. This isn’t “progress,” it’s injustice.
Governor Walz’s record is one of misplaced priorities and broken promises. His claim that “we’re just getting started” is not a promise — it’s a threat. Minnesotans cannot afford four more years of higher taxes, failing schools, unsafe streets, fraud, and policies that undermine fairness for women and girls.
The fact is clear: Walz is already upside-down in the polls, and no amount of campaign spin can cover up the truth — Minnesota families are worse off under his leadership. It’s time for new leadership and a fresh direction. Minnesota deserves better.
For Minnesota,
Alex Plechash
Chairman, Republican Party of Minnesota
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Legislative Update From the Desk of Representative Steve Jacob September 4, 2025
Hello from the State Capitol,
It’s been one week since the horrific tragedy that took place at Annunciation Church in Minneapolis, and many are still coming to grips with what happened. 2 beautiful kids were killed at the hands of a mentally unstable, transgendered gunman, and many more were injured. In reviewing his manifesto, it’s clear this sick coward was conducting a hate crime against Christians in a soft-target area, and succeeded.
Almost immediately, Democrats began to politicize this tragedy, insisting the legislature ban all “assault weapons.” Governor Walz also chimed in, demanding the legislature take action.
What’s interesting is that just two short years ago, Minnesota had Democrat majorities in the House and Senate and another in the governor’s office to do whatever they wanted. In fact they passed numerous gun-related laws, including the approval of an extreme risk protection order law – also known as a red flag law – that restricts firearm access for a person if a family member or law enforcement believes the individual could use a gun to harm themselves or others.
Media reports found that the killer used to speak in code and voice his approval for Hitler when he was in 7th grade. He also noted this in his journal prior to carrying out this unspeakable act: “I feel like my mom would have seen it coming due to my rocky past with violent threats.”
So here we have someone who is clearly mentally unwell, and yet no one around him raised a “red flag” as he went out and purchased three weapons and used them? The Democrats assured us the red flag law would prevent this kind of gun violence, yet look what happened.
Two years ago they also had the opportunity to practice what they preached. Democrats introduced one bill that would ban large-capacity ammunition magazines and semiautomatic military-style assault weapons, and another to prohibit the sale or transfer of semiautomatic military-style assault weapons. Not only did the bills not pass on the House floor, the Democrats refused to even give their own bills a committee hearing to begin the debate! They could have approved either of these bills without any Republican support. Instead, they literally ignored them.
Yet Governor Walz says Republicans now need to take some difficult votes on gun laws? Tell me this isn’t a political stunt without saying this is a political stunt.
Everyone should remember that while a governor can call for a special session, he does not control the session agenda, and he cannot end the special session. Meanwhile, there is not a Republican or Democrat majority that can pass legislation on its own in either legislative body right now, meaning bipartisan cooperation will be mandatory for anything to be approved if a session is called.
In Illinois, where it has an assault weapons ban – called, ironically enough, the Protect Illinois Communities Act – 58 people were shot and 8 were killed due to gun violence in Chicago over Labor Day weekend alone. Gun violence is so bad there that President Trump is likely going to send in the National Guard to try and restore order.
Can we all agree that no sane person would ever commit these crimes? If the Illinois assault weapon law proves anything, its that if a crazy person wants to kill people and you take away one tool to do so, they will find another. Timothy McVeigh used a bomb and killed 167 people in a building in Oklahoma City. Do we care about addressing the true problem here – a mental illness crisis – or are we just trying to appease the leftists that want to ban guns?
Red flag laws didn’t work. “Gun-free zone” signs are as worthless as the paper they’re printed on. And banning certain weapons or magazines won’t work either.
If a special session is called, House Republicans did unveil a series of proposals this week that should be brought forward to increase safety in our schools and communities. Many are not controversial: expanding school safety funding to non-public schools; making School Resource Officers available to every school; boosting funding for mental health treatment beds; and mandating mandatory minimum prison sentences for repeat gun criminals and for straw purchasers who enable violent crime.
If the governor calls a special session, these items should be near the top of the agenda. But I fear the governor is just trying to score political points and is not truly interested in addressing what is the real cause of these horrific actions: untreated mental illness.
Talk to you soon,
Steve
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From the Desk of Chairwoman Dawn Appel Wabasha County GOP September 8, 2025
Dear Wabasha County Republicans,
It is hard to believe that summer is over and Fall Harvest in full force. I have been busy with all the plentiful garden vegetables that God has blessed us with this year. I hope everyone of you have had a great summer and a fantastic transition into Fall.
Tomorrow, Tuesday September 9th we will be meeting at the Front Porch in Kellogg. Please come and join us! Representative Steve Jacob will make a special appearance to provide us an update of what is going on up at the Capital and we will be getting an update from the Planning Committee about a very special speaker event coming up on October 27th in Plainview with Liz Collin and the opportunity to meet Republican candidates for the Governor election in 2026.
Come and enjoy good food and conversation with your fellow Republicans in Wabasha County!
Dawn Appel
Wabasha County Chair
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From The Desk of Donna Bergstrom Deputy Chairwoman MNGOP August 28, 2025
Dear Friends,
What happened yesterday at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis was horrific and wicked. Two children were killed and 17 others wounded as they prayed in their church.
This tragedy has touched every Minnesotan. As a party—and as people—we will pray for the families impacted, for the church, the school, and our community as a whole.
We’ve also seen disturbing social media posts mocking prayer, including one that cruelly said, “prayer didn’t work.” That cold-heartedness is part of what fuels such evil. But we know this: it is prayer that softens hearts and renews compassion.
So, as we enter this Labor Day weekend, I pray you find time to connect with family, friends, and your community. May your hugs be a little tighter, your conversations a little deeper, and may we all pray this never happens again.
State Fair Success
Thank you to everyone who made this year’s Minnesota GOP State Fair booth such a success! Thousands of Minnesotans stopped by, engaged in real conversations, and left knowing Republicans are fighting for accountability and common-sense solutions.
And a big thank-you to our elected officials and candidates who visited the booth to show their support. Your presence and leadership inspire our grassroots.
Congratulations to Michael Holmstrom!
We’re proud to celebrate our endorsed candidate: Michael Holmstrom – Senate District 29!!
His victory sets the stage for even bigger wins ahead. With three special elections on the horizon, this momentum is exactly what we need to take back the Minnesota House and Senate in 2026.
But victories don’t happen on their own. We must get to work now—door-knocking, making calls, volunteering at events, and spreading the word across every community. Together, we can turn this energy into wins up and down the ballot. To learn more about Mike's campaign
click here: https://www.mike4mnsenate.com/
Fraud Messaging at the Fair
Our State Fair campaign resonated with Minnesotans: if we ended the fraud and waste in state government, every fairgoer could receive $500 instead of higher taxes.
Minnesotans get it—and they want change.
Flag Debate in the Spotlight
Fairgoers also voiced strong opinions about Minnesota’s new state flag. Many see it as unnecessary and divisive.
Republicans will continue to stand for tradition, transparency, and taxpayer respect.
Get Involved
Want to make a difference? Here’s how:
• Join a door-knock or lit drop in your district.
• Sign up for Pulsar phone calls—volunteer from home!
• Help staff future GOP events and booths.
This has been a hard week for Minnesota. But even through tragedy, we find strength in our faith, in our families, and in our mission. Let’s keep moving forward—together.
With prayers and resolve,
Donna Bergstrom
Deputy Chair, MNGOP
(O)651-222-0022
(C)202-236-2692
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From the Desk of Pam Altendorf State Representative 20A August 25, 2025
WHAT'S NEW?
The Minnesota State Fair is running now through Labor Day and always has been a favorite summer destination for the Altendorf family
I hope you have a chance to get there this year.
LEGISLATION HIGHLIGHTS
When I submitted this column to the newspaper on Tuesday, I referenced that no doubt more frauds were in store for the State of Minnesota. Little did I know that the next fraud exposure would be less than 24 hours later. The Minnesota trend continues as KARE 11 did an investigation and dead people are now being billed for state service. You can’t make this up! Learn more by clicking here.
As for the rest of our state’s fraud nonsense, please see my column below:
GUEST COLUMN
MINNESOTA – LAND OF 10,000 FRAUDS?
It was only a few years ago when Republicans would discuss fraudulent activity within state government that Democrats would laugh at us. “Fairy dust” is what one called it, basically suggesting that anyone making this statement was living in a land of make-believe.
Today, Minnesotans have almost become numb to fraud reports. Because they happen so often, they’re not even surprised by the news anymore. Truly, it’s not uncommon to hear about a new scam once a month.
Minnesota’s Housing Stabilization Services program, once touted as a lifeline for vulnerable residents, has become the latest cautionary tale of government failure and unchecked fraud. It began in 2020 to help people with disabilities and mental health challenges find stable housing. Initially projected to cost $2.6 million a year, program costs exploded to more than $100 million four years later. That kind of runaway growth should have immediately triggered scrutiny. Instead, it flew under the radar—at least within the Minnesota Department of Human Services.
There were plenty of red flags. A single office building in St. Paul somehow became the home of 22 different housing providers, many of whom are now under federal investigation.
When a program grows this fast and flies this far off course, the conclusion is unavoidable: meaningful oversight was absent from day one. This is especially true when you realize none of this fraud would have come to light if not for the work of investigative reporters and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
As a result, the Walz administration recently shut down the program entirely.
The worst example of fraud in our state is the Feeding Our Future scandal, which just saw its 50th criminal conviction. It is the largest scam in our nation’s history at more than $250 million stolen.
Unfortunately, there are many more examples that have occurred on Governor Walz’s watch:
Child care/CCAP: $150 million
NUWAY (addiction outpatient services): $58 million
Frontline workers: $45 million
Provider over payments: $40 million
Evergreen Recovery: $30 million
Sober homes: $28 million
Medicaid: $50 million
Unemployment benefits: nearly $9 million
Minnesota autism centers: nearly $2 million
To date, roughly $650 million in fraudulent activity has been brought to light. But U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson recently said he believes the scope of fraud in Minnesota government programs could exceed more than $1 billion.
This is why we pushed for legislation last session creating an independent Office of Inspector General that could investigate fraud on its own and refer cases for criminal prosecution when needed. It would be its own entity and not under Governor Walz’s or any future governor’s control in any way.
The Minnesota Senate passed similar legislation with near unanimous support this session, yet House Democrats refused to allow a vote on it.
Which begs the question: why?
Fraud is literally running rampant in Minnesota. No other state has these problems. No one within any of these government agencies is ever held accountable, and it often feels like no one is even attempting to stop it. And yet, when it came time to enact meaningful change to prevent future taxpayer theft, House Democrats stood in the way.
What do you think? Is state government fraud much ado about nothing, clear signs of larger mafia-like organized crime activity happening throughout Minnesota state government, or somewhere in between?
To me, at some point we must recognize that continued fraud activity in our state is not a coincidence. We owe it to taxpayers to end this abuse of their tax dollars. It is a serious problem that demands a serious solution, and not just another shrug of the shoulders when Minnesota learns of continued (and apparently, inevitable) fraudulent activities in the months ahead.
WABASHA COUNTY FAIR FUN
Earlier this month, the Wabasha County Fair Board invited some of us to participate in the 1st ever “celebrity” pig show. We were each trained by knowledgeable 4H'ers on best practices of how to show our pigs to the audience.
I joined Wabasha City Administrator Caroline Gregerson, local radio personality (and family friend) Logan Breuer and others for the event. Congratulations to Caroline who won (I think she stayed up the night before watching YouTube videos which gave her a real advantage)!
As school is right around the corner, I hope you all enjoy these last days of summer.
God bless!
FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER - YOUTUBE - RUMBLE
You can help Minnesota by TALKING to others and SHARING conservative messages on your social media! Follow me on Twitter, Youtube, and Rumble.
PLEASE CONTACT ME
It’s an honor and privilege to work for you at the Capitol. Don’t hesitate to contact my office at any time this session to share your thoughts, concerns or ideas. I am here to serve you!
2591 Centennial Office Building
658 Cedar Street
Saint Paul, MN 55155
651.296.8635
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Understand What It Means to be a Conservative Republican
If You Remember One Thing: While Democrats fought to raise taxes, increase spending, and make life more expensive and difficult for Minnesotans, House Republicans made our priorities clear: making our state safer and more affordable, returning common-sense leadership to St. Paul.
Look Back at the Democrat Trifecta:
•
Turned an $18 billion surplus into a $6 billion deficit.
•
Raised taxes by $10 billion.
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Made our communities less safe with soft-on-crime policies.
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Piled on mandates hurting farmers, small businesses, and families.
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Pushed Critical Race Theory into our classrooms instead of focusing on reading and math.
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Handed taxpayer-funded benefits to illegal immigrants.
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Passed the most extreme abortion policy in America.
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Attacked our 2nd Amendment rights and undermined religious freedom.
During Republicans 67-66 Majority:
For a few weeks this session, Minnesotans saw what Republican leadership looks like and where the two parties stand on the issues important to Minnesotans.
Republicans voted to:
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Protect girls’ sports by keeping boys out of female competition.
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Repeal the Democrats’ dangerous “Duty to Retreat” law.
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Pause wasteful light rail expansions.
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Rein in emergency powers—so no governor can rule Minnesota like a king ever again.
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Return surplus tax dollars where they belong, with hardworking Minnesotans.
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Fund, pro-life women’s pregnancy centers that Democrats defunded after 20 years of bipartisan support.
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And require life-saving care for infants born alive after failed abortions.
Democrats voted down every single one, but Minnesotans saw where each party stands.
After the House Returned to a 67-67 Tie:
Eventually, the House returned to a 67-67 tie, yet even then, House Republicans secured conservative wins no one thought possible:
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The largest spending cut in Minnesota state history.
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No new taxes on Minnesota families — zero.
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An end to taxpayer-funded health insurance for adult illegal immigrants.
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Dozens of anti-fraud reforms to protect your hard-earned money.
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Protection for homeschoolers and charter schools from Gov. Walz’s proposed cuts to nonpublic pupil aid.
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Life-saving funding for rural ambulance services facing collapse.
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Increases in penalties for violent criminals to keep our communities safe.
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A $2 million cut to Second Harvest Heartland — the “food shelf nonprofit” that was caught paying its CEO over $720,000 a year.
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Major restrictions on legislatively named nonprofit grants.
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Cuts to taxpayer-funded abortion grants.
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Historic permitting reform to speed up job-creating projects.
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A full repeal of the public option implementation authority and its $21 million in funding.
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And we stopped massive cost shifts to counties that would’ve driven up your property taxes.
And most importantly: we blocked billions in new taxes, protecting Minnesota families from even more financial pain.
Imagine, with a $6 billion budget deficit, the type of tax raises Democrats would have passed if not for House Republicans standing in the breach.
U.S. representative Brad finstad
districT 20 STATE SENATOR sTEVE DRAZKOWSKi
20A STATE REPRESENTATIVE pam altendorf
20b state representative steve jacob
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POLITICAL CONTRIBUTION REFUND (PCR) PROGRAM
Did you know that you can be reimbursed for your contribution to the
Republican Party of Minnesota?
Individuals are eligible to receive a refund up to $75 (couples up to $150).
The Minnesota Political Contribution Refund program reset on
January 1st, 2025. If you received a PCR in 2024, you qualify for another in 2025.
Contact Wabasha County Republicans for further information.
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