Walz has $4.1M in campaign cash; Jensen and Gazelka lead GOP

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Democratic Gov. Tim Walz has $4.1 million in the bank for his reelection campaign, while Dr. Scott Jensen and state Sen. Paul Gazelka are the money leaders among the candidates seeking Republican endorsement to unseat the governor, according to campaign finance reports released Friday.

The numbers are an early sign of which candidates are running strong and which ones can raise enough money to wage credible campaigns in the November election. That can translate into political support and more donations.

The reports show Jensen — a former state senator from Chaska running as a COVID-19 skeptic — ended the first quarter with $774,393 in cash on hand as of March 31, after having raised $256,392 and spent $305,797 during the first three months of the year. He was the first major candidate to enter the race last year and has built up a nationwide following on social media. His running mate is former Minnesota Viking Matt Birk.

Gazelka — a former Minnesota Senate majority leader from East Gull Lake running on a law-and-order platform who has been endorsed by the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association — finished the reporting period with $406,190 in the bank after raising $99,358 and spending $172,857.

Minnesota Republicans hold their state convention May 13-14 in Rochester to endorse candidates for governor, attorney general and other statewide offices. The major GOP gubernatorial candidates have pledged to abide by the party’s endorsement, but none appears to have enough pledges from the 2,200 delegates to win the party’s backing on the first ballot.

Walz faces no significant opposition for the Democratic nomination as he seeks a second term. He raised $1 million in the first quarter but spent $510,071.

Among the other GOP gubernatorial candidates, Medina businessman and former congressional candidate Kendall Qualls — the only African American in the race, who has highlighted his rise from poverty to success — had $168,344 in cash on hand after raising $467,610. He spent $299,266 in an effort to make himself better known.

Former Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek, of Maple Grove, who has touted his long career in law enforcement and state government, had $40,202 left after raising $149,053 and spending $108,851.