Minnesota Farmfest’s U.S. Senate candidate forum is still on despite a claim that the event had been canceled. That erroneous claim came from Adam Schwarze, the GOP-endorsed U.S. Senate candidate who is not invited to the event.
On Monday, Schwarze’s campaign issued a press release saying Farmfest “abruptly canceled” its U.S. Senate candidate forum featuring DFL Congresswoman Angie Craig, DFL Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, Republican Michele Tafoya, and Republican Royce White.
Schwarze’s campaign said the “last-minute cancellation, sprung on candidates without warning, raises serious questions about whether outside pressure is being used to shield [Michele] Tafoya from having to defend her record in front of Minnesota voters.”
Following Schwarze’s claim that the forum was canceled, Farmfest confirmed to Alpha News that the event is still on. A Farmfest spokesperson said “The Senate Candidate forum is not cancelled. That is false information. It will commence as planned.”
Alpha News contacted Schwarze to ask why he claimed the event had been canceled.
“By denying primary voters the opportunity to watch and learn about the candidates in a debate that includes the MN GOP endorsed candidate, the debate voters deserved was canceled,” Schwarze said. “It’s why we are calling on Farm Fest to allow our participation.”
Tafoya and Schwarze are both competing for the GOP nomination for U.S. Senate. During the campaign, Schwarze has called on Tafoya to participate in a public debate and criticized her for declining to share a stage with him as the Aug. 11 primary election approaches.
Tomorrow’s Farmfest candidate forum offered an opportunity for the pair to square off, but Schwarze is not invited to the event because he did not meet the necessary criteria. Farmfest provided Alpha News with a memo which outlined that criteria.
According to the memo, “Candidates had to be legally qualified for the office on the ballot as the candidate of a party recognized by the State of Minnesota, and have obtained at least 15 percent level of support in recent independent public polling.”
Schwarze has not polled at 15% in recent, independent polling.
Prior to his claim that the forum had been canceled, Schwarze told Alpha News he was initially invited to the forum but was “then told the DC Establishment set the rules and used a June poll” to lock him out of the forum.
“This is the same DC playbook trying to hide Michael Tafoya’s complete lack of qualifications and her liberal policy positions: PRO-ABORTION, Pro-Red Flag Gun Laws, Pro-Amnesty for illegals, and a NEVER-Trumper,” Schwarze said.
The GOP-endorsed candidate said “the DC Establishment doesn’t want Minnesota voters to see the contrast” between himself and Tafoya. He also said his team was only informed last week that “we needed a poll showing 15%.”
Alpha News asked Farmfest about Schwarze’s comments regarding the “DC Establishment” and his claim about initially being invited. In response, a Farmfest spokesperson directed Alpha News to its prior news releases about the forum and its criteria.
Farmfest’s U.S. Senate candidate forum is scheduled for tomorrow at 1:15 p.m. Alpha News will livestream both the governor and Senate forums on Wednesday.
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.
