Minnesota Republican drops out of gubernatorial race, citing "unmitigated disaster" of ICE surge as reason for withdrawal.
In a surprise move on Monday, Minneapolis-based attorney Chris Madel announced his decision to end his bid for governor of Minnesota, stating that the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in the state had become an insurmountable obstacle for him. In a video message posted on X, Madel expressed his opposition to ICE's actions, which he described as "unmitigated disaster" and "stated retribution on the citizens of our state".
Madel's remarks came after it was revealed that his law firm had provided legal counsel to Jonathan Ross, the ICE officer who fatally shot Renee Good in Minneapolis on January 7. This incident sparked widespread protests in the city, highlighting the growing tensions between federal authorities and local residents.
While Madel has advocated for deporting undocumented immigrants involved in major crimes, he now believes that ICE's Operation Metro Surge, which was ordered by a Republican president, has expanded far beyond its original focus on public safety threats. According to Madel, this expansion has made winning a statewide election as a Republican "nearly impossible".
Madel stated that he could no longer support the party platform and the actions of his fellow Republicans. He expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to run but ultimately prioritized doing what he believed was right. In his words, "At the end of the day, I have to look my daughters in the eye and tell them: 'I believe I did what was right.'"
The Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party has called on other Republicans to stand up against President Trump's policies and support their fellow Minnesotans. The party chair, Richard Carlbom, stated that "Will other Republicans finally stand up to Trump and stand with their fellow Minnesotans? Or will they put their political careers first and foremost while their neighbors suffer?"
In a surprise move on Monday, Minneapolis-based attorney Chris Madel announced his decision to end his bid for governor of Minnesota, stating that the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in the state had become an insurmountable obstacle for him. In a video message posted on X, Madel expressed his opposition to ICE's actions, which he described as "unmitigated disaster" and "stated retribution on the citizens of our state".
Madel's remarks came after it was revealed that his law firm had provided legal counsel to Jonathan Ross, the ICE officer who fatally shot Renee Good in Minneapolis on January 7. This incident sparked widespread protests in the city, highlighting the growing tensions between federal authorities and local residents.
While Madel has advocated for deporting undocumented immigrants involved in major crimes, he now believes that ICE's Operation Metro Surge, which was ordered by a Republican president, has expanded far beyond its original focus on public safety threats. According to Madel, this expansion has made winning a statewide election as a Republican "nearly impossible".
Madel stated that he could no longer support the party platform and the actions of his fellow Republicans. He expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to run but ultimately prioritized doing what he believed was right. In his words, "At the end of the day, I have to look my daughters in the eye and tell them: 'I believe I did what was right.'"
The Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party has called on other Republicans to stand up against President Trump's policies and support their fellow Minnesotans. The party chair, Richard Carlbom, stated that "Will other Republicans finally stand up to Trump and stand with their fellow Minnesotans? Or will they put their political careers first and foremost while their neighbors suffer?"
. I mean, it's like they're trying to alienate voters or something. The whole thing with ICE just doesn't sit right with me... I get why Madel bailed 
. It's a pretty big deal when your own party's doing stuff that's hurting people in their own state 
. And what's up with this Operation Metro Surge? Sounds like it's just an excuse to crack down on people who aren't even that bad... Anyway, can't say I'm shedding any tears for the GOP at this point 
. Maybe Madel's decision will be a wake-up call for some of these folks 
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it's about time someone speaks out against those ICE ops 
he's literally putting his daughters' eyes first 
and that's EVERYTHING I'm low-key hyped for a more progressive MN 
now let's get real, if other Reps don't step up and challenge Trump's policies, they're just gonna be complicit in suffering with their fellow Minnesotans 
I'm like totally surprised by this news... I mean, Chris Madel dropping out of the gubernatorial race over ICE operations in Minnesota... that's a pretty big deal 
. It seems like his law firm got involved with Jonathan Ross's case and now he can't go through with it? I feel bad for him, you know? His daughters must be super proud of him for doing what he thinks is right 
. But at the same time, this whole thing just highlights how polarized politics are in Minnesota... especially when it comes to immigration 
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i mean chris madel wasnt even a prof lol but he knew whats good for him and his family. its not easy seeing all this stuff happen to ppl u care about tho 
. I mean have you ever tried to find a good storage solution for your old clothes? It's like, so frustrating! Anyway, speaking of frustrating things... I saw this video of a cat trying to "help" its owner with their job and it was literally the cutest thing 
. But back to politics... what's up with these border control issues? My aunt is from Mexico and she always talks about how immigration laws are so complicated 
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Madel's got some valid points about Operation Metro Surge expanding beyond its original purpose tho 
not sure if this'll spark more Republicans to re-think their stance on immigration tho... maybe it'll just be a lost opportunity for a more progressive candidate 
and whats up with this operation metro surge thing it sounds like theyre just harassin people instead of helpin them
. I don't think it's cool that his law firm got involved with ICE, though. Maybe he could've handled that situation better? 
. Those protests were getting outta hand, and I don't think it's fair to have your law firm involved in something that's going to make people mad at you 
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. Maybe instead of stepping down, Madel could've found another way to make a change from the inside? But I guess sometimes you just gotta know when to fold 'em 