Trump endorses Scott Jensen, Kim Crockett in Minnesota races

Former President Donald Trump threw his endorsement behind Minnesota's Republican candidate for governor Tuesday, saying Scott Jensen will "bring Minnesota back from the brink."

With just two weeks until Election Day, Trump is issuing his first Minnesota endorsements of the cycle with posts on the conservative social media site Truth Social. He also gave his "complete and total endorsement" to Republican secretary of state candidate Kim Crockett.

"Minnesota finally has a chance to have a great Governor," Trump posted Tuesday night, saying, "Strong on both fighting Crime and delivering Solid and Sensible Education, the results will be quickly seen — and there won't be any more fiery takeovers of police precincts. Minnesota will be Great Again. Dr. Scott Jensen has my Complete and Total Endorsement!"

While Trump has campaigned heavily in other states' elections this cycle, including neighboring Wisconsin, he hasn't been active in Minnesota. Jensen said Friday he didn't expect the former president to endorse him or visit the state in the final weeks of the campaign.

Jensen did not specifically mention Trump in his statement responding to the surprise endorsement. He highlighted other endorsements from the state's largest police association, some newspapers and the Hmong American Leadership Council.

"As this campaign takes the lead in the polls, I expect many individuals and organizations to ride the momentum and endorse our campaign. While we have not actively sought the endorsement of political leaders, we are grateful for those who have recognized our ability to lead and Heal Minnesota," Jensen said.

The race between Democratic Gov. Tim Walz and Jensen, a family physician and former one-term state senator, has been close with recent polls showing Walz with a narrow lead. It remains to be seen what impact the endorsements could have in the state, which did not elect Trump in 2016 or 2020.

DFL Party Chairman Ken Martin has sought to align Jensen and Trump.

"Scott Jensen has embraced the Big Lie, even calling for throwing our Secretary of State in jail. Now, Donald Trump has rewarded him with an endorsement," DFL Party Chairman Ken Martin said in a statement.

Trump posted his support for Crockett on Tuesday morning, calling her a "strong and wonderful woman" who will be a "smart and dedicated fighter in that very important position."

That endorsement is the latest national attention on Minnesota's usually sleepy secretary of state race, which is one of a handful of state races being targeted by national Democratic groups this fall.

"I was surprised to learn this morning that President Trump endorsed me. I appreciate this unexpected vote of confidence," Crockett said in a statement. "The most important endorsement will be Minnesota voters who choose me to be their new Secretary of State."

Crockett, a former Deephaven City Council member who worked for years at the Center of the American Experiment, is challenging two-term DFL Secretary of State Steve Simon on a platform of tightening voting restrictions, which she believes will boost confidence in the system and "calm down the conversation" around state elections.

Yet, she's also undermined that system, describing the 2020 election as "lawless" and "rigged" after some voting protocols were changed to accommodate concerns about COVID-19 spread in polling places.

In his endorsement, Trump falsely describes Minnesota as a state "where Election Fraud is rampant, but where nothing is done about it or, more importantly, to FIX IT," he wrote. "Kim will get to the bottom of that, and so much else."

Simon has said there were only 17 convictions of voter fraud-related crimes in Minnesota out of 3.3 million votes cast in 2020.

Responding to the endorsement, Martin said Trump's "dangerous lies" that the 2020 election was stolen led to the attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

"It is more important than ever that we do not allow one of Donald Trump's lackeys into office to continue attacking the legitimacy of our elections and spreading conspiracy theories that incite political violence," Martin said.

If elected, Crockett has said she would push for legislative changes to limit the use of absentee balloting, require photo identification at the polls, shorten the state's early voting period and eliminate same-day voter registration.

Simon has led Crocket in fundraising and polls in the race. Millions of dollars are flooding into the state from national groups for television ads to aid Simon's bid for a third term.