Republican Candidates Challenge Minnesota’s Progressive Policies
In a bid to counter the progressive policies implemented by Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Democratic state legislators, Republican candidates with far-right positions are entering the political arena. All 134 seats in the Minnesota House of Representatives are up for grabs this election cycle, with Democrats currently holding 70 seats.
District 41B: Tom Dippel’s Campaign
Republican Tom Dippel, running for District 41B, which encompasses Hastings and parts of Cottage Grove, previously ran for the state senate in 2022 without success. During his initial campaign, Dippel’s website emphasized his anti-abortion stance, labeling those who support reproductive rights as “opponents of life.” The website declared, “I am 100% pro-life… Every day science catches up with what we know in our hearts. And I will fight tooth and nail for our most vulnerable.”
Dippel also advocated for gun ownership, suggesting that every Minnesotan should own a firearm for protection against carjackings, even though violent crime in the state decreased by 6.9% from 2022 to 2023. In both campaigns, Dippel filled out a candidate questionnaire from the conservative Minnesota Family Council, previously expressing strong views on school choice and public education.
In 2022, Dippel described public schools as “social, communist, marxist indoctrination camps” but did not elaborate on his current stance, despite reaffirming support for school choice. Additionally, Dippel referred to homosexuality as an “abomination” and criticized transgender athletes in his 2022 responses. His Democratic opponent is brewery owner Jen Fox.
District 14B: Sue Ek’s Stance
Sue Ek, the Republican candidate for District 14B, shares similar far-right views, particularly regarding abortion and women’s health. As reported by Heartland Signal, Ek falsely claimed in 2019 that birth control pills are designed to abort fetuses and could be dangerous for women. She declined to comment on whether she would support banning contraception when asked by the Minnesota Star Tribune, citing other priorities.
Prior to her candidacy, Ek was the executive director of the Billings Ovulation Method Association, advocating for natural fertility solutions and opposing medical interventions like IUDs. She organized a 2010 conference featuring speakers from the Catholic Medical Association, known for critiquing contraception. Ek is running against Democratic incumbent Rep. Dan Wolgamott.
Incumbent Republicans’ Far-Right Policies
Several incumbent Republicans in the Michigan House have also supported far-right policies. Representatives Natalie Zeleznikar in District 3B, Roger Skraba in District 3A, and Bernie Perryman in District 14A opposed a 2023 bill that enshrined abortion rights in the state constitution. Skraba remarked, “Because of this bill, Minnesota’s abortion policy will be more closely aligned with countries like North Korea and China than France, the United Kingdom, and the rest of the western world.”
These incumbents also resisted a 2023 proposal to provide free lunches to all Minnesota public school students. Zeleznikar, in office, has been criticized for promoting anti-vaccine conspiracy theories. In March, she introduced a bill allowing child care providers to decide on vaccine exemptions, likening vaccines to cannabis. “Last year we passed a cannabis bill… now we’re saying to families, by the way, you don’t have a choice for a poison that could kill you,” she stated. Her bill did not pass, and she faces former judge Mark Munger as her Democratic opponent.
—
Read More Kitchen Table News
