Paul Gazelka Rejected by Minnesota

MINNESOTA - Today, Alliance for a Better Minnesota released the following statement regarding Paul Gazelka’s announcement that he will be dropping out of the Minnesota governor’s race:

“From blocking emergency insulin for Minnesotans with diabetes to threatening to ban abortion in Minnesota and underfunding public schools, Paul Gazelka has proven time and again that he is not the leader that Minnesotans need,” said Marissa Luna, executive director of Alliance for a Better Minnesota. “We need a governor who will fight for our schools, health care and families, and Minnesotans know Paul Gazelka is the wrong person for the job.”

As a state senator, Gazelka voted to give millions of dollars in tax breaks to the wealthiest Minnesotans and big tobacco companies, underfund Minnesota schools and reduce access to pre-K for Minnesota’s youngest learners. During the COVID-19 crisis, Paul Gazelka consistently downplayed the pandemic, refused to rely on facts and science, and made reckless decisions like holding a large, in-person post-election party that resulted in a member of his caucus dying from COVID. Gazelka also intended to ban all abortions in Minnesota without exceptions for rape, incest, or the mother’s life.