The Republican Party of Minnesota is still struggling to dig itself out of debt as it heads into a pivotal election year in which it will try to win back control of the state House from Democrats.
State GOP activists have raised alarm about the party's financial situation throughout the year, especially when it reported having only about $54 on hand and about $336,000 in debt at the end of May. While the state party's cash flow has rebounded since — the GOP reported about $145,000 on hand at the end of October — its debt has continued to mount.
The Minnesota GOP had roughly $414,000 in debt as of Oct. 31, according to its latest federal campaign finance report.
"It's been a challenge this year, no question about that," Minnesota GOP Chair David Hann said.
Hann told the Star Tribune in July that he thought the party would pay off all its debts by the end of the year. But in an interview Wednesday, he said it won't be gone by then.
Donor interest dipped after Minnesota Republicans were swept by Democrats in last year's midterm elections, Hann said, and a recently resolved legal dispute with the state GOP's former chair was also costly for the party.
"We've had significant legal costs associated with the lawsuit," Hann said. "Huge problem and unexpected, obviously. That has been something that has been damaging."
The GOP and former chair Jennifer Carnahan agreed earlier this month to drop the lawsuits they filed against each other late last year, without any money changing hands.