(KNSI) — A former St. Cloud city councilman is throwing his hat in the ring in the race for governor.
Jeff Johnson made the announcement Tuesday in an official campaign launch video: “My fellow Minnesotans, I’m running for governor because I want to help you find your happy place. And your happy place is not in a position of being continuously taxed to death. It’s not a position where we’re seeing over a half billion dollars of taxpayer fraud. It’s not in the position of watching unchecked violence, murders, and carjackings in Minneapolis. We could do so much better. It’s time for a change.”
Johnson served on the city council from 2010 to 2018. During his time, he was most known for his strong stance on immigration. In October 2017, he proposed a moratorium on refugee resettlement, but it was voted down. Johnson continued to speak about refugee resettlement concerns, including at a Center for Immigration Studies panel in Washington, D.C., in March of 2018.
In 2020, he was unsuccessful in his bid for a Stearns County Commissioner seat, losing by about 400 votes.
One other Republican, Phil Parrish, has filed paperwork to run for governor. Former Senate Minority Leader Zach Duckworth, former chair of the Minnesota Republican Party David Hann, former state senator and 2022 gubernatorial candidate Dr. Jeff Johnson, former congressional candidate Kendall Qualls, and former attorney general candidate Jim Schultz have publicly expressed interest.
For the Democrats, current Governor Tim Walz has publicly expressed interest but has not filed any paperwork. Congresswoman Angie Craig said she may potentially run if Walz does not. Current Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan and former Congressman Dean Philips have declined.
The general election is in November of 2026.
For more information on Johnson, click here.
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