ROCHESTER — Political newcomer Jim Schultz received the Minnesota Republican Occasion endorsement on the state occasion conference in Rochester Friday evening, Could 13, besting 4 different candidates vying for delegates’ assist.
Schultz acquired the nomination after a number of rounds of voting. He was endorsed by the whole conference after MyPillow legal professional and 2018 legal professional basic candidate Doug Wardlow conceded within the contest. Many delegates expressed shock on the outcomes, as Wardlow gave the impression to be the favourite in early voting, however he acquired a serious increase after former choose Tad Jude withdrew from the competition and endorsed Schultz.
The 36-year-old legal professional describes himself as a political outsider and legislation and order candidate. In his acceptance speech, Schultz criticized incumbent Democratic-Farmer-Labor Legal professional Common Keith Ellison’s dealing with of the rise of violent crime within the state. He mentioned he would take a “sledgehammer” to the legal professional basic’s workplace to result in change.
In conference speeches he endorsed voter identification legal guidelines and railed towards crucial race idea, transgender girls competing in girls’s sports activities, and what he known as “militant far-left secularism antithetical to what America is.”
Schultz wouldn’t inform reporters on the conference if he would assist a complete ban on abortion, saying his job was to not legislate however to implement legal guidelines. He has beforehand mentioned he opposes abortion.
Like the opposite Republican candidates for legal professional basic, Schultz has opposed proof of COVID-19 vaccine-or-test necessities, describing them as “unfair and silly” and unhealthy for small companies. He additionally spoke out towards Gov. Tim Walz’s 2020 emergency enterprise shutdown order.
“The federal government has no proper to close down small companies and church buildings and go away Walmart open down the road,” he mentioned in considered one of his conference speeches. Schultz has beforehand mentioned he and his spouse are vaccinated towards COVID-19.
4 of the 5 Republican candidates for legal professional basic sought the endorsement on the conference: Schultz, Wardlow, Jude and legal professional Lynne Torgerson. Candidate Dennis Smith was not looking for the conference endorsement. The Minnesota GOP disqualified Torgerson from endorsement however didn’t say why.
In a speech earlier than the ultimate endorsement vote, Wardlow touted his expertise in politics and as an legal professional, saying Schultz didn’t have sufficient time campaigning or in a courtroom to successfully advocate for conservative beliefs. Finally delegates didn’t purchase his attraction and as an alternative opted to assist a brand new face.
It was not instantly clear if Wardlow had dropped out of the race after conceding to Schultz. Republicans in Minnesota sometimes honor their occasion’s endorsement.
The first election that may verify the Republican who will seem on the poll in November is on Aug. 9.
Minnesota DFL Chair Ken Martin questioned Schultz’s expertise in an announcement issued instantly after the endorsement.
“Jim Schultz is a hedge-fund lawyer with no expertise in a Minnesota courtroom,” he mentioned. “The very last thing we wish is somebody like that taking a sledgehammer to the Legal professional Common’s workplace. As a substitute of specializing in the problems necessary to the folks of Minnesota.”
Schultz attended the College of St. Thomas in St. Paul, graduated from Harvard Regulation College and returned to Minnesota to apply legislation within the personal sector. He lives within the western Twin Cities metro space together with his spouse and three youngsters.
