GOP Candidate Quits Governor's Race in Minnesota

[applegrove]

GOP Candidate Quits Governor’s Race in Minnesota

January 26, 2026 at 10:09 am EST By Taegan Goddard 117 Comments

https://politicalwire.com/2026/01/26/gop-candidate-quits-governors-race-in-minnesota/

Chris Madel (R) made a stunning exit from the Minnesota governor’s race, saying he cannot support the national GOP’s “stated retribution on the citizens of our state, nor can I count myself a member of a party that would do so,” the Minnesota Star Tribune reports.

Said Madel: “United States citizens, particularly those of color, live in fear. United States citizens are carrying papers to prove their citizenship. That’s wrong.”

[lapfog_1]

1. once a repuke, always a repuke

no forgiving these people.

[leftstreet]

2. Then run as a Democrat or an Independent n/t

[mercuryblues]

20. No. He holped build this

Let him live there.

FUCK HIM.

[themaguffin]

3. it's telling that he said that and didn't run, as opposed to running and being a different voice.

no Republican who is appealing for office or in office has any integrity. Only, maybe those not in office or out the door... maybe.

[MineralMan]

4. He didn't have a chance of winning anyhow.

So, nothing really changed.

[Bettie]

6. I wondered about that

maybe this was a "graceful" way to make his exit before being thumped in the primary.

[MineralMan]

7. Yeah, I don't know about that.

I don't follow Republican primary candidates. However, that guy never had a chance of winning in the primary. No name recognition.

Still, I'm always glad when Republicans disavow Trump in any way. That doesn't mean that I support them, just that they have recognized just how shitty Trump and his sycophants are.

[Bettie]

8. Yep...

I give them a small amount of credit for stepping away from the groupthink for at least one statement.

Doesn't happen in Iowa. They are all locksteppers around here, each fighting to surpass the cruelty of the others.

[Bettie]

5. I'll give him credit for dropping out

and it sounds like he's leaving the party.

For a Republican that's a huge statement. Normally, at best, they pretend non-white people don't even exist.

[Totally Tunsie]

9. Sounds like he glimpsed his potential future and chickened out.

I'm betting he just didn't want to take the chance he'd have to deal with all that's going on in Minnesota at present.

[3_Limes]

10. Positioning himself for the future?

One where Trump's evil is uniformly accepted and those who resisted are elevated?

[Iggo]

29. For a future on this side of the prison walls, maybe.

[sarisataka]

11. I commend him on finding his conscience

I am not one of those who demand Republicans speak out, but when a Republican does speak out, ridicule them for not doing so sooner or doing more

It is a win, I will take it

[littlemissmartypants]

12. He deserves No accolades for this cowardice.

He launched his campaign for governor as a staunch defender of law enforcement and had recently provided legal counsel to Jonathan Ross, the ICE agent who shot and killed Renee Good in Minneapolis on Jan. 7.

[applegrove]

13. Do you have a link for this?

[littlemissmartypants]

17. It's posted in the OP.

[applegrove]

19. Oh. Okay. Behind paywall.

[littlemissmartypants]

22. 8th paragraph, no pay wall

https://www.startribune.com/chris-madel-ends-gop-bid-for-governor-says-he-cant-support-federal-retribution-against-minnesota/601570793

I created a post about the article earlier but deleted the post because there were already two or three others on the same article.

Sorry about the confusion. ❤️

[applegrove]

23. There is a paywall for me. Then again I'm in Canada.

Thanks.

[littlemissmartypants]

25. Try this

https://archive.is/20260126192526/https://www.startribune.com/chris-madel-ends-gop-bid-for-governor-says-he-cant-support-federal-retribution-against-minnesota/601570793

[applegrove]

28. Thanks. The GOP is falling apart.

[littlemissmartypants]

30. Did it work?

[applegrove]

33. Yes. He could not quit without complementing Trump. But it

shows a change in a Republican so I'll leave it up.

[littlemissmartypants]

34. 👍❤️

[NJCher]

14. that makes it even more significant

I don't think anyone has yet made the point that this is another sign that republicans are splintering.

Division and splintering are the main way that tyrannical regimes end.

[carpetbagger]

18. Everyone deserves a legal defense

John Adams represented the soldiers who killed Bostonian civilians.

[Wednesdays]

15. As I said in another thread

Repugs are speaking up/dropping out because they're reading the latest poll numbers.

[Jack Valentino]

16. I think the GOP's chances of winning statewide offices in Minnesota this year are approximately ZERO,

after what Trump and ICE have been doing to them...

[Emile]

21. I have a feeling this last murder will destroy the GOP.

If this doesn't do it, nothing will. This murder was pretty bad. Gunning down a veteran, who devoted his life to veterans, is a step too far.

[Initech]

24. Well, the first step is admitting that you have a problem.

But still, you voted for the fucking asshole. You vote for Trump, you get all of the shit that comes with him.

[AllyCat]

26. Read beyond the headlines please! He's anything but a hero.

[applegrove]

27. I put it up to show the GOP falling apart, not to laud him.

[AllyCat]

31. I'm sorry. My post was meant to be a "hey everybody" kind

Of thing. I fell short. The impact sounded like I was after you.

I completely get it what you were saying.

[applegrove]

35. We're cool. I expect to be critisized and accept that in a truly liberal discussion

forum people will criticize. Makes us better.

[Norrrm]

32. Tie every republican running for office to certain issues

Tie every republican running for office to certain issues

1. Destruction of the White House East Wing.
No approval or plan.

2. Pardon a convicted drug smuggler, 400 tons.

3. Favorable treatment for a convicted human trafficker of sexual victims.
.
4. Pardon all Jan6 violent offenders who tried to kill police.

5. Killing American citizens with his ICE police.

He will wait until after the election for his pardons so it will hurt less for the republicans.
Especially the pardon of Ghislaine Maxwell.