Opinion

DAVID MARCUS: Minnesota GOP candidates keep Trump at arm's length as they eye a post-Trump party future

Michele Tafoya, Lisa Demuth embrace some Trump policies while distancing themselves from the president in key races

By David Marcus Fox News

Published September 23, 2026 1:16pm EDT

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Michele Tafoya exposes Minnesota fraud crisis

Minnesota Republican senate nominee Michele Tafoya raises concerns over widespread fraud in Minnesota during her campaign for the U.S. Senate.

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As the once-long shot Minnesota GOP Senate nominee Michele Tafoya has closed in on Democratic opponent Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, the issue of President Donald Trump — who is not particularly popular in the Gopher State — has taken a unique turn.

For Tafoya, as well as gubernatorial candidate Lisa Demuth and others down ballot for the GOP — not to mention their potential voters — the general attitude toward Trump is that while they support much of what he has done, they also represent what a post-Donald Trump Republican Party could look like.

This week in St. Cloud, I met John, who was sitting in his SUV outside the courthouse. Covered in pro-Trump stickers and flags, the vehicle served as a kind of quiet, solo demonstration.

John discusses the senate race in Minnesota (David Marcus)

I mentioned to him that his "Trump 2028" flag, in particular, seemed a bit provocative. He told me, "Well, I know he’s not really........

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