Jensen favored by Minnesota GOP in August primary for governor

Early this year, Republicans in Houston County showed their preference for Scott Jensen as a candidate for Minnesota governor. 

Dr. Jensen won a straw poll at a forum in Caledonia last January, where he told party members that the GOP has to win back the governor’s office.    

Now, Jensen is the statewide favorite of Republicans who attended their state convention this weekend in Rochester.  Jensen received 65 per cent of the endorsement vote on the ninth ballot at the convention. 

Jensen has been a skeptic of government response to COVID-19, and he favors greater school choice in Minnesota.  Democrats will have their convention next weekend, also in Rochester.              

At the GOP convention, Jensen led on the first two ballots, then regained the lead on the seventh ballot. Jensen’s comeback ended a surge by business executive Kendall Qualls, who fell to 33% on the final ballot after taking the lead on the fourth.

Minnesota GOP Chairman David Hann says he does not expect Jensen to face a serious challenge in the Aug. 9 primary, since all the gubernatorial candidates at the convention pledged to honor the party’s endorsement and forego the right to run in the primary.  

Delegates made their first endorsements Friday when they backed Ryan Wilson to take on State Auditor Julie Blaha, and Kim Crockett to challenge Secretary of State Steve Simon.