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ST. PAUL — GOP nominee for Minnesota governor Scott Jensen received the endorsement of former president Donald Trump late Tuesday night, Oct. 25.
Just before 11 p.m. Central, Trump posted his endorsement of Jensen to Truth Social , a microblogging platform where the former president has made many of his recent candidate endorsements.
"Minnesota finally has a chance to have a great Governor. His name is Dr. Scott Jensen, the Republican Gubernatorial Candidate, and he will bring Minnesota back from the brink," Trump said in the post. "Strong on both fighting Crime and delivering Solid and Sensible Education, the results will be quickly seen — and there won’t be any more fiery takeovers of police precincts."
Jensen is running against first-term Democratic-Farmer-Labor Gov. Tim Walz in the general election.
Jensen suggested to reporters Friday that he did not expect the former president to endorse his campaign or aid in fundraising, and suggested in a news release early Wednesday morning that his campaign did not seek Trump's backing.
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"As this campaign takes the lead in the polls, I expect many individuals and organizations to ride the momentum and endorse our campaign. While we have not actively sought the endorsement of political leaders, we are grateful for those who have recognized our ability to lead and Heal Minnesota."
Trump earlier in the day endorsed Republican secretary of state candidate Kim Crockett in his first statewide general election endorsement in Minnesota for 2022.
The DFL in a statement on Trump's endorsement cast Jensen as a 2020 election denier and recalled Jensen's statement earlier this year suggesting jail time for Secretary of State Steve Simon for the way he administers the state's election system.
“Fortunately, voters who don’t want their governor to jail their political enemies and spread dangerous lies about our elections can prevent that from happening in Minnesota by re-electing Tim Walz,” said DFL Party Chairman Ken Martin.
Walz said he wasn't shocked by the endorsement, and echoed the DFL's criticism.
"Minnesota will not be divided by dangerous conspiracy theories and hateful rhetoric," the governor tweeted Wednesday.
This story was updated at 1:13 p.m. Oct. 26 with additional information from the a DFL statement. It was originally posted at 1:09 a.m. Oct. 26.
