| Republican Party of Minnesota | |
|---|---|
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| Party Chairman | Tony Sutton |
| Senate Leader | David Senjem |
| House Leader | Kurt Zellers |
| Founded | 1858 or earlier |
| Headquarters | 525 Park St Suite 250 St Paul, MN 55103 |
| Political ideology | American
Conservatism Center-right |
| National affiliation | Republican Party |
| Color(s) | Red |
| Web Site | www.gop-mn.org |
The Republican Party of Minnesota is the Minnesota branch of the United States Republican Party. Elected by the party’s state central committee in June 2009, its current chairman is Tony Sutton, and its deputy-chairman is Michael Brodkorb.
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The Republican Party in Minnesota was the dominant party in the state for approximately the first hundred years of Minnesota's statehood, from 1858 through the 1950s. The 1892 Republican National Convention was held in Minnesota. Republican candidates routinely won the state governorship as well as most other state offices. The party was aided by an opposition divided between the Democratic Party and the Minnesota Farmer-Labor Party, who eventually merged in 1944.
The Independent-Republican Party (I-R) was the name used for the party from November 15, 1975 until September 23, 1995. Initially the name change was motivated by progressive businessmen within the party seeking to distance themselves from the socially conservative Goldwater and Reagan Republicans, as well as the corruption of Richard Nixon and the segregationism of many Dixiecrat-turned-Republicans such as Strom Thurmond. During that time, the state party became more dependent on grassroots fundraising and eventually went bankrupt. After the National party pumped money into the party, in the early-mid eighties, their image and base began turning more conservative. During this time the party had both senate seats and briefly held control of the state house. By 1994, the grassroots had turned socially more conservative, and opted to become more aligned with the national party, changing the name back in 1995.
The current Governor of Minnesota Tim Pawlenty is a Republican. Because of Pawlenty's re-election in 2006, Republicans will have held the governorship for 16 of the last 20 years by the end of 2010. Since that election, however, Republicans are in the minority in the Minnesota House of Representatives and the Minnesota Senate. The 2008 Republican National Convention was held in St. Paul.
For the 2006 senate elections, the party endorsed Mark Kennedy for United States Senate, who lost to Amy Klobuchar.
For the 2008 senate elections, incumbent Republican Senator Norm Coleman was defeated by Democratic-Farmer-Labor candidate Al Franken in an extremely close and controversial vote.
Minnesota Constitutional Officers:
State Legislative Leaders:
Members of the United States Congress:
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