In a surprise announcement Monday, a Minnesota Republican — and a man who has done some legal work for the ICE agent responsible for the killing of Renee Nicole Good — announced that he’s dropping out of the race for governor in that state. And on the way out, he’s criticized the ICE operation in Minnesota.
Chris Madel announced the end of his campaign in a ten-minute video posted to X on Monday morning.
According to the Minneapolis Star Tribune, Madel stated that “I cannot support the national Republicans’ stated retribution on the citizens of our state, nor can I count myself a member of a party that would do so.”
I am ending my campaign for Minnesota Governor. I describe why in the below video. Please watch until the end. (It is 10 minutes, 52 seconds.)
Thank you,
Chris pic.twitter.com/2nfyAyTzNZ— Chris Madel (@CWMadel) January 26, 2026
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While he supported the “initial goals” of the Operation Metro Surge, Madel said that the operation “has expanded far beyond its stated focus on true public safety threats… United States citizens, particularly those of color, live in fear. United States citizens are carrying papers to prove their citizenship. That’s wrong.”
Madel added that the other reason he is dropping out is that he is a “pragmatist,” and that “national Republicans have made it nearly impossible for a Republican to win a statewide election in Minnesota.”
The now former candidate did praise Trump in the video, and criticize those who are reluctant to praise him. Madel is one of more than ten Republicans who were running for governor this year.
Chris Madel is the lawyer for the ICE agent who shot Renee Good. He’s also a GOP candidate for governor in Minnesota.
He says ICE has gone too far.
“United States citizens are carrying papers to prove their citizenship,” he said. “That’s wrong.” pic.twitter.com/H8NcQnQ5Et
— Neil Mehta (@neilmhta) January 26, 2026
“I have to look my daughters in the eye and tell them, ‘I believe I did what was right.’ And I am doing that today,” the former candidate said.
Gov. Tim Walz announced in January, shortly before the ICE surge, that he would not be running for a third term. Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota has launched an exploratory effort to run for governor. Minnesota also has a competitive U.S. Senate race this year, to replace the retiring U.S. Sen. Tina Smith.
