Kendall Qualls wins GOP endorsement after 10 rounds
kendall qualls won the Republican endorsement for governor at the GOP convention in Duluth on Saturday, ending a 10-round fight that stretched through multiple voting anomalies. He secured the endorsement only after reaching 60% of delegate votes, with House Speaker Lisa Demuth still in the race until that threshold was met.
Duluth convention vote
Qualls, a retired health care executive and Army veteran, emerged as the party’s endorsed candidate after delegates went through 10 rounds of voting. The repeated balloting put a hard number on the strength he needed to close the race: 60% of delegate votes.
Some of the rounds were marred by anomalies, which slowed the convention before Qualls crossed the threshold. Lisa Demuth remained in contention until the final tally gave him the endorsement.
Mike Lindell primary plans
The endorsement does not settle the Republican governor’s race. Mike Lindell said he will run in the primary, and it is not clear whether Demuth will still abide by her pledge to adhere to the endorsement.
That leaves Qualls with the party’s backing on paper, but not full field unity heading into the primary. The endorsement gives him the convention result, while Lindell’s declaration keeps the contest open beyond Duluth.
Saturday party meetings
The Republican vote came as Minnesota Democrats were holding their own party meetings in Rochester. Democrats endorsed Sen. Amy Klobuchar in her run for Minnesota governor early Saturday morning, then endorsed Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan for U.S. Senate Saturday afternoon.
On Friday, the four-term U.S. senator won the Democratic party’s endorsement for governor. Rep. Angie Craig chose a different route and skipped the convention to go right to a primary, underscoring how the party slates are splitting between convention winners and candidates who plan to keep competing after the endorsements are set.
