Trump gets sole spot on Minnesota’s GOP primary ballot

Published 5:53 am Friday, November 1, 2019

By Brian Bakst

MPR News/90.1

President Trump is the only Republican candidate who will appear on Minnesota’s presidential primary ballot.

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The state Republican Party submitted his name to the Secretary of State’s office last week. The state’s primary law gives the major political parties the power to designate who will appear on the ballot.

“President Trump is extremely popular in Minnesota and my job as Chairwoman is to make sure we deliver our 10 electoral votes to the President on November 3, 2020,” Republican Party Chair Jennifer Carnahan said in a written statement.

The law says changes aren’t allowed after a slate is submitted.

Trump does have primary rivals who have served in high office. They include former Massachusetts Governor Bill Weld and former U.S. Reps. Mark Sanford of South Carolina and Joe Walsh of Illinois. Walsh responded to the news on Twitter.

The DFL Party has yet to submit its ballot for the March 3 primary, which falls on Super Tuesday. The DFL has until Dec. 31 to put that in.

The 2020 primary will be the first presidential primary in Minnesota since 1992, replacing the caucuses that had been used to express preferences in nomination races. The Legislature changed the law after a crush of caucus turnout in 2016 left many voters who wanted to participate frustrated

Minnesota doesn’t have party registration but voters can only participate in one party’s primary. The parties will get the rosters of voters who do take part, regardless of the party ballot chosen.