{"id":26139,"date":"2025-12-06T00:40:51","date_gmt":"2025-12-06T00:40:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cndailynews.store\/?p=26139"},"modified":"2025-12-06T00:40:51","modified_gmt":"2025-12-06T00:40:51","slug":"tim-walz-draws-notable-gop-challenger-in-gubernatorial-race-7","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cndailynews.store\/?p=26139","title":{"rendered":"Tim Walz Draws Notable GOP Challenger In Gubernatorial Race"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"container fullwidth-featured-area-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"featured-area\">\n<div class=\"featured-area-inner\">\n<figure class=\"single-featured-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-post-image\" src=\"https:\/\/conservativebrief.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Tim-Walz-1.jpg\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/conservativebrief.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Tim-Walz-1.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/conservativebrief.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Tim-Walz-1-300x160.jpg 300w, https:\/\/conservativebrief.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Tim-Walz-1-1024x545.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/conservativebrief.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Tim-Walz-1-768x409.jpg 768w, https:\/\/conservativebrief.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Tim-Walz-1-1536x818.jpg 1536w\" alt=\"\" width=\"1600\" height=\"852\" data-main-img=\"1\" \/><figcaption class=\"single-caption-text\">\u00a0Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"content\" class=\"site-content container\">\n<div id=\"main-content-row\" class=\"tie-row main-content-row\">\n<div class=\"main-content tie-col-md-8 tie-col-xs-12\" role=\"main\">\n<article id=\"the-post\" class=\"container-wrapper post-content tie-standard\">\n<div class=\"entry-content entry clearfix\">\n<div class=\"code-block code-block-4\">\n<hr \/>\n<p>This article may contain commentary<br \/>\nwhich reflects the author&#8217;s opinion.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ns-buttons ns-inline large ns-no-print\">\n<div class=\"ns-buttons-wrapper ns-align-center\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth, the state\u2019s top Republican lawmaker, announced that she will seek the GOP nomination to challenge Governor Tim Walz in the 2026 election. Walz is pursuing an unprecedented third four-year term as governor.<\/p>\n<div class=\"code-block code-block-1\">Advertisement<\/div>\n<p>If Demuth wins, she would make history as Minnesota\u2019s first female governor \u2014 and the first Republican to capture a statewide office in nearly two decades.<\/p>\n<p>The House speaker joins an increasingly crowded Republican primary field that already includes Dr. Scott Jensen, the party\u2019s 2022 nominee, along with business owner and Army veteran Kendall Qualls.<\/p>\n<p>State Rep. Kristin Robbins, who chairs the legislature\u2019s GOP-led anti-fraud committee, is also vying for the nomination.<\/p>\n<div class=\"code-block code-block-2\">\n<div id=\"e1c09a52-67a1-44a3-a58e-fc2bf67380c6\" class=\"_ap_apex_ad\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u201cI believe that we\u2019ll be able to build a better and a stronger Minnesota here together. Businesses need to be able to succeed in what they\u2019re doing and to be able to grow here in our state, families should be able to thrive. Our kids deserve an excellent education, and all Minnesotans need to be able to succeed,\u201d Demuth told local outlet WCCO before she officially announced her bid for governor.<\/p>\n<p>Whoever emerges as the Republican nominee will face a steep challenge against Walz, whose strong name recognition and deep fundraising network give him a clear advantage.<\/p>\n<div class=\"code-block code-block-7\">Advertisement<\/div>\n<p>Walz defeated Jensen by eight points in the 2022 midterms \u2014 a year generally favorable to Republicans.<\/p>\n<p>WATCH:<\/p>\n<div class=\"twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered\"><iframe id=\"twitter-widget-0\" class=\"\" title=\"X Post\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/embed\/Tweet.html?dnt=false&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-0&amp;features=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%3D%3D&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=1985116127387607047&amp;lang=en&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fconservativebrief.com%2Ftim-walz-draws-96975%2F&amp;sessionId=8e95b95a178b156317f6d67c6d20e7986201b7cf&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&amp;width=550px\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-tweet-id=\"1985116127387607047\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"code-block code-block-10\">Advertisement<\/p>\n<div id=\"as6078\" data-title=\"You Might Also Like\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Demuth says her experience in the legislature \u2014 where she has often worked with Governor Walz and Democratic-Farmer-Labor lawmakers in the heavily blue state \u2014 distinguishes her from other contenders.<\/p>\n<p>The 2024 election left the Minnesota House evenly split at 67 seats per party, marking a three-seat gain for Republicans.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI know I\u2019m the strongest candidate to take on Gov. Walz by my track record as Speaker of the House, I have been the only one of the Republican candidates that have sat across the table from Gov. Walz and negotiated in really trying times,\u201d\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.audacy.com\/wccoradio\/news\/local\/rep-house-speaker-lisa-demuth-will-enter-governors-race\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Demuth told the outlet<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI have respect for the office that Gov. Walz serves in, but I know I\u2019m the best one to run for governor because I\u2019m willing to get rid of all of the negative rhetoric and I\u2019ve proven that I can work across party lines in a collaborative and bipartisan fashion, and Minnesotans are ready for that,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n<p>Demuth officially kicked off her campaign Sunday with a sharp video announcement accusing Governor Walz of dividing Minnesotans and showing \u201chatred\u201d toward supporters of President Donald Trump.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEnough. I\u2019ve had enough of the hate and enough of the lies and enough of Tim Walz dividing Minnesotans to cover up his failures. Let\u2019s be real. Tim Walz doesn\u2019t just disagree with us. He hates us. He\u2019s more focused on attacking President Trump than on fixing Minnesota,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<div class=\"code-block code-block-12\">\n<div data-delay=\"4000\" data-block=\"12\">\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The Republican lawmaker presented a vastly different view of Minnesota during her childhood compared to its current state under the former vice presidential nominee.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe blew the surplus, raised taxes, let fraud run wild. He attacked ICE and gave free health care to illegal immigrants. That\u2019s not leadership, that\u2019s betrayal,\u201d noted a campaign ad.<\/p>\n<p>Demuth has said she plans to seek Trump\u2019s endorsement \u2014 a break from many Republicans in traditionally blue states, who have often tried to keep their distance from him in past election cycles.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think President Trump has done a great job delivering on the promises that he made when he was campaigning for his second term, and I think it is important to have that endorsement, so I will definitely be seeking that,\u201d she told the local outlet.<\/p>\n<p>While no polls have yet measured Demuth\u2019s impact on the race, a September SurveyUSA poll showed Walz leading Jensen by just six points in a hypothetical rematch, with 13 percent of voters still undecided.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"code-block code-block-9\">\n<div id=\"taboola-below-article-thumbnails\" class=\"trc_related_container tbl-feed-container render-late-effect tbl-feed-frame-DIVIDER\" data-feed-container-num=\"1\" data-feed-main-container-id=\"taboola-below-article-thumbnails\" data-parent-placement-name=\"Below Article Thumbnails\" data-pub-lang=\"en\">\n<div id=\"taboola-below-article-thumbnails-sca1\" class=\"trc_related_container tbl-trecs-container trc_spotlight_widget trc_elastic trc_elastic_above-the-feed-premium-card-fp-delta pad-down above-the-feed-placement\" data-card-index=\"1\" data-placement-name=\"Below Article Thumbnails | Injected 1\"><\/div>\n<div id=\"taboola-below-article-thumbnails-pl1\" class=\"tbl-feed-card trc_related_container tbl-trecs-container trc_spotlight_widget trc_elastic trc_elastic_thumbs-feed-01-a-delta\" data-card-index=\"1\" data-placement-name=\"Below Article Thumbnails | Card 1\">\n<div class=\"trc_rbox_container\">\n<div>\n<div id=\"trc_wrapper_8107726454\" class=\"trc_rbox thumbs-feed-01-a-delta trc-content-sponsored\">\n<div id=\"outer_8107726454\" class=\"trc_rbox_outer\">\n<div id=\"rbox-t2v\" class=\"trc_rbox_div trc_rbox_border_elm\">\n<div id=\"internal_trc_8107726454\">\n<div class=\"videoCube trc_spotlight_item origin-default textItem thumbnail_top videoCube_1_child syndicatedItem trc-first-recommendation trc-spotlight-first-recommendation trc_excludable\" data-item-id=\"~~V1~~-5441668131413673090~~k2i6IA205cl-o3x_w0rKuSrvzYzQIPAfdn3lp6gTafse79Ni-eBnd8iQ4KmvvX-QCoTT_IvWFG7RTbSa_z-XXoydDCEnlcXh8xqixNlTYj0JG8TcWuOjNM8EkLeRwg8HUlgo3_jLtxywI0sxSEoj8xoTeIrt5sx_ydDi9n2STzFAMnhVesYHQiOZp4ftik8_8GmIqqyIvnfLyUlbne7_Zo6ROsMGkMFSoVsudHTeIrQ\" data-item-title=\"Record High CD Rates Have People Switching to These Banks (See The List)\" data-item-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.taboola.com\/libtrc\/static\/thumbnails\/STABLE_DIFFUSION_OUTCROP\/ESD\/09b55868-743d-4f7a-ab68-a0ecfcafebc6__Sf8YkBmp.jpg\" data-item-syndicated=\"true\">\n<div class=\"thumbBlock_holder\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u00a0Getty Images This article may contain commentary which reflects the author&#8217;s opinion. Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth, the state\u2019s top Republican lawmaker, announced that she will seek the GOP nomination &hellip; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":26140,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-26139","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cndailynews.store\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26139","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cndailynews.store\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cndailynews.store\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cndailynews.store\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cndailynews.store\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=26139"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/cndailynews.store\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26139\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":26141,"href":"https:\/\/cndailynews.store\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26139\/revisions\/26141"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cndailynews.store\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/26140"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cndailynews.store\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=26139"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cndailynews.store\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=26139"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cndailynews.store\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=26139"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}