Minnesota Lawyer
Republican Secretary of State candidate Dennis Nguyen has been endorsed by a majority of GOP lawmakers. (Staff photo: Peter Bartz-Gallagher)
Dennis Nguyen has now been endorsed by a majority of Republican legislators in both chambers, following Monday’s announcement that 40 House Republican caucus members are supporting the first-time candidate. In early December, Nguyen secured the endorsement of 23 members of the Senate Republican caucus.
Those figures mean that only 20 House GOP members and five Republican senators chose not to endorse Nguyen, an investment banking executive. Nguyen remains the lone declared GOP candidate looking to succeed current Secretary of State Mark Ritchie, though other potential candidates are known to be mulling their options.
Nguyen’s Monday announcement was accompanied by statements of support from a pair of legislators. Rep. Mike Beard, R-Shakopee, said Nguyen’s background in the private sector, as opposed to government service, would make him especially effective as the top administrator for business registrations and elections: “He is a solutions-oriented, non-political businessman. As such, he will bring a fresh set of eyes to and will revitalize the workings of, our state government.”
Also chiming in on Nguyen’s behalf was Rep. Steve Drazkowski, R-Mazzeppa, who said Nguyen could create a coalition of “conservatives, libertarians, and moderates, positioning our Republican Party well for victory in November.”
Nguyen has so far positioned himself as a centrist candidate, saying he plans to reach out to unaffiliated moderate voters and business-minded Democrats, and pledged to campaign in DFL-friendly parts of the state, including the Twin Cities area.
Though the total number of Nguyen’s House endorsements is impressive on its face, he failed to win the support of House Minority Leader Kurt Daudt, as well as Daudt’s predecessor at the top of the House GOP caucus, former Speaker Kurt Zellers, R-Maple Grove, who is now running for the GOP gubernatorial nomination. Also withholding her endorsement was Rep. Joyce Peppin, R-Rogers, who was once rumored to be thinking about her own bid for the Secretary of State’s office, though she later withdrew her name from consideration.
For his part, Nguyen pointed out that his House backers hail from all over the state, and continued to focus his campaign on the business and economic aspects of the Secretary of State’s office.
“They understand that we need to elect a Secretary of State who has the requisite skill set to assist with getting Minnesota’s economy moving forward,” Nguyen said of his House Republican supporters.
Here is the full list of House members who have endorsed Nguyen’s candidacy:
Rep. Jim Abeler
Rep. Tony Albright
Rep. Mark Anderson
Rep. Paul Anderson
Rep. Bob Barrett
Rep. Mike Beard
Rep. Mike Benson
Rep. Tony Cornish
Rep. Bob Dettmer
Rep. Steve Drazkowski
Rep. David Fitzsimmons
Rep. Pat Garofalo
Rep. Steve Green
Rep. Glenn Gruenhagen
Rep. Bob Gunther
Rep. Tom Hackbarth
Rep. Rod Hamilton
Rep. Jerry Hertaus
Rep. Jeff Howe
Rep. Brian Johnson
Rep. Tim Kelly
Rep. Deb Kiel
Rep. Ron Kresha
Rep. Ernie Leidiger
Rep. Jenifer Loon
Rep. Jim Newberger
Rep. Bud Nornes
Rep. Marion O’Neill
Rep. John Petersburg
Rep. Cindy Pugh
Rep. Duane Quam
Rep. Linda Runbeck
Rep. Tim Sanders
Rep. Joe Schomacker
Rep. Chris Swedzinski
Rep. Paul Torkelson
Rep. Dean Urdahl
Rep. Anna Wills
Rep. Kelby Woodard
Rep. Nick Zerwas
