At the Star Tribune, Briana Bierschbach and Ryan Faircloth report Conservatives in Otter Tail County have been fighting for years, with no end in sight.
I'll have a footnote about that peculiar battle in a coming post.
But Otter Tail County isn't the only place where Republicans are engaging in a bit of status quo shaking.
On the Fillmore County Republicans Facebook page, there's this report about yesterday's senate district endorsing convention
And on the X platform:
MN House 26B Endorsing Convention results from today.
— Houston County Republicans (@mngophoustonco) April 20, 2024
1st Round of voting:
Gary Steuart - 42 votes
Greg Davids - 27 votes
Votes needed for endorsement: 60% of 70 total delegates voting which comes out to 42.
Congrats @gary_steuart for his win today at our endorsing convention.
— Houston County Republicans (@mngophoustonco) April 10, 2024
He's been more generous on the federal level, Federal Election Commission records reveal. A search of his name in the database of contributors yields 73 contributions, going back to 2014. Many are for the late Congressman James Hagedorn, though the dole includes the Republican County of Minnesota's federal account, other Minnesota Republican congressional and US senate candidates, as well as Trumo for President in 2016 and 2020.
Steuart crossed Bluestem's radar twice. In 2020, I reported In 2019 Small Business Week event, Hagedorn happy to learn about one in which he was once an minority owner:
We are deeply surprised that the congressman could learn much more about "Gary’s organic manufacturing business from Mabel!" since according to Hagedorn's 2013 financial disclosure statement, (page 4), Hagedorn was a "retail propriator [sic], minority owner" of Steuart Laboratories.
Moreover, on page 5 of the disclosure statement, Hagedorn noted an agreement with Steuart Laboratories: "Resigned Position; compensation and future payments conditional upon transfer and sale of internet site assets." . . .
But there's more! Mr. Gary Steuart contributed quite a bit of cash to Representative Hagedorn's campaigns over the years before. Between 2009 and 2018, Steuart made 29 contributions to the Friends of Hagedorn campaign committee, according to the campaign finance database at the Federal Elections Commission. For us, that added up to $11,650. For the 2018 DCCC online Research Report staffers, the total came to $9,900.00, but the research was concluded by March 2018.
There's more in the database for this cycle: 15 contributions for a total of $4,100.
And there's more! Steuart is the chair of the Fillmore County Republicans. . . .
The next instance wasn't so cheerful. Bluestem reported in 2021's Longtime Hagedorn business & political ally in Fillmore County endorses Koran for state chair:
In the campaign for state chair of the Republican Party of Minnesota, incumbent Jennifer Carnahan has lost the support of one of her husband's business and political supporters, Gary Steuart, of Fillmore County.
Steuart's endorsement of Mark Koran was shared by Florida refugee Sheri Auclair on Facebook Friday:
And another MNGOP Executive Committee Member, Gary Steuart of the 1st Congressional District, is disappointed by Chair Carnahan's shenanigans. He refuses to support her re-election campaign.Following is his email sent to the CD1 Delegates/Alternates.March 22, 2021Hello CD 1 Republicans:This is a report to you on events at our most recent MNGOP State Executive meeting.I must point out first that there had been very little discussion of the April 10 State Central Committee (SCC) meeting at prior State Executive meetings, and this would be the last meeting before the SCC meeting.State Senator Mark Koran who is challenging our current party chair Jennifer Carnahan was present. In a March 12 email to the State Executive Committee, Mark had formally proposed that we have a hybrid state central convention. Even though he was not on the agenda, it was assumed by myself and I believe by all other people at the meeting, that he wanted to present his plan.There was no mention of the SCC meeting on the agenda, but I assumed that Chair Carnahan would bring it up as part of her remarks or in recognizing Mark Koran at some point. However, when we reached the end of the agenda, Chair Carnahan looked to Deputy Chair Crawford, who motioned to adjourn.It was immediately seconded and passed by a majority. Five members voted against the motion.Senator Koran had no opportunity to present his plan. His concerns about our upcoming Zoom SCC should have been heard. He was shunted aside in a very disrespectful manner. Apparently Chair Carnahan was not open to any proposals that would challenge her control of the upcoming State Central Committee meeting.Chair Carnahan’s handling of this matter was clever, but also petty and unwise.In my judgement it is time to elect a different party chair. I am going to vote for Senator Koran.Respectfully,
Gary SteuartCD1 Executive Rep
Jeepers. It's not surprising that Steuart was willing to buck the power of a sitting Republican incumbent. The Legislative Reference Library's Legislators Past and Present includes the details on Davids' service at the Minnesota House:
. . . House 1991-92 (District 32B); House 1993-2006 (District 31B); House 2009-2012 (District 31B); House 2013-2022 (District 28B); House 2023-Present (District 26B) . . .
He ran unsuccessfully as the Republican Party endorsed candidate for the Minnesota House of Representatives in the 2006 election. His opponent, Ken Tschumper, defeated him by so few votes that an automatic recount occurred. The recount confirmed that Ken Tschumper had won, by 52 votes. . . .
Davids was primaried in 2022, though he enjoyed the Republican endorsement that year. He defeated Laura Thorson in a lopsided 75.91 percent to 24.09 percent vote. However, CFB records reveal his opponent's committee was barely functioning.
Davids will turn 66 at the end of August. How voters define fresh blood or old hands will be up to them, should Davids primary the endorsed Republican candidate.
Will Davids primary Steuart?
This round, Davids has the enmity of Republican anti-establishmentarians, Action 4 Liberty, which posted early Sunday afternoon, 32-Year RINO Rep Defeated, Loses Republican Endorsement that Davids told delegates he'd see them in August after not answering questions about whether he'd abide or not:
Republicans in Senate District 26 held their endorsing convention on Saturday, choosing to endorse candidates for house districts 26A and 26B. In a surprise move, 16-term (32 years!) Representative Greg Davids lost the Republican Endorsement for Reelection.
His challenger was longtime party activist, Gary Steuart. With the Republican Endorsement, he now has access to party data and funds. This is a safe Republican district, so the real election could occur in a primary should Davids continue his campaign.
Greg refused to provide a straight answer when asked if he’d abide by the endorsement but he closed his concession speech saying “see you in August” indicating he doesn’t plan to honor the delegate's endorsement.
In 2022, Davids was the Republican Endorsed candidate. When he was challenged in a primary, he told his challenger - Laura Thorson - that it was "improper" to challenge an endorsed candidate. Now that he lost the endorsement, he seems to be conducting "improper" behavior. . . .
It's likely the victor of the Republican primary wins the election in November, judging from the way it swang in 2022. Davids was unopposed in that general election.
Photo: Preston representative Greg Davids, around 2018.
Related posts
- Greg Davids and ALEC: SE MN representative was Minnesota legislative state chair in 1992
- Guy who ruled Daudt's mute button was in order now opposes restrictions on who can talk
- In 2019 Small Business Week event, Hagedorn happy to learn about one in which he was once an minority owner
- Longtime Hagedorn business & political ally in Fillmore County endorses Koran for state chair
Steuart is pissing in the wind.
Posted by: harold e link | Apr 30, 2024 at 06:50 AM