Republican attorney Chris Madel abruptly ended his campaign for Minnesota governor, citing deep concerns over the federal government’s aggressive immigration crackdown in the state. In a candid video message, Madel declared that national Republicans had made it nearly impossible for a GOP candidate to win statewide, accusing them of pursuing a punitive agenda that’s backfiring on the very voters they claim to protect.
Madel, a political outsider who had gained traction in early straw polls and raised over $400,000 in his first month, had been seen as a rising contender. But he said the current climate—fueled by President Trump’s deployment of thousands of federal agents and high-profile enforcement operations—has gone “far beyond” its stated mission and now threatens civil liberties.
A prominent attorney known for defending law enforcement officers, Madel represented the ICE agent who shot and killed Renee Good in a controversial Minneapolis incident earlier this month. Despite his background, he expressed alarm at what he described as an escalating campaign of intimidation against Minnesota residents.
He criticized the use of masked agents, aggressive crowd tactics, and a lack of transparency surrounding recent operations, saying it’s not what law enforcement or the Republican Party should stand for. “I cannot support the national Republicans’ retribution on the citizens of our state, nor can I count myself a member of a party that would do so,” he said.
The announcement adds to growing fractures within the GOP, as other candidates like House Speaker Lisa Demuth and MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell continue to compete for the nomination. Several suburban GOP lawmakers have also called for a pause in federal operations, warning of political fallout and the erosion of public trust.
Madel’s exit underscores the mounting internal pressure within the Republican Party over how to handle immigration, civil rights, and public safety in the spotlight of a contentious election cycle.
