Why Chris Madel Ended His Minnesota Governor Bid Over ICE Surge
Quick Summary
In a significant political move, leading Minnesota Republican gubernatorial candidate Chris Madel has dropped out of the race, citing his opposition to the Trump administration's aggressive immigration enforcement, "Operation Metro Surge," which he labeled as "federal retribution." Madel announced his decision in a video, stating he could not remain in a party that supports the controversial operation that has deployed 3,000 federal agents in Minneapolis, leading to widespread public outrage and the deaths of two people, Alex Pretti and Renee Good. While supporting the deportation of criminals, Madel argued the operation has spiraled out of control, causing U.S. citizens of color to live in fear, be unconstitutionally detained, and feel compelled to carry citizenship papers. He condemned the killing of the reportedly unarmed Pretti and blasted home raids based on flimsy warrants as an "unmitigated disaster." Madel, who previously represented the ICE agent who killed Good, believes the national GOP's hardline policies have made it nearly impossible for a Republican to win statewide and have unfairly trapped local law enforcement. His departure, driven by conscience, alters the governor's race, with incumbent Democrat Tim Walz not seeking re-election and Senator Amy Klobuchar contemplating a run.
In a stunning move, Chris Madel, a leading Republican candidate for governor of Minnesota, has dropped out of the race. He announced his decision in a fiery video on Monday, slamming the Trump...
In a stunning move, Chris Madel, a leading Republican candidate for governor of Minnesota, has dropped out of the race. He announced his decision in a fiery video on Monday, slamming the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement in the state as nothing more than “federal retribution on the citizens of our state.”
"I cannot support the... stated retribution on the citizens of our state, nor can I count myself a member of a party that would do so," Madel said, drawing a sharp line between himself and the national GOP under Donald Trump.
Madel’s exit is a direct protest of “Operation Metro Surge,” a controversial federal initiative that has flooded the Minneapolis area with roughly 3,000 agents since December. The operation has already sparked widespread public outrage, especially after U.S. agents killed two people, Alex Pretti and Renee Good.
While Madel made it clear he supports the original mission of deporting undocumented immigrants involved in serious crimes, he argued the operation has completely spiraled out of control. “United States citizens, particularly those of color, live in fear,” he said, noting that the surge has expanded far beyond its initial focus on public safety.
He recounted speaking with U.S. citizens, including police officers, who were detained by ICE simply “due to the color of their skin.” You could hear the frustration in his voice as he added, “United States citizens are carrying papers to prove their citizenship. That’s wrong.”
His criticism grew sharper as he brought up the recent killing of Pretti, who video evidence reportedly shows was restrained and unarmed when federal agents shot him. “Driving while Hispanic is not a crime,” Madel insisted. “Neither is driving while Asian.” He also took aim at the legality of ICE’s tactics, blasting home raids based on flimsy civil warrants signed by border patrol agents as "unconstitutional." He summed up the whole federal operation in Minnesota as an “unmitigated disaster.”
Madel's departure is especially noteworthy because he had been the lawyer for Jonathan Ross—the very ICE agent who shot and killed Renee Good on January 7 as she was driving away. His decision to quit now highlights a growing rift within the Minnesota GOP over the national party's hardline immigration policies.
According to Madel, the political fallout from this crackdown will be severe. “National Republicans have made it nearly impossible for a Republican to win a statewide election in Minnesota,” he said, pointing to the massive protests and public backlash. He also sympathized with local law enforcement, who he says are trapped between state rules forbidding them from helping federal agents and the chaos these operations are creating. “They’re stuck between the proverbial rock and a hard place,” he said. “It is unfair, and our hearts should go out to them.”
In the end, Madel said his choice came down to his conscience. “At the end of the day, 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.”
With Madel out, the governor's race is already shifting. The incumbent Democrat, Tim Walz—who was Kamala Harris’s running mate in her 2024 presidential loss to Trump—has confirmed he will not run for re-election. Meanwhile, all eyes are on Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar, who has filed paperwork for a gubernatorial run but has yet to make an official announcement.