In Part Six of WCCO's Behind the Ballot, Susie Jones looks at the race for governor in Minnesota. See all of the Behind the Ballot stories here.
“I think the locking out of kids was horrible telling people not to wear the mask,” says Dr. Scott Jensen (R).
“He can't even practice in hospitals because he can't follow their procedures,” says Governor Tim Walz (D).
The two quotes illustrate the stark differences, and the choice voters in Minnesota, will have to make during this Election for Minnesota’s Governor. These most recent comments from each came during a last Friday’s second and final debate between the two (with a candidate forum also taking place in August).
The two are at odds on a number of issues according to political analyst Brian McClung who was part of former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty’s staff. Pawlenty is the last Republican to win a statewide office in Minnesota in 2006. That includes Governor, Attorney General, State Auditor, Secretary of State and U.S. Senator.
McClung says this should be a year Republicans can win one of these races, including governor.
“The economy, inflation, gas prices, crime,” are the key issues explains McClung, and those are issues the Republicans can take advantage of. “These are largely things that align with people turning out to vote for Republicans. I do think this is going to be a real close Election.”
McClung does say that Walz has had the unfortunate experience of running the state during a global pandemic, and polls show that despite his challenges, there are many that appreciated his leadership.
“Nobody who's alive today has been through anything like this, and had to make a lot of really difficult decisions in the context of that,” McClung said.
Jensen's position on the pandemic paved the way for his candidacy. Since then, Jensen has shifted his focus to crime, which is a theme for Republicans across the country.
Democrats have tried to keep abortion in the forefront, and bring the focus back to Walz being a steady hand during what has been a critical few years in Minnesota says McClung.
“They are trying to play it safe, and not have anything go viral or have anything weird happen that would alter the fundamentals in the race,” says McClung. They think the fundamentals are good for Governor Walz’ reelection. I get that, I know where they’re coming from.”
McClung adds that it could be risky for the Walz campaign who he says has been avoiding public interaction. With only three debates or forums, compared to the six done in 2018 or seven Pawlenty did when reelected in 2006, gives the impression he is avoiding talking about the issues.
“It does provide the undercurrent of why doesn’t he want to be out there having this conversation,” asks McClung.
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