GOP Sen. Michelle Benson jumps into Minnesota governor's race

State Sen. Michelle Benson officially jumped into the race for Minnesota governor on Wednesday, joining a crowded field of Republican candidates angling to challenge Gov. Tim Walz next fall.

Benson, a four-term senator from suburban Ham Lake, served as deputy majority leader and currently chairs a powerful health and human services finance committee, which determines billions of dollars in state health care spending every two years. She's the first woman to jump into the race in either party, aiming to become the first woman to be elected governor in Minnesota.

"I've chaired the toughest budget committee in the Senate and I've also balanced that with being at the grocery store and watching prices rise and the obligations of a mom," Benson said Wednesday in Blaine, launching her campaign alongside her family. "I understand the story of Minnesotans and what they've been through in the last year and that will set me apart and make me a good governor."

https://www.startribune.com/gop-sen-michelle-benson-jumps-into-minnesota-governor-s-race/600092851/