Trump issues surprise Jensen, Crockett endorsements; some say that could pose problems
MINNEAPOLIS — Former President Donald Trump endorsed two Republican candidates in Minnesota Tuesday. Gubernatorial candidate Dr. Scott Jensen and secretary of state candidate Kim Crockett picked up Trump's endorsement on Truth Social.
Jensen and Crockett are both hoping to unseat Democratic incumbents -- Gov. Tim Walz and Secretary of State Steve Simon.
Trump said Jensen "will bring Minnesota back from the brink."
"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," Trump said. "Minnesota will be great again."
The endorsement came as something of a surprise. In a statement, Jensen said while his campaign has not "actively sought the endorsement of political leaders, we are grateful for those who have recognized our ability to lead and heal Minnesota."
Walz told WCCO he was "not surprised" that Trump endorsed Jensen.
"I think if there are folks out there who believe the election is a lie and that COVID was a small respiratory illness, or some of those things, it may help with them, but Minnesota is not governed by conspiracy theories," Walz said.
MORE: WCCO.com's 2022 Election Guide
Republican analyst Amy Koch says the unexpected endorsement may not be what Jensen needs.
"Where Republicans need to do well statewide, which we haven't done since 2006, is to do well in the suburbs. And frankly, in the suburbs the former president is much more problematic," she said.
Democratic analyst Abou Amara was more direct.
"Its official. Donald Trump and Trumpism are on the ballot in Minnesota," he said.
The DFL Party of Minnesota issued a statement, reading in part:
"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."
Meanwhile, Trump's endorsement of Crockett claimed that election fraud in Minnesota is "rampant" and that Crockett would "get to the bottom of that."
Trump has repeatedly pressed false claims that his 2020 election loss was due to fraud, even though the results have been confirmed by multiple reviews in battleground states, by judges who rejected dozens of legal challenges, and by Trump's own Department of Justice and top officials in his administration.
Crockett has called the 2020 election "rigged" against Trump and harshly criticized Simon's support for making voting accessible, especially during the pandemic. On Tuesday, she said she was surprised by Trump's endorsement, and pledged that if elected her office would "be a nonpartisan operation that guards every eligible vote."
Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party Chairman Ken Martin, in a statement, connected Trump's false claims to the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection, and added: "It is more important than ever that we do not allow one of Donald Trump's lackeys into office" to continue attacking elections.