State Rep. Cedrick Frazier and Ramsey County prosecutor Hao Nguyen are running against each other to be the next Hennepin County Attorney, but Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison has made the unusual decision to endorse them both.
Earlier this year, Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said she will not seek reelection in 2026. In the weeks since, Nguyen and Frazier joined the race to replace her.
A graduate of the Mitchell Hamline School of Law, Nguyen is a longtime prosecutor who previously served as a police officer. He is originally from Vietnam and came to the United States as a refugee when he was nine-years-old. In 2023, Nguyen told state legislators he has a six-year-old transgender child.
Meanwhile, Frazier was first elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2020 after a short stint on the New Hope City Council. Since joining the legislature, the DFLer has supported efforts to give state driver’s licenses to illegal aliens, extend a state-run healthcare program to illegal aliens, and make Minnesota a so-called “sanctuary state.”
While the campaign is in its early stages, both candidates have already begun collecting endorsements from prominent politicians. Surprisingly, Attorney General Ellison has endorsed both candidates despite the fact that Nguyen and Frazier are opponents.
On their social media accounts and campaign websites, Nguyen and Frazier have touted the endorsement of the left-wing attorney general. Nguyen’s website has a quotation attributed to Ellison which says the following:
“Hao Nguyen is an experienced prosecutor who knows how to manage and lead a county attorney’s office. The fact that he’s been a law enforcement officer, prosecutor and for the past several years a senior level manager in a metro area prosecution office puts him in an excellent position to serve the citizens of Hennepin County well. It’s my honor to endorse this life long public servant for the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office.”
Similarly, Frazier’s campaign website lists Ellison among the officials who have endorsed his candidacy. A quotation attributed to Ellison is on Frazier’s website which says:
“Cedrick Frazier is a proud public servant. His vision and dedication to the public makes him the best choice for Hennepin County Attorney. In a time of growing uncertainty from the federal government, strong leadership at the local level is critical in keeping our communities safe. I am excited to work alongside Cedrick to deliver the smart public safety solutions the people of Hennepin County need and deserve.”
These competing statements created an odd situation. Ellison endorsed Nguyen to be the next Hennepin County attorney in one instance but called Frazier the “best choice” for the role in the other.
Alpha News reached out to Ellison and the two candidates to see if there was some kind of mistake. Nguyen’s campaign confirmed Ellison’s endorsement while Frazier’s campaign did not respond to a media inquiry. Ellison’s campaign provided a short statement.
“AG Ellison believes that both State Representative Cedrick Frazier and Hao Nguyen would make an excellent Hennepin County Attorney,” said Ellison’s campaign. “He endorsed them because he believes each brings important experience and a strong commitment to justice. He is confident either one would serve the people of Hennepin County well.”
The unusual decision to endorse opposing candidates for the same position begs the question: Who does Keith Ellison actually support?
Luke Sprinkel
Luke Sprinkel previously worked as a Legislative Assistant at the Minnesota House of Representatives. He grew up as a Missionary Kid (MK) living in England, Thailand, Tanzania, and the Middle East. Luke graduated from Regent University in 2018.
