Republican Chris Madel Ends Minnesota Governor Bid Over ICE 'Disaster'
Madel posted an almost 11-minute video on X saying Operation Metro Surge is an "unmitigated disaster" and announcing he is leaving the GOP primary.
Overview
Minneapolis attorney Chris Madel ended his Republican bid for Minnesota governor in a nearly 11-minute video posted to X, saying he could not support the national Republicans' "stated retribution" and calling Operation Metro Surge "an unmitigated disaster".
His withdrawal comes after the Jan. 7 killing of Renee Nicole Good by ICE agent Jonathan Ross and a separate fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by a U.S. Border Patrol agent two days later, incidents marked by conflicting accounts in video footage and official statements.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Monday the administration aims to deport criminal noncitizens while not wanting "to see people getting hurt or killed," according to her statement.
Madel was one of nearly a dozen Republican candidates seeking to replace Democratic Gov. Tim Walz, who announced he would not seek a third term, and his exit reshapes a crowded GOP field that includes Mike Lindell, Lisa Demuth, Scott Jensen and Kristin Robbins, records show.
No criminal charges have been filed so far in the killing of Renee Nicole Good, records show, and federal and state investigations and potential civil lawsuits are expected to continue, officials and lawmakers said.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the story as an intra‑GOP rupture over aggressive federal immigration tactics, highlighting political fallout and civil‑rights concerns. They foreground Madel’s criticism and his legal ties to law‑enforcement figures, juxtaposing his quotes with background on shootings and other GOP candidates to emphasize the controversy and electoral stakes.
Sources (9)
FAQ
Operation Metro Surge is an ICE-led immigration enforcement operation launched in December 2025, initially targeting the Twin Cities area before expanding statewide in Minnesota, aimed at apprehending and deporting undocumented immigrants, described as the largest such operation ever.
Chris Madel cited the Jan. 7 killing of US citizen Renee Nicole Good by ICE agent Jonathan Ross and the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by a U.S. Border Patrol agent two days later during Operation Metro Surge, along with national Republicans' 'stated retribution', as reasons for ending his bid.
Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old US citizen mother, was shot dead at the wheel of her car by ICE officer Jonathan Ross on January 7 amid Operation Metro Surge; no criminal charges have been filed, with ongoing federal and state investigations.
The operation involves thousands of ICE and DHS agents, has led to over 3,000 arrests including US citizens, two civilian deaths, widespread protests, school disruptions, economic impacts, and legal challenges in Minnesota courts.
The crowded GOP field now includes Mike Lindell, Lisa Demuth, Scott Jensen, and Kristin Robbins, following Democratic Gov. Tim Walz's announcement not to seek a third term.
History
5 sources