Ben Golnik

Jan 17, 2014

Honour leads GOP governor fundraising

Candidate fundraising disclosures in the gubernatorial race are not due until the end of this month, but some entrants just couldn’t wait to tell the public how much they received. Three Republican candidates have released their totals so far, and Gov. Mark Dayton has preemptively hinted at his own total, giving some indication of the shape of the race at the onset of the election year.

Dec 13, 2013

Westrom: Time is on his side

Despite the presence of a popular incumbent who has trounced his last several challengers, Republicans have fielded a well-known candidate in the 7th Congressional District. To hear some of that area’s activists tell it, the first GOP entrant in that race might be the party’s best chance in years to oust DFL U.S. Rep. Collin Peterson.

Oct 25, 2013

Stewart Mills announces GOP endorsements for CD 8 bid

Mills, the only declared GOP candidate in that race so far, was endorsed by a number of prominent Republicans who represent parts of the 8th District.

Oct 18, 2013

U.S. Senate race looks to be a high-dollar affair

The modern Congress is often faulted for its inability to actually accomplish much. Even still, the members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives are as good as ever in at least on area: Raising money toward their own re-election. In keeping with that trend, third-quarter Federal Elections Commission (FEC) reports find Minnesota’s delegation is pretty good at collecting checks, with at[...]

Sep 25, 2013

Dayton strikes cordial tone with business

Standing in front of nearly 1,000 of the state’s top business leaders and GOP political influencers is likely not Gov. Mark Dayton’s favorite place to be. The Democratic governor has been at odds with business groups since he first ran for election in 2010, when they sunk millions into trying to defeat him.

Jul 19, 2013

GOP 2014: No endorsement, no problem?

The first Republican to launch a campaign for Minnesota governor in 2014 immediately changed the dynamics for all other candidates who would follow him. In April, Orono businessman Scott Honour became the first candidate openly seeking the office, promising to bring an outsider’s perspective to the job.

Jun 5, 2013

MN Jobs Coalition seeks to bolster GOP prospects in 2014

In recent election cycles, Alliance for a Better Minnesota has galvanized support for DFL candidates and causes. The Minnesota Jobs Coalition is hoping to play a similar role on behalf of Republicans.

Mar 27, 2013

GOP ’14: Who’ll stop the DFL’s reign?

Republicans are mired in an extended losing streak in statewide political contests. Since 2006, when Gov. Tim Pawlenty won re-election with 47 percent of the vote, Republicans have been shut out. That dubious streak reached a nadir of sorts last year, when U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar won re-election by nearly 35 percentage points over GOP challenger Kurt Bills.

Feb 8, 2013

14A special: Area’s partisan tilt gives GOP edge

The House race in St. Cloud’s District 14A didn’t garner much attention in last year’s campaign. As far as media and activists were concerned, all the action was in neighboring 14B, where a DFL challenger, Zach Dorholt, eventually knocked off first-term GOP Rep. King Banaian.

Jan 10, 2013

GOP operatives form year-round political fund

Minnesota Jobs Coalition was registered with the Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure board on Thursday. In a news release announcing the fund, operative Ben Golnik said the PAC will work to represent "hard-working taxpayers" at the Capitol during session.

Dec 12, 2012

MNGOP debt shrinks, but turmoil persists

The wounds had started to heal by the time Minnesota Republicans faced each other at an annual activist gathering in Blaine over the weekend. Many Republicans had already come to terms with the drubbing that took place on Nov. 6, when both Republican legislative majorities and two GOP-led constitutional amendments were rejected by voters.

Oct 24, 2012