(Photo by Alyssa Chen/Minnesota Reformer)
(Minnesota Reformer) – House Speaker Lisa Demuth, R-Cold Spring, was on her way to a strong showing in the Republican gubernatorial straw poll at precinct caucuses Tuesday night. With over two-thirds of the vote counted, the state’s first Black House speaker was leading, while Kendall Qualls, an Army veteran and former health care executive, came in a strong second. MyPillow guy Mike Lindell was running in third, while other candidates were far behind.
Straw polls for gubernatorial candidates were taken at precinct caucuses across the state Tuesday, during which party activists elected delegates as part of the months-long process for endorsing a nominee for governor, U.S. Senate and other key positions.
The outcome of statewide straw polls is a key test of candidates’ ability to draw grassroots support, though historically, the winner of the precinct caucus poll historically has not consistently predicted who is eventually chosen as the party’s candidate.
In December, Qualls won the straw poll of the party’s State Central Committee, which includes roughly 300 of the party’s most engaged activists. Qualls is currently leading in campaign donations, followed by state Rep. Kristin Robbins and Demuth.
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