Bluestem's been following the Republican Party drama in Minnesota Senate District 9 since before the primary vote. Our last post? Update: Nathan Miller responds to MN GOP complaint about MN9 write-in campaign.
I was very pleased to hear Dan Gunderson's superlative reporting in Write-in challenger stirs up Republican politics in Otter Tail County at Minnesota Public Radio:
The conflict in the Otter Tail County Republican Party isn't new. It's been brewing the past few election cycles, but one party official says the dispute is coming to a head this year.
Minnesota Senate District 9 includes Otter Tail, Wilkin, Traverse, Grant and part of Douglas counties in western Minnesota. Otter Tail is the largest and most populous county in the district.
Jordan Rasmusson is the Republican candidate in Senate District 9. Elected to the state House two years ago, he earned party endorsement for the Senate seat and won a close primary contest against challenger Nathan Miller this year.
But Miller pushed on with a write-in campaign in the general election.
"I think unfortunately, we have an individual who can't accept that he lost,” said Rasmusson, who clearly would rather not talk about the intraparty squabble.
“We'll continue talking to voters and we've had a lot of his supporters who, especially since the primary, have come out and said ‘hey, we're gonna be supporting you 100 percent.’ You know, I've beaten Mr. Miller twice: first at the Republican endorsing convention and also the August primary,” he said. “And I think when I'm out talking to folks, they want that proven conservative leader who gets things done on behalf of the community.”
Miller alleges Rasmusson won the party endorsement because Republican Party officials manipulated the delegate selection process.
"To me, it's very elementary rules of engagement or rules of fair play, winning and losing, is that it's better to lose with honor than to win as a cheat or a liar," Miller said. . . .
Read the rest at Minnesota Public Radio.
Several readers also sent us links to this YouTube of a phone call between Miller supporter Carol Hexum and Minnesota's 7th District Republican Party Board executive officer Bill Nichol (Wilkin County):
Make of it what you will.
- Update: Nathan Miller responds to MN GOP complaint about MN9 write-in campaign
- MN9: Republican Party of MN drops ban hammer on Nathan Miller calling himself a Republican
- MN9: Miller explains his write-in campaign won't elect DFLer; Rasmusson teacher defends Jordan
- The curious case of the Detroit Lakes Tribune correction about Rasmusson's broadband bill
- MN9 LTE: Cornel Walker isn't a fan of Jordan Rasmusson's Minnesota House voting record
- "Not done yet" in MN9: Fergus Falls Journal covers Nathan Miller write-in candidacy
- MN9: Yep, Miller is running a write-in campaign, area conservatives organize against Rasmusson
- After losing primary, has Miller launched write-in campaign, attacking "establishment GOP"?
- Will Westrom family support for Rasmusson primary challenger ruffle MNSenate GOP unity?
- Rocks and Cows' Facebook post author Carol Hexum walks back anti-LGBTQ rally frame
- Fergus Falls Pride: GOP Senate primary challenger Miller schedules anti-LGBQT event
- Will 2020 redistricting plan boundary adjustment get snuck in to let Westrom live in lake house?
Image: From Miller for Senate 9 Facebook page.
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