Hepola, Stanek Drop Bids for Governor as Candidate Filing Deadline Passes

(KNSI) — Filings to run for office in Minnesota are closed, and two potential candidates for governor are out.

Forward Party candidate Cory Hepola and former Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek, and Republican Party candidate failed to file the necessary paperwork to enter the race by the 5:00 p.m. deadline on May 31st.

Hepola issued a statement via his Twitter account saying he had been collecting signatures and inspiring supporters as his team projects how the 2022 election will play out and his role in it. He says what he has heard is that “people are dissatisfied with the toxic two-party system that – once again – failed to achieve any sort of progress this spring,” alluding to legislators adjourning the session without passing much in the way of bills funding public safety, education and tax cuts.

He says the state needs a strong third-party candidate to represent the majority in the middle to “uplift the entire political conversation” but says that doesn’t exist and 2022 won’t be the breakthrough year, and he has chosen not to file to run for governor.

He says he will “continue to passionately serve the people of this state because I believe in us and our future” but didn’t give any clue about his plans.

Stanek has been off the campaign trail after being sidelined by a crash in Buffalo after an event. He was a late entry into the race on the Republican party ticket. Instead, Stanek will return to his law enforcement consulting business.

Republican Attorney General candidate Doug Wardlow filed to run in the August primary even though he lost the party endorsement at the GOP state convention last month. That sets up an August 9th showdown between him and Jim Schultz, who did get the party nod. The winner will take on Democratic incumbent Attorney General Keith Ellison.

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