A Republican candidate has announced his withdrawal from the Minnesota gubernatorial race. The candidate, Madel, cited concerns regarding intensified federal immigration enforcement operations, specifically "Operation Metro Surge," as a primary reason for his decision.
Madel stated that the operations, which have deployed approximately 3,000 federal agents in the Minneapolis area since December and reportedly resulted in thousands of arrests, had "expanded far beyond its stated focus on true public safety threats." He further asserted that U.S. citizens, particularly those of color, were living in fear and carrying documentation to prove their citizenship due to these actions.
The withdrawal follows significant public protests and widespread criticism in Minnesota, which emerged after incidents involving Alex Pretti and Renee Good in Minneapolis occurred during the enforcement activities. Madel, who had previously supported the deportation of undocumented immigrants involved in major criminal activity, suggested that these operations would harm Republican electoral prospects statewide, attributing the challenging political landscape to "National Republicans."
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jan/26/republican-chris-madel-minnesota-governor-race-ice