If you’ve heard my story, you know that I was running for Governor as a grown man who started his life in the public housing projects of Harlem and later in a trailer park in Oklahoma. The premise of my campaign was that the Promise of America is alive and well for everyone regardless of race or social standing in life.
My platform focused on the idea that hard work, education, faith, and family can serve as the foundation to build an upstanding life. Although in the end we didn’t prevail with our campaign, your encouragement and continued prayers has not gone unnoticed, and I am forever grateful for the platform I have established in order to create meaningful change within Minnesota.
Rumors have circulated and many people have reached out to myself, my campaign staff, as well as through social media to find out what truly happened at the Minnesota GOP Convention last week.
Thank you to all of the delegates and alternates for their hard work leading up to and at the GOP Convention in Rochester. From my statewide travels, I know that many of you understand what Minnesota is up against when it comes to fighting back against the radical policies that have upended many of our lives right here in Minnesota.
To all of those who supported my run for Governor, I appreciate your passion to back me and my aspirational campaign message. To my donors, thank you for your trust that I would use the funds with the utmost discretion and sole purpose of delivering a victory against Tim Walz in November. That is what we are all here for and we need to keep our eyes on the true fight, not each other.
As a businessman, I knew the challenges we faced starting the race as a late entry, but within a mere four and a half months, we shifted from last place to frontrunner status winning countless straw polls and passing campaign after campaign along the way.
While at the endorsement convention, we were always within striking distance of the leader and even led on three ballots before backroom politicking and slander began to unfold.
What happened in Rochester was unfortunate for the process and as a party we must learn so it never happens again. I know from personal experience that the Republican Party has the right platform, and better policies to improve the country and help people live a prosperous life regardless of social or ethnic backgrounds. Unfortunately, we fight more intensely and effectively against each other than we do the Democratic Party. Tragically, the intensity of that below-the-belt fight was on full public display at the convention. The candidate in question has made a public apology to me days after the convention and with the big picture in view, it’s time to move on.
I loved every moment of my gubernatorial run over the past four and a half months, and I am incredibly proud of the race we ran. While new information continues to come to light about what occurred on that day, nobody can doubt that we ran a top-tier positive campaign. There are always conversations about how to consolidate support between candidates, but the demands went too far, and I personally made the decision to stop it in its tracks. What was demonstrated is that I’m not willing to win at any cost.
Despite what happened, I urge all Minnesotans to shift their focus to beating Tim Walz in November because he and the woke left are working every day to take away our freedoms. With that in mind, I fully endorse Scott Jensen as the nominee for Governor representing the Republican Party in November.
I will continue my work in Minnesota helping to improve our state and strengthen our country. My wife, Sheila and I appreciate all of your prayers and words of encouragement.
I’ve said this countless times while on the campaign trail, but I firmly believe it to be true. Real leaders don’t need a title to solve problems in their communities and throughout the state. I may not be the next Governor of Minnesota, but I promise to continue leading and acting as an example to our youth and to prove that where you start in life is not where you have to stay in life.
Strength and Honor,
Kendall Qualls
Kendall Qualls
Kendall Qualls is the President of TakeCharge, Minnesota which is an organization committed to supporting the notion that the promise of America works for everyone regardless of race or station in life. Mr. Qualls was a Republican candidate for Governor of Minnesota. Prior to his candidacy, he was a health care executive and served in the U.S. Army as an Artillery officer. Mr. Qualls has been married for 36 years and has five children.
