A leading Republican contender for Minnesota governor has abruptly withdrawn from the race, delivering a blistering critique of what he described as federal “retribution” against the state’s residents amid the Trump administration’s intensified immigration enforcement operations.
Chris Madel, a Minneapolis-based attorney, announced his decision on Monday in a video statement posted online. In the message, Madel said he could no longer align himself with a political party that supports what he views as unconstitutional and harmful federal actions.
“I cannot support the stated retribution on the citizens of our state,” Madel said. “Nor can I count myself a member of a party that would do so.”
Madel’s announcement comes amid mounting public outrage following the fatal shootings of ICU nurse Alex Pretti and Renee Good in Minneapolis during encounters involving federal immigration agents. Both deaths have triggered large street protests, widespread condemnation, and growing political fallout.
While former President Donald Trump has defended immigration enforcement efforts as targeting undocumented immigrants involved in serious criminal activity, Madel argued that the operation in Minnesota has gone far beyond its original mission.
Operation Metro Surge, launched in December, reportedly deployed roughly 3,000 federal agents across the Minneapolis area and has resulted in thousands of arrests. According to Madel, the expanded operation has created fear among citizens — particularly people of color.
“United States citizens are carrying papers to prove their citizenship,” he said. “That’s wrong.”
Madel launched his gubernatorial campaign in December and previously provided legal counsel to ICE agent Jonathan Ross, who fatally shot Renee Good on January 7 as she drove away from an encounter. Madel said he has since spoken with U.S. citizens who were detained by ICE solely due to their appearance, including law enforcement officers stopped during what he described as pretextual encounters.
“Driving while Hispanic is not a crime,” Madel said, just days after Pretti was killed despite video showing him unarmed and restrained. “Neither is driving while Asian.”
The former candidate also accused federal authorities of constitutional violations, criticizing ICE for conducting home raids based on civil warrants signed internally rather than by judges.
“That’s unconstitutional, and it’s wrong,” Madel said, calling the operation in Minnesota an “unmitigated disaster.”
He warned that the political consequences of the crackdown could be severe for Republicans in the state, particularly after the protests and national scrutiny following the killings.
“National Republicans have made it nearly impossible for a Republican to win a statewide election in Minnesota,” Madel said.
Explaining his decision to exit the race, Madel framed it as a moral choice.
“At the end of the day, I have to look my daughters in the eye and tell them I did what was right,” he said. “And I am doing that today.”
Madel also highlighted the strain placed on local law enforcement, noting that state and city leaders — including the governor, attorney general, and Minneapolis mayor — have barred local police from assisting federal immigration agents.
“This has created extreme challenges for local police,” he said, adding that officers are being forced to balance state directives, community trust, and the fallout from federal actions without proper coordination.
“They’re stuck between a rock and a hard place,” Madel said. “It is unfair, and our hearts should go out to them.”
Minnesota’s Democratic Governor Tim Walz has already ruled out running for reelection. Walz was Kamala Harris’s running mate in the 2024 presidential election, which she lost to Trump. Meanwhile, Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar has filed paperwork to form a gubernatorial campaign committee but has not yet confirmed whether she will seek the office.
