Minneapolis attorney Chris Madel launches GOP governor bid with anti-fraud focus; endorsed by Minneapolis Police Federation
Minneapolis attorney Chris Madel formally launched a Republican campaign for Minnesota governor Monday with a one-hour speech and PowerPoint centered on combating fraud in programs like Feeding Our Future, Housing Stabilization Services and autism services, pledging a tough-on-crime approach and touting an endorsement from the Minneapolis Police Federation. He blamed state leaders across parties — "This is our money... the Minnesota government is to blame" — addressed past donations to Democrats (including Gov. Tim Walz and the Harris-Walz ticket) without apologizing, highlighted his defense of State Trooper Ryan Londregan (whose charges were dropped), and joins a crowded GOP field.
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📊 Relevant Data
In 2023, Black individuals were 4,234 of the known aggravated assault offenders in Minnesota, while White individuals were 3,069. ([MN.gov](https://www.lrl.mn.gov/docs/2024/mandated/241258.pdf)) ([MN.gov](https://www.lrl.mn.gov/docs/2024/mandated/241258.pdf)) ([MN.gov](https://www.lrl.mn.gov/docs/2024/mandated/241258.pdf)) ([MN.gov](https://www.lrl.mn.gov/docs/2024/mandated/241258.pdf)) ([MN.gov](https://www.lrl.mn.gov/docs/2024/mandated/241258.pdf)) ([MN.gov](https://www.lrl.mn.gov/docs/2024/mandated/241258.pdf)) ([MN.gov](https://www.lrl.mn.gov/docs/2024/mandated/241258.pdf)) ([MN.gov](https://www.lrl.mn.gov/docs/2024/mandated/241258.pdf)) ([MN.gov](https://www.lrl.mn.gov/docs/2024/mandated/241258.pdf)) ([MN.gov](https://www.lrl.mn.gov/docs/2024/mandated/241258.pdf))
2023 Uniform Crime Report — MN.gov
In 2023, Black individuals were 3,522 of the known robbery offenders in Minnesota, while White individuals were 443. ([MN.gov](https://www.lrl.mn.gov/docs/2024/mandated/241258.pdf)) ([MN.gov](https://www.lrl.mn.gov/docs/2024/mandated/241258.pdf)) ([MN.gov](https://www.lrl.mn.gov/docs/2024/mandated/241258.pdf)) ([MN.gov](https://www.lrl.mn.gov/docs/2024/mandated/241258.pdf)) ([MN.gov](https://www.lrl.mn.gov/docs/2024/mandated/241258.pdf)) ([MN.gov](https://www.lrl.mn.gov/docs/2024/mandated/241258.pdf)) ([MN.gov](https://www.lrl.mn.gov/docs/2024/mandated/241258.pdf)) ([MN.gov](https://www.lrl.mn.gov/docs/2024/mandated/241258.pdf)) ([MN.gov](https://www.lrl.mn.gov/docs/2024/mandated/241258.pdf)) ([MN.gov](https://www.lrl.mn.gov/docs/2024/mandated/241258.pdf))
2023 Uniform Crime Report — MN.gov
From 2013 to 2023, 24% of people killed by police in Minnesota were Black, despite Black residents making up 6% of the population. ([Police Scorecard](https://policescorecard.org/mn)) ([Police Scorecard](https://policescorecard.org/mn)) ([Police Scorecard](https://policescorecard.org/mn)) ([Police Scorecard](https://policescorecard.org/mn)) ([Police Scorecard](https://policescorecard.org/mn)) ([Police Scorecard](https://policescorecard.org/mn)) ([Police Scorecard](https://policescorecard.org/mn)) ([Police Scorecard](https://policescorecard.org/mn)) ([Police Scorecard](https://policescorecard.org/mn)) ([Police Scorecard](https://policescorecard.org/mn))
Police Scorecard: Minnesota — Police Scorecard
The Feeding Our Future fraud scheme involves mostly Somali perpetrators, with 78 defendants indicted. ([City Journal](https://www.city-journal.org/article/fraud-minnesota-somali-feeding-our-future)) ([City Journal](https://www.city-journal.org/article/fraud-minnesota-somali-feeding-our-future)) ([City Journal](https://www.city-journal.org/article/fraud-minnesota-somali-feeding-our-future)) ([City Journal](https://www.city-journal.org/article/fraud-minnesota-somali-feeding-our-future)) ([City Journal](https://www.city-journal.org/article/fraud-minnesota-somali-feeding-our-future)) ([City Journal](https://www.city-journal.org/article/fraud-minnesota-somali-feeding-our-future)) ([City Journal](https://www.city-journal.org/article/fraud-minnesota-somali-feeding-our-future)) ([City Journal](https://www.city-journal.org/article/fraud-minnesota-somali-feeding-our-future)) ([City Journal](https://www.city-journal.org/article/fraud-minnesota-somali-feeding-our-future)) ([City Journal](https://www.city-journal.org/article/fraud-minnesota-somali-feeding-our-future))
Minnesota’s Somali Fraud Problem — City Journal
In 2015, the average SAT math score for Black students was 428, for White students 534, for Hispanic students 457, and for Asian students 598. ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racial_achievement_gap_in_the_United_States)) ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racial_achievement_gap_in_the_United_States)) ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racial_achievement_gap_in_the_United_States)) ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racial_achievement_gap_in_the_United_States)) ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racial_achievement_gap_in_the_United_States)) ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racial_achievement_gap_in_the_United_States)) ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racial_achievement_gap_in_the_United_States)) ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racial_achievement_gap_in_the_United_States)) ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racial_achievement_gap_in_the_United_States)) ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racial_achievement_gap_in_the_United_States))
Racial achievement gap in the United States — Wikipedia
📌 Key Facts
- Madel formally launched his GOP gubernatorial campaign Monday in Minneapolis with a roughly one-hour speech and PowerPoint presentation focused on combating fraud, citing examples including Feeding Our Future, Housing Stabilization Services and autism programs.
- He framed his campaign as tough-on-crime and anti-fraud enforcement and touted an endorsement from the Minneapolis Police Federation.
- Madel blamed Minnesota government leaders across parties for failing to stop fraud, saying, “This is our money… the Minnesota government is to blame.”
- He addressed past donations to Democrats — including Gov. Tim Walz and the 2024 Harris–Walz ticket — declined to apologize, and characterized those contributions as bipartisan, business-related decisions.
- Republican Rep. Kristin Robbins responded to the launch by highlighting Madel’s history of DFL/ Democratic donations.
- Madel’s background highlighted his legal work defending State Trooper Ryan Londregan, whose charges were dropped and who was later cleared internally.
- He enters a crowded GOP primary field (including candidates such as Demuth, Robbins, Jensen, Qualls, among others) while Mike Lindell has been reported to be mulling a bid.
📰 Source Timeline (2)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Madel formally launched his campaign Monday in Minneapolis with a one-hour speech and PowerPoint centered on combating fraud (e.g., Feeding Our Future, Housing Stabilization Services, autism programs).
- He pledged a tough-on-crime approach and touted an endorsement from the Minneapolis Police Federation.
- Quoted criticism of state leaders across parties for failing to stop fraud: “This is our money… the Minnesota government is to blame.”
- Addressed past donations to Democrats, including Gov. Walz and the 2024 Harris–Walz ticket, and declined to apologize, citing bipartisan business considerations.
- Rep. Kristin Robbins responded by highlighting Madel’s history of DFL donations.
- Background emphasized: Madel successfully represented State Trooper Ryan Londregan; charges were dropped and Londregan was cleared internally.
- FOX 9 lists the crowded GOP field (Demuth, Robbins, Jensen, Qualls, etc.) and notes Mike Lindell is mulling a bid.