Candidate ends campaign after Twitter comments on ISIS
A Burnsville legislative candidate is ending his campaign after making remarks on Twitter that some considered sympathetic toward ISIS.
Dan Kimmel was seeking the DFL nomination to challenge first-term Republican Drew Christensen. Christensen represents Savage and parts of Burnsville.
On Saturday, Kimmel wrote about ISIS on Twitter.
Create a More Connected Minnesota
MPR News is your trusted resource for the news you need. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.
ISIS isn't necessarily evil. It is made up of people doing what they think is best for their community. Violence is not the answer, though.
— Dan Kimmel (@KimmelDan) November 15, 2015
Kimmel denounced violence in another tweet one day after attacks in Paris killed nearly 130 people.
https://twitter.com/KimmelDan/status/665752038827933697
DFL party and legislative officials condemned Kimmel's comments on the terrorist organization. In a statement, DFL party chairman Ken Martin said Kimmel's comments "do not reflect the views of the Minnesota DFL and have no place in our party."
In another tweet Sunday morning, Kimmel announced he was dropping out of the race and said he was sorry.
https://twitter.com/KimmelDan/status/665924056504397826
In a statement on his website, Kimmel apologized again.