Jeff Johnson (Minnesota politician)

Last updated

On May 5, 2013, Johnson announced that he was running for governor. He received the Republican nominee Party endorsement at their May 2014 convention, and defeated four other candidates in the August 12 primary to become the party's nominee to challenge incumbent governor Mark Dayton. He was defeated in the November general election by a six-point margin.

2018 Minnesota gubernatorial campaign

Johnson at a gubernatorial debate JohnsonJeff.jpg
Johnson at a gubernatorial debate

On May 10, 2017, Johnson announced that he would again seek the Republican endorsement for governor of Minnesota. On June 2, 2018, the Republican Party of Minnesota formally endorsed him at their state convention in Duluth. On August 14, in what many political commentators considered an upset, Johnson defeated former governor Tim Pawlenty in the primary election to become the party's nominee. President Donald Trump then endorsed Johnson. [8] He lost the general election to the Democratic nominee, U.S. Representative Tim Walz, 54% to 42%.

Controversy

In March 2010, the Hennepin County Board tabled a request by Sheriff Rich Stanek to spend $426,150 to acquire the cellphone spying program KingFish. Johnson voted against tabling the motion, with the Star Tribune reporting that "Commissioner Jeff Johnson said he was convinced it was an important and useful law enforcement tool that wouldn’t violate privacy rights." [9] Johnson was absent the day funding was finally approved. Johnson later wrote in a blog post that he was able to ask Stanek's office questions about KingFish and was "...quite comfortable with the answers" he received. [10]

In December 2013, Johnson publicly repudiated his KingFish vote. While admitting that he had supported it, he said it was one of the "votes I might choose to change". [11] [12]

References

  1. "About Jeff (on campaign website)". Archived from the original on April 1, 2016. Retrieved June 4, 2013.
  2. "DL native launches Governor campaign". Archived from the original on September 26, 2015. Retrieved June 4, 2013.
  3. "Hennepin County profile". Archived from the original on August 13, 2013.
  4. "GOP profile webpage". GOP.
  5. "Minnesota Governor Election Results" . Retrieved November 11, 2018.
  6. https://www.sos.state.mn.us/elections-voting/2006-general-election-results/ Archived August 10, 2018, at the Wayback Machine [ bare URL ]
  7. "Bachmann, Kline and Coleman back Emmer's RNC bid". Minnesota Public Radio. February 18, 2011. Retrieved August 13, 2014.
  8. Trump, Donald J. (August 15, 2017). "Jeff Johnson of Minnesota had a big night in winning the Republican nomination for Governor against a very strong and well known opponent! Thanks for all of the support you showed me. You have my complete and total Endorsement. You will win in November!". Twitter. Retrieved December 26, 2017.
  9. "This time, Stanek lands KingFish phone tracker". Star Tribune. March 23, 2010. Retrieved August 13, 2014.
  10. Clayton, Mark (December 13, 2013). "Why 'KingFish' will soon become an important word in politics for the GOP". MinnPost. Retrieved August 13, 2014.
  11. "Johnson: "I Would Not Support the Kingfish Purchase Today"". politics.mn. December 10, 2013. Retrieved August 13, 2014.
  12. "Jeff Johnson - One of the first emails I sent out in this..." Facebook. Retrieved August 13, 2014.
Jeff Johnson
Jeff Johnson (cropped).jpg
Johnson in 2017
Member of the
Hennepin County Board of Commissioners
from the 7th district
In office
January 1, 2009 January 4, 2021
Party political offices
Preceded by
Thomas Kelly
Republican nominee for Attorney General of Minnesota
2006
Succeeded by
Preceded by Republican nominee for Governor of Minnesota
2014, 2018
Succeeded by