ST. PAUL, MN — Elected Republican officials in the State of Minnesota are running for the hills as a tape from 2005 was leaked of Republican Nominee Donald Trump making crude and vulgar statements toward women he has encountered.
Trump, has since apologized both in a written statement and via video. Some Republicans, however, have turned their nose up at his stink and have handedly revoked their support of the nominee.
This includes many prominent figures well known in Minnesota’s Republican Party. While the Chair of the MNGOP has remained silent on the scandal, both past and present elected officials are turning their support – many who face tough elections this year.
Erik Paulsen, who faces a tough re-election bid against Democrat Minnesota State Senator Terri Bonoff in the third congressional district has said that he will not be voting for the Republican nominee in November. In a statement released yesterday, Paulsen states “For months I have said Donald Trump has not earned my vote. The disgusting statements released last night make it clear that he cannot. I will not be voting for him.”
House Speaker Kurt Daudt also issued his own release yesterday saying, “Donald Trump’s behavior and comments toward women are unacceptable, and disqualifying for someone who hopes to serve as Commander In Chief.” Daudt, who is expected to win his race by a wide margin urged votes to support Republican down-ballot races. Daudt has been actively campaigning for races in the last few days according to his Twitter page.
Former Minnesota Governor and 2012 Presidential candidate Tim Pawlenty also withdrew his support for the embattled candidate. Pawlenty, in a released statement, said that “He [Trump] is unsound, uniformed, unhinged and unfit to be President of the United States, and I am withdrawing my support for him.”
Jason Lewis who is running a hard-fought race against opponent Angie Craig for Rep. John Kline’s open seat in the second Congressional District said in a Facebook post, “ As the father of two daughters and husband to Leigh, Donald Trump’s comments were clearly wrong, vile, and indefensible.” While Lewis condemned the tape, he did not withdraw his support from Trump.
Like Lewis, Stewart Mills, who is also running a tough race against incumbent Rep. Rick Nolan wrote in a Facebook post, “ As a husband, father, and son, I consider Donald Trump’s recently reported remarks crude, vulgar, and completely inappropriate. Donald Trump needs to show humility on this subject during tomorrow night’s debate.”
One former presidential candidate from Minnesota showed her strong support in spite of the tape released. Former Congresswoman Michele Bachmann, who appeared via phone conference on CNN, turned the narrative around from Trump’s language to the Clinton campaign’s involvement with the release of the tape, stating that it was all a part of the narrative set by the Clinton campaign.
On a side note, NBC has decided to suspend reporter Billy Bush from The Today Show. Noah Oppenheim, executive in charge of The Today Show said in a statement, “I know we’ve all been deeply troubled by the revelations of the past 48 hours. Let me be clear — there is simply no excuse for Billy’s language and behavior on that tape. NBC has decided to suspend Billy, pending further review of this matter.” Bush was a reporter for Access Hollywood when Trump and Bush engaged in lewd comments while prepping for an interview back in 2005.
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Preya Samsundar
Preya Samsundar was born and raised in Minneapolis, MN. She graduated from the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities this Spring with a B.A. in Political Science and Sociology, with a minor in Strategic Communications. Preya has previously worked on several State Campaign Races.
