Ryan Faircloth
Politics and government reporter
Higher EducationFaircloth previously covered higher education and breaking news, contributing to the Star Tribune’s Pulitzer Prize-winning coverage of the police killing of George Floyd. A 2018 graduate of the University of Minnesota, Faircloth started his career covering state politics for the St. Paul Pioneer Press and was named Minnesota’s Young Journalist of the Year by the state Society of Professional Journalists for his reporting at the Capitol. In his spare time, he enjoys practicing boxing and mixed martial arts – sports he once competed in – and searching the Twin Cities for barbecue and tacos that are even half as good as those he had growing up in Houston.
Latest from Ryan Faircloth
Gov. Tim Walz faces tough political reality as he seeks to assert himself in final year in office
Republicans in the tied Minnesota House are already signaling opposition to the governor’s policy agenda, setting up early clashes as lawmakers returned to St. Paul this week.
February 19, 2026
Slain DFL Leader Melissa Hortman is remembered for legacy of service as lawmakers reconvene
It was a somber opening to the legislative session, which will be dominated by fallout from a year of upheaval in the state.
February 17, 2026
Walz: Trump administration pulled back from joint investigation into killing of Good, Pretti after leak
The question of whether there will be a joint federal and state investigation into the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti remains unanswered.
February 12, 2026
Walz, top Democrats praise Minnesotans for standing strong during ‘unprecedented federal invasion’
Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Emmer blamed Minnesota Democrats for the unrest during Trump’s immigration enforcement crackdown.
February 12, 2026
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Gov. Tim Walz says federal immigration enforcement surge could wind down within days
Walz struck an optimistic tone about the end of Operation Metro Surge after speaking with White House officials.
February 10, 2026
Scott Jensen ends campaign for Minnesota governor, announces run for state auditor
Jensen, the GOP’s 2022 nominee for governor, exited the race after finishing fourth in a statewide straw poll.
February 9, 2026
As Republicans shift criticism on fraud to Klobuchar, allies point to her prosecutor past
Republicans say Klobuchar stood by Gov. Tim Walz while state money was plundered and has been quiet on the issue.
February 8, 2026
Lisa Demuth wins GOP straw poll for governor, Qualls and Lindell follow behind
The straw poll came as the GOP is dealing with political fallout from President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement surge.
February 5, 2026
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Mike Lindell’s biggest gubernatorial campaign expense? Copies of his memoir
His campaign spent almost $190,000 last year on copies of his self-published autobiography.
February 3, 2026
U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar jumps into Minnesota governor’s race
Klobuchar’s entrance into the race shakes up a field that includes a dozen Republicans who want to make the 2026 election a referendum on the state’s fraud crisis.
January 29, 2026
Democrats win two special elections for Minnesota House seats
The results will restore the state House to a 67-67 tie before the legislative session that begins in February.
January 28, 2026
Republicans in Minnesota were bullish about their election chances. Then ICE arrived.
Just a few weeks ago, the GOP was riding a wave of momentum with fraud dominating the state’s political dialogue. Now the party is on its heels.
January 27, 2026
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