Wright County GOP Debate Reveals Early Favorites For Governor

Tuesday night, the Wright County Republicans hosted a debate with seven of the Republican candidates for Minnesota Governor. A straw poll was conducted after the debate, and the results shed a little light on the very crowded field of Republicans interested in the role.

Lisa Demuth, the current Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives and representative from District 13A (Cold Spring) emerged the winner of the straw poll, securing 54% of the final vote. In second place, Army veteran and advocacy leader Kendall Qualls found 15.6% of the vote; Maple Grove Representative Kristin Robbins came in third with 11%.

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Rounding out the pack: Minneapolis attorney and a Waseca native Chris Madel, former gubernatorial candidate Dr. Scott Jensen, retired Naval intelligence officer Phillip Parish, and business owner Mike Lindell.

It’s still very early in the process, but these non-binding straw polls offer an insight to who is leading the group ahead of the precinct caucuses that start next month, the state nomination conventions in the spring and the primary elections, set for August in Minnesota.

If you’re interested, the Wright County Republicans will hold their precinct caucuses Tuesday, February 3rd, at 7:00pm. For a list of caucus location, click here.