Former Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura apparently has his sights set on Washington, according to Garage Logic host Joe Soucheray, who said Ventura had an unusual proposal for U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar to help him get there.
During a Sept. 24 episode of Garage Logic, Soucheray said Ventura told him he met twice with Klobuchar and made his proposal during their second meeting.
“Then he had a second meeting with Klobuchar and told Sen. Amy Klobuchar, ‘I will not run if you, prior to the election, say that if you win the governor’s race in Minnesota, you will name me as the senator to fill in your two remaining years,'” Soucheray said.
Klobuchar, a Democrat, is running for governor against Republican Lisa Demuth.
Ventura, of course, is no stranger to upsetting Minnesota’s political establishment. In 1998, the Reform Party candidate shocked the nation by defeating both major-party candidates to win the governor’s mansion.
“Jesse Ventura wants to go to Washington to fill in the two years remaining on Amy Klobuchar’s senator seat if she happens to win the governor’s race,” Soucheray stated. “He would be far more interested in fraud occurring in Minnesota than Amy Klobuchar ever was.”
Ventura reportedly planned to run for governor with former Minnesota Vikings linebacker and CNBC personality Pete Najarian as his running mate.
Alpha News reached out to Klobuchar’s office to confirm whether the reported meetings took place, whether Ventura made the proposal and how the senator responded.
“Senator Klobuchar hasn’t committed to appoint anyone to the seat. Full stop,” a spokesperson told Alpha News.
The spokesperson did not directly address whether Klobuchar met with Ventura or whether he made the reported proposal.
Ventura reportedly wanted a ‘showdown’ with Trump
According to Soucheray, Ventura’s interest in the Senate seat wasn’t simply about returning to public office. He reportedly wanted an opportunity “to take on Trump.”
Soucheray said Ventura was particularly irritated by Trump’s induction into the WWE Hall of Fame, arguing that Trump had no business sharing the honor with professional wrestlers who had actually competed in the ring.
Trump was inducted in 2013 by Vince McMahon, reportedly in large part for his role in hosting WrestleMania IV and V.
But Ventura’s objections apparently went well beyond professional wrestling.
Soucheray recounted Ventura accusing Trump of abusing the Constitution and expressing a desire to confront the president in Washington.
“I want a showdown with him in Washington,” Soucheray quoted Ventura as saying.
Ventura previously spoke about a second run for governor
Ventura had already hinted at a political comeback earlier this year.
On Jan. 8, the former governor spoke to reporters outside his alma mater, Roosevelt High School in Minneapolis, one day after an ICE agent fatally shot Renee Good and federal agents clashed with protesters outside the school.
“You know what? Maybe it’s time for Jesse. I only did one term. I’m owed a second,” Ventura told reporters, suggesting he might seek another term as governor.
According to Soucheray, Ventura described two meetings with Klobuchar, which the podcast host suggested occurred in late spring or June, before Minnesota’s candidate filing deadline.
On his show the next day, Soucheray said the Klobuchar campaign told a local reporter: “That never happened.”
“We have two options. Either Jesse was yanking our chain a bit or the Klobuchar camp is not going to admit that that happened,” Soucheray said.
A co-host read what he described as a response from a Klobuchar spokesperson, who apparently said: “I mean, there’s no way that’s true, but I haven’t been able to ask anyone yet, which I always like to do before responding.”
According to another co-host, Najarian confirmed that he spoke with Ventura about running together. “Yes, there was interest, but not so sure that my family is/was ready for this,” he reportedly said.
Jenna Gloeb
Jenna Gloeb is an Edward R. Murrow Award-winning journalist, media producer, public speaker, and screenwriter. Most recently, she worked as a reporter and on-air host for CCX Media. Jenna is a Minnesota native and resides in the Twin Cities with her husband, son, daughter, and two dogs.
