Republican Party of Minnesota
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The Republican Party of Minnesota, as its name implies, is the Minnesota branch of the United States Republican Party. Elected by the party’s state central committee on 11 June, 2005, its current chairman is Ron Carey. Its current deputy-chairman is Eric Hoplin, former chairman of the College Republican National Committee.
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Early history
The Republican Party in Minnesota was the dominant party in the state for approximately the first hundred years of Minnesota's statehood (1858 through the 1950s). The 1892 Republican National Convention was held in Minnesota. Republican candidates routinely won the state governorship as well as most other state offices. The party was aided by an opposition divided between the Democratic Party and the Minnesota Farmer-Labor Party, who eventually merged in 1944.
Independent-Republican era
The Independent-Republican Party (I-R) was the name used for the party from November 15,1975 until September 23, 1995. The party added "Independent" to its name after the Watergate affair in an attempt to distance itself from the national party. During most of the 1970s and into the early 1980s more moderate leadership prevailed within the party, but the party gradually grew more conservative. Several more moderate Republican candidates and officeholders have now left the party (including former governor Arne Carlson and former U.S. Senator Dave Durenberger), with some of them moving to the Independence Party of Minnesota, which considers itself a centrist party.
Current information
The state party will have held the governorship for 12 of the last 16 years as of the next gubernatorial election (2006). The current Governor of Minnesota Tim Pawlenty is a Republican. Republicans are in the majority in the Minnesota House of Representatives, but are in the minority by six seats in the Minnesota Senate. The 2004 election saw the Republicans lose 13 seats in the Minnesota House of Representatives, holding their majority by 1 vote. The Minnesota Senate was not up for election in 2004. Former GOP governor Arne Carlson (1991-99) has been critical of his now-former party in recent years.
As the 2006 elections approach, the party will be seeking to endorse a candidate for United States Senate. Democratic Senator Mark Dayton has chosen not to seek reelection, leaving the seat open. Two Republicans currently seek the endorsement from the party. The first is current Minnesota Congressman Mark Kennedy, who enjoys support from party activists and has secured several major GOP endorsements including the party’s former chairman Ron Ebensteiner. The second candidate is retired minister Harold Shudlick of Apple Valley.
Kennedy’s decision to seek the U.S. Senate will also leave the states 6th Congressional District open in the 2006 U.S. House elections. Four Republican candidates have emerged, each seeking the endorsement of the party, State Senator Michele Bachmann of Stillwater, State Representative Jim Knoblach of St. Cloud, State Representative Philip Krinkie of Lino Lakes, and St. Cloud businessman Jay Esmay. The party will likly make it's official endorsements in early 2006.
Current elected officials
U.S. Senators:
Minnesota Constitutional Officers:
- Minnesota Governor - Tim Pawlenty
- Minnesota Secretary of State - Mary Kiffmeyer
- Minnesota Lieutenant Governor - Carol Molnau
- Minnesota State Auditor - Patricia Anderson
State Legislative Leaders:
- Minnesota House of Representatives Speaker of the House - Rep. Steve Sviggum
- Minnesota House of Representatives Majority Leader - Rep. Eric Paulson
- Minnesota Senate Minority Leader - Sen. Dick Day
Members of the United States Congress:
- U.S. Representative (1st District) - Gil Gutknecht
- U.S. Representative (2nd District) - John Kline
- U.S. Representative (3rd District) - Jim Ramstad
- U.S. Representative (6th District) - Mark Kennedy
