Minnesota political conventions 2026: DFL, GOP pick candidates

Republicans endorse trial lawyer Ron Schutz for attorney general

Minnesota Republicans on Friday afternoon endorsed trial lawyer and Army veteran Ron Schutz in the race for Minnesota attorney general.

Schutz ran unopposed for his party’s nomination. He blasted second-term DFL Attorney General Keith Ellison, who he will likely face in the general election, in his remarks. Ellison is seeking a third term in office but faces a challenger for the endorsement at the DFL convention in Rochester.

He said that he would block student athletes from competing on sports teams that don’t match their biological sex assigned at birth. Ellison has sued over federal policies aimed at limiting transgender athletes’ participation in sports.

And he faulted Ellison for not doing enough to combat fraud in the state. Schutz also said he’d hope to take a tougher tack on crime, if elected.

“This election presents Minnesota with a clear choice, Keith Ellison and I could not be more different,” Schutz said. “This election is a battle for the soul of Minnesota, Minnesota is balancing on a knife’s edge, if Democrats keep control, the damage will be lasting.”

DFL Party Chair Richard Carlbom reacted to the endorsement Friday, saying Schutz would be a poor fit for the role.

“Ron Schutz is just another MAGA megadonor who would be a lawyer for Donald Trump, not the people of Minnesota,” he said in a news release.

Additional endorsing contests were expected to move forward Friday and Saturday.