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
Minnesota lawmakers hit sticking points in budget talks with weeks left in session
One House Democrat says the tie between the DFL and GOP “makes everything harder, slower, more time consuming.”
April 21, 2025
Minnesota Senate president has blurred the line between his legislative and legal business for years
Sen. Bobby Joe Champion, an attorney, has pushed for funding for organizations run by past legal clients. He also represented a nonprofit he had secured state funding for.
April 16, 2025
Fed up with attacks, Minnesota Republicans wage war against far-right group
Republicans push to “cut out the cancer” of Action 4 Liberty, a group that has repeatedly attacked elected officials and tried to replace them with hardliners.
April 11, 2025
Minnesota Senate president sought funding for nonprofit run by legal client, and for former employer
Senate President Bobby Joe Champion temporarily stepped down as chair of an ethics subcommittee on Monday and asked the panel to determine whether there was a conflict.
April 7, 2025
Judge orders Minnesota cannabis agency to hold canceled license lottery after all
The state’s Office of Cannabis Management had a legal obligation to conduct the social equity preapproval lottery, a Ramsey County judge ruled on Friday.
April 6, 2025
MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell says he may run for Minnesota governor — even though he’s living in Texas
Records show Lindell has recently lived in Lufkin, Texas, and been registered to vote in the Lone Star State since early 2023. In a January court filing, Lindell is described as “a Texas citizen.”
April 3, 2025
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Minnesota Senate passes resolution condemning Trump’s pardon of Jan. 6 rioters
“The evidence of such widespread criminal destruction is indisputable,” said DFL Sen. Ron Latz. Republicans called the resolution a “waste of time.”
April 1, 2025
Minnesota House leaders propose about $3.7 billion in spending cuts
Leaders of the evenly split Minnesota House agreed to a budget framework seeking to head off a looming deficit.
March 31, 2025
Minnesota Senate DFLers propose up to $2.5B in spending cuts, pullbacks on some inflation-related spending
Seeking to avoid a future budget deficit, Senate Democrats propose spending reductions.
March 28, 2025
Former Minn. GOP Chair Jennifer Carnahan, others enter race to replace former Sen. Justin Eichorn
A crowded field of Republicans quickly emerged in the race to replace Eichorn, who resigned from the state Senate last week following his arrest in an underage prostitution sting.
March 24, 2025
Is Tim Walz as engaged at the Capitol as past governors? Republicans say he rarely meets with them.
GOP legislators question Walz’s engagement as the former vice-presidential candidate has embarked on another national tour.
March 23, 2025
GOP state Sen. Justin Eichorn resigns, makes first court appearance on underage prostitution charge
Upon his resignation from the Senate, Eichorn was also removed from his role as chair of the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board.
March 20, 2025
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