Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth launches GOP governor bid

Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth has announced her candidacy for governor, making her the highest-ranking Republican lawmaker to challenge for the office. Her decision to run could complicate the state's political landscape, as Republicans have not won a statewide election in Minnesota since 2006. Despite this historical trend and current forecasts, Demuth and other critics believe that Governor Tim Walz's record in office presents an opportunity for a more competitive race. Demuth, a four-term legislator and former school board member from Cold Spring, became House GOP leader in 2022 and Speaker this year as part of a power-sharing agreement in the evenly split House. This role has placed her at the negotiating table with Governor Walz on significant budget matters. Her stated priorities for her gubernatorial campaign include preventing future fraud, improving educational outcomes, and reducing what she describes as wasteful government spending. A unique aspect of Demuth's campaign is her intention to maintain her position as House Speaker while running for governor. This dual role positions her to negotiate with Governor Walz, whom she is challenging, and to keep her Republican caucus united, which includes a primary rival. She faces the challenge of navigating potential backlash from conservative factions within and outside her party regarding bipartisan deals made at the Capitol, as she seeks to win over GOP voters for endorsement and primary victory. Demuth, who is the first Black woman to serve as Speaker, would also make history as the first woman and first person of color to serve as Minnesota governor. While acknowledging the historic nature of her candidacy, she expressed a desire for a future where such milestones are commonplace, emphasizing qualifications over demographic firsts. She plans to seek President Trump's endorsement but intends to keep her campaign focused on state-level issues, downplaying concerns that voter diss... download the app to read more