Stating their case: GOP candidates for state seats make push to voters ahead of elections
Published 8:30 am Thursday, November 1, 2018
- Jeff Johnson, GOP gubernatorial candidate, along with other candidates running for constitutional offices, make an appeal to voters at the Austin Aerofield on Tuesday afternoon. Photos by Hannah Yang/hannah.yang@austindailyherald.com
Pam Myhra
Inside the Austin Aeroflight, GOP candidates running for some of the state’s highest seats made one of the last few swings through the region to appeal to voters on Tuesday afternoon.
Minnesota GOP Chairwoman Jennifer Carnahan made opening remarks to an intimate setting at the Aeroflight, asking for voters to “turn Minnesota red” on Tuesday and to “take the state back.”
“Forget the Red Wave,” Carnahan appealed to GOP supporters. “We’re making a Red Sweep.”
Jennifer Carnahan
Among those who came to Austin for the press stop was Jeff Johnson, gubernatorial candidate, Donna Bergstrom, lieutenant governor candidate and Johnson’s running mate, Doug Wardlow, attorney general candidate, John Howe, secretary of state candidate, and Pam Myhra, candidate for state auditor.
The common issues that majority of the candidates touched on during the press conference were immigration, healthcare and making government transparent for taxpayers.
Jeff Johnson
Johnson, who’s running against Tim Walz, the DFL gubernatorial candidate, stated that he wanted to bring the state’s government back to the people and focused much of his platform on immigration, and opposing Walz’s plans for a single-payer health care system.
“We want to hold the government accountable to taxpayers again,” he said, “and to actually serving people with respect.”
Doug Wardlow
Dennis Schminke, Mower County Republicans vice chairman, was excited to have the state candidates swing through Austin before Nov. 6. He stated that this year’s midterm elections had voters on both ends of the political spectrum “energized.”
“It was really good and it was nice to see them all here,” Schminke said. “It was a good presentation and they all made their case. It’s a good slate of candidates.”
John Howe
Leading up to Tuesday’s elections, Schminke stated that the Mower County Republicans still planned to continue making pushes for their party and that despite the dwindling timeframe, he felt confident for the GOP.
“Go vote,” he said. “We want all our people to get close with like-minded friends and urge them to go out and vote.”
Donna Bergstrom
