DGA Statement on Paul Gazelka’s Entrance to Minnesota Republican Gubernatorial Primary Race to the Right

DGA Executive Director Noam Lee released the following statement after Republican State Senator Paul Gazelka announced his candidacy in the Minnesota Republican primary:

“At every turn, Paul Gazelka has failed to put Minnesotans first and, instead, pursued a harmful partisan agenda that risks the well-being of Minnesota and its families. 

“Gazelka supported Republicans’ attempts to repeal the Affordable Care Act, putting hundreds of thousands of Minnesotans’ health care at risk. He failed to take the pandemic seriously and ignored public health officials, holding a maskless, in-person party with more than 100 attendees and then covering up a resulting COVID-19 outbreak among GOP members of the legislature. Even after a state lawmaker died, Gazelka said he did not regret the frivolous event. Now, he is leading the charge in Minnesota to attack voting rights under the guise of election integrity.

“Gazelka has made it clear he puts politics and partisanship above all else. Gov. Tim Walz has been a steady, bipartisan leader since day one, and has delivered on expanding access to health care, investing in public education, and protecting Minnesotans’ access to the ballot box. Now, as the state emerges from the pandemic, Gov. Walz is leading Minnesota’s recovery. We look forward to working with Gov. Walz as he continues to move the state forward.”